Inventions Created Due to the War (2 of 4)

7. Jet Engines

By using jet engines, jets can easily cruise through the skies quickly and without any real effort, being pushed forward by lots of air and sometimes water. Because of this, air travel is as quick and safe as it has ever been and this is due to the enhancements and evolution that the jet engine has been put under throughout the years. Nowadays, they are also used in more things than just aircraft such as industrial machinery – increasing productivity and efficiency.

How did the jet engine come into being? The first jet engine was created in 1939 by Hans von Ohain, a German scientist. In just one year, he powered and created an engine-powered jet. This made it easier to construct a new field of warfare. Only in its early stage of life, it required more resources and money for fuel so that it could last for longer in the future. However, the modern jet engine that we know today is used every day in the industry.

7. Antibiotics and Penicillin

Today’s modern medicine is something that we often take for granted as there is a cure for so many different diseases. However, this wasn’t always the case. When World War II began, the need for medicine was growing higher and higher so that injured soldiers could be healed; especially if they had any infections which could prove to be fatal.

It was Howard Florey, an Australian scientist who created penicillin which is used so frequently today. Alongside Sir Alexander Fleming, the pair of them won a Nobel Prize for their input to medical science. By the time 1941 rolled around, this breakthrough in medicine had been distributed all across the world and has proven to be one of the greatest accomplishments of medicine.

8. Depth Charges

With the onslaught of German U-boats causing fatalities to opposing soldiers, there was a need for something equal to be curated to fight back as they couldn’t just avoid open sea. The need was for a potent device which could halt the U-boats.

These devices were coined ‘depth charges’. They were pitched from boats and used as a form of attack against enemy submarines. These were designed to explode when they had reached the specified depth, which in turn protected the ship which launched the charge from receiving any collateral damage. They were put to use in 1916 and were proficient in battling against German U-boats.

9. Flamethrowers

People have been using fire as a weapon since medieval times. The flamethrower, however, can’t be compared to the regular torch or flaming trebuchet. It was first used in World War I, although it wasn’t used consistently until World War II.

They were mainly useful when fighting in the trenches. Enemies often hid in the trenches and the flamethrowers were used to fight against them quickly if they were pounced upon. However, they did come with their own limits. For example, they were extremely heavy and bulky to carry around. But they were efficient in killing those who needed to be killed. They were first put to use by the Germans in 1915.

10. Canned Food

Who doesn’t love canned food? It’s a useful food to have and keep in your cupboards for a long time due to the extensive shelf life that they often have. People often stock up if they believe that there’s going to be something that will trap them in their home for a long time such as an act of God or something similar such as war. In World War I, they were extremely useful.

The soldiers needed food that would fill them up for a long time but that would also last a long time without being stored in a fridge or another container.