(Found) the best story I've ever read regarding military/technology

[dorit]

I've received a copy of this short story maybe 25 years ago. It was a few pages long and was translated into Hebrew (!) so it probably been around for a while even then.
The protagonist was an admiral standing on trail for his defeat, and his only request (revealed at the end of the story) was not to share his jail cell with the chief of military technology.
All the story consists of him entailing all the smart ideas they've tried to implement in order to improve their weapons and ships, and how those ideas backfired.
I recall it was beautifully written, with a touch of humor and a very realistic perception of technology development dilemmas. I've been looking for it ever since...
ring a bell?


Thank you for reading!

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Oddly, this sounds familiar, but I can guarantee I didn’t read it in Hebrew.

I’ll see if my brother recognizes it.

 

[chrispenycate]

Could this be 'Superiority' by Arthur C. Clarke?

Short Story - Superiority - by Arthur C. Clarke

"Superiority" Author Arthur C. ClarkeCountry United Kingdom
Language English
Genre(s) Science fiction
Published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
Publisher Fantasy House
Publication date August 1951

"Superiority" is a science fiction short story by British writer Arthur C. Clarke, first published in 1951. It depicts an arms race, and shows how the side which is more technologically advanced can be defeated, despite its apparent superiority, because of its own organizational flaws and its willingness to discard old technology without having fully perfected the new. Meanwhile, the enemy steadily built up a far larger arsenal of weapons that while more primitive were also more reliable. The story was at one point required reading for an industrial design course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[1]

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Oh, good! I can just point my brother at it, instead of making him find it.

 

[dorit]

Thank you so much- You're the best!!!
I've been looking for it for so long. Had no idea it was mandatory reading at MIT once. I have a feeling my students will have an additional reading assignment next year too