Germany was fighting in a world of constantly changing technology during World War II. The Allied fleets were constantly faced with German submarines that were equipped with cutting-edge technology. These submarines (also known as U-Boats) were intended to strike at Great Britain's soft areas. As a result, the battle between the Allied fleets and the German submarine navy is one of the most important examples of WW2 technology.
The German navy was not in good shape when World War II broke out in September 1939. The Germans had 24 warships instead of the greater number that Great Britain had. It was also difficult for Germany's navy to break the British siege on German ports. The British owned over 300 ships. They had ports around the globe. They also boasted the largest naval fleet. A large number of German tanks was also available. In the first years of the war they increased their tank army. Six armoured divisions were formed, each with 2,400 tanks. These divisions were very well equipped for maneuvers. They were also considered the strongest divisions in Europe.
The German navy suffered from a number of serious technological issues. Torpedo fuse were too sensitive to high temperatures. A German navy didn't have an effective method to detect enemy submarines. This was a major problem because the German navy wanted to break through the British siege of German harbors. Karl Donitz (a high-ranking German officer) took control of the entire U-Boat fleet in 1939. He tried to lift the morale his crews. He told them to travel by night. However, they still faced grave dangers every week.
Another notable innovation was also the B24 Liberator airframe. This aircraft had a Radar, which allowed it to detect and attack targets. It allowed the crews to communicate with their shore commanders. Thus, the Liberator aircraft was one of the most successful in wartime. This aircraft was able penetrate American defenses while destroying strategic targets.
German scientists have also discovered the process known as nuclear fission. They were particularly interested in the Germans' knowledge about this process. They were active in the area of research throughout the war. These technologies were also explored by other physicists. They were also interested, among other things, in weapons from Germany that could be used to attack the Japanese.
Another significant technological innovation was collapsible piping, which allowed a submarine air to be sucked in for a Diesel engine. This innovation was extremely useful for German submarines. However, this technology was not widely applied.
Enigma was also a German navy encryption device. The system consisted of a number of gears, disks, and other components. Many believed that it was impossible for the system to be broken. In the end, the German navy lost in the technological arms races. This was due in part to the fact the Germans could never produce these innovations mass-produced.