What specific military necessity primarily drove the applied development of SONAR during World War I?

Answer

The search for a way to detect enemy submarines underwater

The transition from theoretical understanding of high-frequency sound to practical hardware development was heavily catalyzed by military requirements, specifically during World War I. Before this period, high-frequency sound detection attempts existed but lacked the necessary power and reliable control. The urgent need to locate and track submerged enemy vessels, such as U-boats, provided the primary focus that led directly to the creation of SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging). This high-stakes environment spurred significant investment into creating powerful, reliable apparatuses capable of reflecting sound off submerged objects over long distances, setting the stage for subsequent technological evolution.

What specific military necessity primarily drove the applied development of SONAR during World War I?
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