<P> The Matilda Mk I tanks of the British Army were also designed for infantry support and were protected by thick armour . This was ideal for trench warfare, but made the tanks painfully slow in open battles . Their light cannons and machine - guns were usually unable to inflict serious damage on German vehicles . The exposed caterpillar tracks were easily broken by gunfire, and the Matilda tanks had a tendency to incinerate their crews if hit, as the petrol tanks were located on the top of the hull . By contrast the Infantry tank Matilda II fielded in lesser numbers was largely invulnerable to German gunfire and its gun was able to punch through the German tanks . However French and British tanks were at a disadvantage compared to the air supported German armoured assaults, and a lack of armoured support contributed significantly to the rapid Allied collapse in 1940 . </P> <P> World War II marked the first full - scale war where mechanization played a significant role . Most nations did not begin the war equipped for this . Even the vaunted German Panzer forces relied heavily on non-motorised support and flank units in large operations . While Germany recognized and demonstrated the value of concentrated use of mechanized forces, they never had these units in enough quantity to supplant traditional units . However, the British also saw the value in mechanization . For them it was a way to enhance an otherwise limited manpower reserve . America as well sought to create a mechanized army . For the United States, it was not so much a matter of limited troops, but instead a strong industrial base that could afford such equipment on a great scale . </P> <P> The most visible vehicles of the war were the tanks, forming the armored spearhead of mechanized warfare . Their impressive firepower and armor made them the premier fighting machine of ground warfare . However, the large number of trucks and lighter vehicles that kept the infantry, artillery, and others moving were massive undertakings also . </P> <P> Naval warfare changed dramatically during World War II, with the ascent of the aircraft carrier to the premier vessel of the fleet, and the impact of increasingly capable submarines on the course of the war . The development of new ships during the war was somewhat limited due to the protracted time period needed for production, but important developments were often retrofitted to older vessels . Advanced German submarine types came into service too late and after nearly all the experienced crews had been lost . </P>

How did world war ii represent new technology how did this technology affect the outcome of the war