In part 1 - listed here - we had a look over some of the technological innovations that the Axis used, specifically the Wunderwaffe of Germany.
In this part, we’ll analyse advancements that the Allies made during the war:
British
Proximity fuses
The proximity fuse was a unique explosive mechanism, that relied on proximity towards an enemy target for detonation. this was distinct from more traditional mechanisms, which were based on actual physical contact.
Traditional methods were problematic, especially in anti-air warfare. Given the technology of the time, it took a seasoned hand to shoot down an aeroplane via mere visual contact. The number of shells used to down a craft would be costly, and thus uneconomical.
Initial work on the theoretical and practical facets were made by British scientists, though mass production of the item was done in the USA.
In some ways, its production mirrored that of the Manhattan Project in terms of its secrecy and guarding. Like early atomic experiments, its details were shared with the USA via the British Tizard Mission.
US General Patton noted that the use of the device helped the Allies regain the upper hand in the Battle of the Bulge and push the Germans back to the pre-battle front lines.
Whilst the Germans and Japanese had similar projects, the British/American programme led to positive results and not only showed technological prowess but also co-operation which was a major reason the Allies prevailed in the conflict.
Radar and sonar
The first application of radar stems from the late 19th/early 20th century, as does sonar. The German Christian Hulsmeyer first demonstrated how objects can be detected via a radio wave scan.
However, it was the British who first used them in a widespread military context.
Modern practices of both stem from their application in the Battle of Britain and the Battle of the Atlantic respectively.
Radar systems were used en masse as a warning system, driven by the Home Chain mast system. RAF plotters could thus note the position of various Luftwaffe units and thus arrange defence accordingly.
Sonar was used to detect German U-Boats, via sound changes underwater. It successfully contributed to the victory in the Battle of the Atlantic and ensured Britain was well-supplied throughout the war.
Computer science
Bletchley Park is noted for its role in cracking key Axis codes, leading to successful operational and tactical planning.
This was done however by the first working computer.
Created by Alan Turing, it was a device that could process and arrange information so that humans could analyse its data to make decisions. It did this at a faster rate than any human could, and thus helped the Bletchley Park unit sort through masses of information accordingly.
It’s been said that use of this device, and the subsequent intelligence gathered, helped shorten the war by several years.
Turing’s work can also be said to be the genesis of computer science as a field. It was an early means of analysing, sorting, and developing methods of processing and interpreting data. It gave birth, ultimately, to the Internet, home computers, games consoles, embedded systems, smartphones, and a wide range of computing applications.
Catch part 3 for more details.