The past Bretton Woods system and US currency seemed to change from a process which can converting notes into precious metals into a process which can convert notes into military hardware and oil. Is there a name for this?
The "petrodollar". But more fundamentally the bit of Bretton Woods that survived was the deal that the United States would guarantee the security of global trade (that's the Navy's real mission) in exchange for a discount on imports. Unlinking from gold only cemented their position.