Most Important system development

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 6:13 am

What do you think is the most important single system developed/used in World War II? (ie Merlin engine, norden bomb site, Necco Wafers, etc...)

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 6:30 am

I would have to say the Merlin engine. It powered so many different types and was produced in multiple locations. Also if it wasn't for the Merlin we would not have had the first true long range escort, the P-51.

The Norden was inventive, but by the end of the war the tactics were carpet bombing anyway.

Mike

Alan Brooks · **Posted:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:04 am

Two really important items that were already in development before the war, but took quantum leaps that still effect us today..
1) Radar
2) guided rocket powered vehicles
Just a thought or two.... Alan

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 8:17 am

mrhenniger wrote:

I would have to say the Merlin engine.

I have to agree with you there Mike, the Merlin is actually what got me thinking along these lines. The Merlin or its derivitaves seem to be all over the place.

Michel Lemieux · **Posted:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 9:16 am

- Jet propulsion
- Rockets & V2's
- The first computer was also created in Britain to crack German codes

agent86 · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 3:57 am **Posts:** 926

How about the M-1 Garand rifle and K-rations.......... :shock:

Randy Haskin · **Posted:** Sun May 02, 2004 6:08 am

I can't believe that nobody's mentioned "jet engine"!

It may not have been that significant of a development during the war, but think about the 50-plus years of aircraft that have been using it since then!!

Ollie · **Posted:** Sun May 02, 2004 7:06 am

I'd say R-2800.

WIthout it, nothing much on the side of the US Navy.

And R-2800s are still around on a lots of airplanes today, Caribous, CL-215s, etc...

I say it's the best piston engine ever made.

Ryan Keough · **Posted:** Sun May 02, 2004 8:03 am

It's so difficult to pick THE most important development out of the list since WWII did so much to advance technology. Both sides developed amazing things in such a short period of time. You look at aircraft design at the start of the war and what was produced at the end of the war and you see quantum leaps in aerodynamics, powerplants, and systems.

Based on this I think one of the most important advances of WWII was the way we develop and produce. Based on manpower shortages during the war, we (US) were forced to abandon the male-dominated blue collar system and the employment of women started. Production lines were streamlined and a never-before seen system of efficient work revolutionized the method by which things were produced. Based on the shorter times of production, R&D took shape based on war department needs and were able to accomplish goals in much shorter periods of time than before.

I look at the wartime production of the B-24 at 19,000+ and see that no aircraft produced since met those numbers. Think that the majority of those were built in mainly 5 years... astonishing to think that they were only ONE of the types that were produced in quantity in WWII.

WWII gave birth to the high-tech industrial age in so many ways... single achievements were part of the whole picture.

Ryan Keough

peter · **Posted:** Sun May 02, 2004 10:00 am

If it wasnt for the invention of Radar, the Battle of Britain may have had a different outcome. Also the bombing offensive wouldnt have been as successful

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:50 pm

peter wrote:

If it wasnt for the invention of Radar

True, but without the Merlin the Battle Of Britain would have been VERY different. I doubt the RAF would have done nearly as well if they were flying biplane fighters against the Luftwaffe.

AndyG · **Posted:** Sun May 02, 2004 4:16 pm

It was Stanley Hookers development of the two stage supercharger for the Merlin that was really the quantum leap forward in all altitude performance for this engine. And of course the quite inspired British idea to bolt this variant onto the front of the then mediocre Mustang.

Ollie · **Posted:** Sun May 02, 2004 4:40 pm

The Mustang wasn't that bad, it excelled at low-levels.

Even after the Merlin was fitted to it, Allison powered Mustang were better down there.

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