The 20th century saw similar technological developments in naval warfare. Before the 20th century, warships were powered by natural sea currents, strong winds in their sails, or people rowing with oars. For defense and attack, they shot at each other with cannons.
Steam engines changed how ships moved, and how much they could move. Liberated from the limited power of winds and sea currents, ships with steam-powered or oil-powered engines could have thick iron hulls and carry enormous cannons and war vehicles. The development of these engines led to the creation of battleships, aircraft carriers, and the other large ships that dominated World War II, especially in the Pacific theater. Once again, machines became the primary focus of battle.
Below the water, submarines--boats that can travel underwater and attack other ships--became a significant destructive force during World War I and World War II. Submarines were especially deadly because they were invisible to ships on the surface of the ocean, and effective anti-submarine technology took years to develop.
Between the two world wars, many countries developed radar technology to adapt to the new realities of combat. Radar, which originally stood for Radio Detection and Ranging, is a system that bounces radio waves off objects. By measuring how long it takes for the signal to bounce back, you can learn where an object is, how fast it's moving, and other important information.
Ships used sonar (a system similar to radar but that works underwater) to detect submarines, and submarines used sonar to detect ships. It was a more even playing field. Once the war was over, sonar and radar became useful in guiding commercial planes through the sky and tracking weather patterns to make more accurate forecasts. The invention of radar is an example of how the push for new military technology can sometimes lead to a more sophisticated world during peacetime.
Test your knowledge of tanks and submarines using these questions.
Why did European military leaders focus on developing vehicles after World War I?
- The technology for vehicles only appeared after the First World War.
- They wanted to avoid the deadlock of trench warfare in future wars.
- Germany, Britain, and France needed a use for their post-war wealth.
- They wanted to reduce human casualties by making machines do the fighting.
Military strategists wanted to avoid the lengthy slaughter of trench warfare, so they put their research into quick, overwhelming tactics using tanks and other vehicles.
Military strategists wanted to avoid the lengthy slaughter of trench warfare, so they put their research into quick, overwhelming tactics using tanks and other vehicles.
Military strategists wanted to avoid the lengthy slaughter of trench warfare, so they put their research into quick, overwhelming tactics using tanks and other vehicles.
Military strategists wanted to avoid the lengthy slaughter of trench warfare, so they put their research into quick, overwhelming tactics using tanks and other vehicles.
Why was sonar such an important discovery?
- The Allies no longer needed to worry about their planes crashing into one another.
- Submarines could no longer attack planes as they crossed the English Channel.
- It caused most operators of military vehicles to reduce their speed.
- Detecting submarines underwater would eliminate their element of surprise.
Sonar helped ships detect submarines before they could strike, eliminating one of Germany's advantages during the Second World War.
Sonar helped ships detect submarines before they could strike, eliminating one of Germany's advantages during the Second World War.
Sonar helped ships detect submarines before they could strike, eliminating one of Germany's advantages during the Second World War.
Sonar helped ships detect submarines before they could strike, eliminating one of Germany's advantages during the Second World War.
Summary
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