Posted by MyBomberJacket.com on 21st Jun 2017

5 Important Weapons from WWII

1. The Atomic Bomb

It might seem out of place including the Atomic Bomb in a list of conventional weapons.

True, the Atomic bomb was a weapon of different caliber. A bomb that could level a city, faster than a thousand bombers. The A-bomb also symbolizes the capacity of the US to exploit scientific and industrial resources towards a single objective at a level no other country could match.

However, the truth is, as a weapon of war the A-bomb had more shock value than practical impact during the Second World War. Not only was the bomb too complicated to mass-produce in the 1940s, by 1945 British and American aircraft had already destroyed most German and Japanese cities of note.

But the debate continues as to what instigated the Japanese surrender. Is it the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Could it have been prompted by Soviet declaration of war? How one fundamental factor for America’s victory in the Second World War may be described as a case of quantity and quality.

Because, the vast number of weapons not only gave America the edge in the war effort but also buttressed the chances of allied nations like Britain and Russia. That is not to say that every American weapon deployed for the war was a masterpiece. As an example, the ever-present M-4 Sherman was at best mediocre.

Early aircraft like the P-40 and P-30 were far from outstanding (except under the control of the Flying Tigers). Besides, US torpedoes had a reputation of inefficiency. Nevertheless, by late 1943, improvements their effectiveness improved. However, by harnessing its robust, industrial, and technological resources, America was able to develop many excellent weapons.

2. Proximity Fuses

While many did not regard shell fuses as weapons of war, to Japanese pilots and German infantry troopers at the receiving end, the opinion differs.

At that period, most anti-aircraft guns lacked radar facilities or advanced fire-control computer systems. And that reduced their capacity to hit targets. Indeed, thousands of rounds had to be fired, to bring down an enemy target.

The problem became magnified, when the Japanese started deploying Kamikaze fighters. The suicide operations had to be countered immediately.

But the Americans found a way to put tiny radar in the nose of each anti-aircraft shell. This initiative made a lot of difference in their war strategies. Which means that instead of having to strike the aircraft to be effective, the bomb could blast once the onboard radar detected a nearby opponent, spraying fragments across a wide area.

This Variable Time fuse (VT) technique helped the US Navy counter the Kamikaze threat of the Japanese. Also, it assisted the hard-pressed US army in the Battle of the Bulge.

3. M-1 Garand

At the beginning of the Second World War, soldiers were fighting with bolt-action rifles that dated back to the nineteenth century. However, the M-1 Garand changed the tide. The semi-automatic rifle could spit out bullets at a far higher rate.

It proved to be a reliable and effective weapon, giving the Americans a fighting chance against enemy weapons such as the deadly German MG-42.

4. Essex-Class Carrier

The Essex-Class Carrier was the backbone of the US Carrier fleet. It accommodated about one hundred fighters, dive-bombers, and torpedo-bombers. The Carrier was equipped with advanced radar and fighter direction facilities. With these systems in place, it was able to counter and destroy Imperial Japanese Navy in conflicts such as the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf.

Also, even after the Pacific war, the Essex-class carrier remained active in Vietnam and Korea, with ships such as the USS Essex, Ticonderoga, and Hancock launching combat missions.

5. Gato-Class Subs

The Gato-class Subs were the backbone of the US underwater fleet. While many will credit the US Navy Carriers and Battleships for defeating Japan, the Gato-Class Subs hold the enviable record of destroying 55 percent of Japanese Naval tonnage.

However, there is a lot of debate on how the Gato-class Subs performed in comparison to other World War 2 veterans such as the German U-Boat. You may regard this argument more as an academic exercise.

This is because Japanese Submarines were found to be inferior and unsophisticated. They did not pose a significant challenge to American subs. In comparison to the intense and bitter fights that led the Allies to kill 60 percent of German U-boat crews.

Nonetheless, the Gato-Class Subs remains one of the most vicious weapons of war ever produced.