Technology/Weapons Ben and Zack

Factor
WW1 - Ships

Constructio
n

Concrete ships
During the first World War, steel was
becoming scarce, due to the mass
manufacturing of weapons. American
president Woodrow Wilson approved
the construction of 24 concrete ships.
By the time the ships were completed,
the war had already ended.

Owners

The allied forces owned the majority

of the battleships in WW1. The
Germans instead focused their navy
on submarines and U boats.

Major
developme
nts

Dreadnoughts (German)
There was a massive arms race for
the production of dreadnoughts (very
large and powerful warships) during
WW1. It was believed that the side
with the most dreadnoughts would
have the upper hand.
Other technologies
U boats (German)
Underwater mines (Allied)
Cruisers
Sizes varied from quite small to, in
some cases, as large or larger than
battleships. Speed was important for
most cruisers whilst armament and
protection varied considerably. Roles
included trade protection, scouting,
raiding, leading destroyer flotillas and
supporting battleships in a fleet
action.
There were several types of cruisers,
including Battle cruisers, armored
cruisers, scout cruisers and light
cruisers.

WW2 - Ships

Emergency ship building program

WW2 also so an emergency construction of
battleships. From late 1940 to 1945 the
united states put in an effort to quickly build
simple cargo ships to carry troops and
materiel to allies. Over 6,000 ships were
built.

Aircraft carriers and air escort

Battleships were vulnerable to dive bombing
and kamikaze planes, so aircraft carries
proved to be much more effective. Pearl
Harbour destroyed US Battleships, but left
the aircraft carries that would later
constitute the majority of their force
untouched.
New measures, tactics, and weapons for
naval ships were introduced from both sides.
Underwater Warfare
Integration of sonar and depth charges to
make an anti submarine system for ships.
The Bismark (Germanys flagship)

Use

For the Allies the most important use

of battleships was to support the
amphibious invasion of Gallipoli in
1915.
Ships used to blockade German naval
operation, and to restrict the
transportation of goods between the
central powers.
The Central powers focused on
submarines rather than battleships,
but they did use the ships they had to
counter the Allied blockade.
The First World War showed just how
vulnerable modern battleships were
to cheaper forms of weaponry, such
as the German U boats.

Major participation in the battle of the

Atlantic. Both sides deployed naval ships.
Winston Churchill on the battle of the
Atlantic: The longest, largest and most
complex battle in naval history.
Continuous blockade of Germany throughout
the war from Brittan. This was crucial as
Brittan relied heavily on imported goods.

German
warship
(Schleswi
g)

Americ
an
warship

The German
Hochseeflott
e
(dreadnough
WW1
German
Cruiser.

Americ
an
warship

Japanes
e
warship