Germany fought its wars during World War II in an environment of rapidly changing technology. German submarines equipped with cutting-edge technology faced the Allies fleets constantly. These submarines, known as U-Boats or U-Boats would be used against Great Britain's soft sub-surface. This is why the Battle between the Allied Fleets and the German Submarine Navy is one of the most significant examples WW2 technology.
When World War II began in September 1939, the German navy was in poor condition. The Germans were less than half as many warships as Great Britain, with only 24. It was also difficult for the German navy to break through the British siege of German ports. The British owned over 300 ships. They had many ports around the world. They were also the world's largest naval fleet. In addition, the Germans had a large number of tanks. During the first few years of the war, they expanded their tank forces. They had six armoured units, which included 2,400 tanks. These divisions were well-trained for maneuvers. They were also considered to have the strongest European divisions.
Numerous technological problems plagued the German navy. Torpedo fuse were too sensitive to high temperatures. A German navy had no effective way to detect enemy submarines. This was a major problem, as the German navy wanted the British to abandon their hold on German harbors. In 1939, Karl Donitz, a high-ranking officer in the German navy, took charge of the entire U-Boat flotilla. He tried to lift the morale his crews. He told them to travel by night. They were still in danger every week.
Another important innovation was the B24 Liberator plane. This aircraft came equipped with a Radar which enabled it to target and detect targets. It allowed the crews to communicate with their shore commanders. As a result, the Liberator aircraft was the most efficient aircraft in the war. This aircraft could penetrate American defenses, and destroy strategic targets.
German scientists also discovered the process for nuclear fission. They were particularly interested about the Germans knowledge of this process. During wartime, they were also involved in research in this area. These technologies were also explored by other physicists. They were also interested in the weapons in the German arsenal that could be used against Japanese.
Another technological innovation was the collapsible oxygen pipe. This allowed a submarine's diesel engine to be sucked into it. This new technology was very useful for German submarines. It was not widely used.
Enigma, a German encryption device, was also available to the navy. This system consisted in a network of gears as well as disks. Many believed that the system was impossible to break. In the end, the German navy lost the technological arms race. This was because these innovations could not be produced in large quantities by the Germans.