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, also known as U-Boats were used to attack Great Britain's soft bottom. Because of this, the battle between the Allied ships and the German submarine fleet is one of most important examples in WW2 technology.
The German navy wasn't in top shape when World War II broke out on September 1939. The Germans had just 24 warships compared to the 62 that Great Britain had. It was also difficult for Germany's navy to break the British siege on German ports. Over 300 British ships were available. They had ports around all of the world. They also boasted the largest naval fleet. They also had a large fleet of tanks. In the first years of the war they increased their tank army. They had six armoured units, which included 2,400 tanks. These divisions were highly trained for maneuvers. They were also considered the strongest divisions in Europe.
Numerous technological problems plagued the German navy. For example, the torpedo fuses were overly sensitive to high pressure. The German navy did have no efficient way to detect enemy submarines. This was a problem as the German navy sought to break the British siege on German harbors. Karl Donitz, an officer in the German navy of high rank, assumed command of the entire U-Boat flotilla. He tried to lift the morale his crews. He made them travel under night cover. They were still in danger every week.
The B24 Liberator aircraft was another important innovation. This aircraft featured a Radar to allow it to attack and detect targets. It also enabled its crews communication with its commanders on the shore. The Liberator was thus the most effective aircraft during the war. This aircraft was able to penetrate American defenses and destroy strategic target.
German scientists also discovered nuclear fission. They were especially interested in the Germans' knowledge of this process. During wartime, they were also involved in research in this area. They were not the only ones working on this technology. They were also interested the potential use of weapons from the German arsenal against Japanese.
Another significant technological innovation was collapsible piping, which allowed a submarine air to be sucked in for a Diesel engine. This was a very useful technology for German submarines. However, it wasn't widely implemented.
Enigma, an efficient encryption device used by the German navy, was also available. The system consisted of a number of gears, disks, and other components. Many believed that the system was impossible to break. The German navy ended up losing the technological arms race. This was due in part to the fact the Germans could never produce these innovations mass-produced.