Q&A ยท 1:34:54-1:36:09

Naval warfare without sonar

Without sonar, submarines and torpedoes gain enormous power, although underwater navigation and attack become harder too.

Question

How would Second World War naval battles and procurement change if sonar were never developed?

Short answer

Submarines and torpedoes would dominate, but submarines would also struggle to navigate and attack while remaining submerged.

Notes

Surface forces lose their principal means of chasing a submerged submarine, making the boat hardest to attack precisely when it is safest. Radar can still punish submarines that surface or expose a periscope. Yet the submarine also loses a vital navigation and targeting aid, creating a sharp divide between concealment and effective attack.