aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第1节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
Aeroplanes and Dirigibles of War
by Frederick A。 Talbot
PREFACE
Ever since the earliest days of the great conquest of the air;
first by the dirigible balloon and then by the aeroplane; their
use in time of war has been a fruitful theme for discussion。 But
their arrival was of too recent a date; their many utilities too
unexplored to provide anything other than theories; many
obviously untenable; others avowedly problematical。
Yet the part airships have played in the Greatest War has come as
a surprise even to their most convinced advocates。 For every
expectation shattered; they have shown a more than compensating
possibility of usefulness。
In this volume an endeavour has been made to record their
achievements; under the stern test of trial; as an axiom of war;
and to explain; in untechnical language; the many services to
which they have been and may be applied。
In the preparation of the work I have received assistance from
many sourcesBritish; French; Russian and Germanfrom official
reports and from men who have played a part in the War in the
Air。 The information concerning German military aircraft has
been obtained from Government documents; most of which were
placed at my disposal before the outbreak of war。
The use of aircraft has changed the whole art and science of
warfare。 With its disabilities well in hand; with its strength
but half revealed; the aerial service has revolutionised strategy
and shorn the unexpected attack of half its terrors。 The Fourth
Arm is now an invaluable part of the complex military machine。
F。 A。 TALBOT。
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I。 The introduction of aircraft into military operations
II。 The military uses of the captive balloon
III。 Germany's rise to military airship supremacy
IV。 Airships of war
V。 Germany's aerial dreadnought fleet
VI。 The military value of Germany's aerial fleet
VII。 Aeroplanes of war
VIII。 Scouting from the skies
IX。 The airman and artillery
X。 Bomb…throwing from air…craft
XI。 Armoured aeroplanes
XII。 Battles in the air
XIII。 Tricks and ruses to baffle the airman
XIV。 Anti…aircraft guns。 Mobile weapons
XV。 Anti…aircraft guns。 Immobile weapons
XVI。 Mining the air
XVII。 Wireless in aviation
XVIII。 Aircraft and naval operations
XIX。 The navies of the air
CHAPTER I
THE INTRODUCTION OF AIRCRAFT INTO MILITARY OPERATIONS
It is a curious circumstance that an invention; which is hailed
as being one of the greatest achievements ever recorded in the
march of civilisation; should be devoted essentially to the
maiming of humanity and the destruction of property。 In no
other trend of human endeavour is this factor so potently
demonstrated as in connection with Man's Conquest of the Air。
The dogged struggle against the blind forces of Nature was waged
tenaciously and perseveringly for centuries。 But the measure of
success recorded from time to time was so disappointing as to
convey the impression; except in a limited circle; that the
problem was impossible of solution。 In the meantime wondrous
changes had taken place in the methods of transportation by land
and sea。 The steam and electric railway; steam propulsion of
vessels; and mechanical movement along the highroads had been
evolved and advanced to a high standard of perfection; to the
untold advantage of the community。 Consequently it was argued;
if only a system of travel along the aerial highways could be
established; then all other methods of mechanical transportation
would be rendered; if not entirely obsolete; at least antiquated。
At last man triumphed over Natureat least to such a degree as
to inspire the confidence of the world at large; and to bring
aerial travel and transportation within range of realisation。
But what has been the result? The discovery is not devoted to
the interests of peace and economic development; but to
extermination and destruction。
At the same time this development may be explained。 The airship
and aeroplane in the present stage of evolution possess no
economic value。 True; cross…country cruises by airship have been
inaugurated; and; up to a point; have proved popularly; if not
commercially; successful; while tentative efforts have been made
to utilise the aeroplane as a mail…carrier。 Still; from the
view…point of the community at large aerial travel is as remote
as it was centuries ago。
It is somewhat interesting to observe how history is repeating
itself。 When the Montgolfiers succeeded in lifting themselves
into the air by means of a vessel inflated with hot air; the new
vehicle was hailed not so much as one possessed of commercial
possibilities; but as an engine of war! When the indomitable
courage and perseverance of Count von Zeppelin in the face of
discouraging disasters and flagrant failures; at last commanded
the attention of the German Emperor; the latter regarded the
Zeppelin craft; not from the interests of peace; but as a
military weapon; and the whole of the subsequent efforts of the
Imperial admirer were devoted to the perfection of the airship in
this one direction。
Other nations; when they embarked on an identical line of
development; considered the airship from a similar point of view。
In fact; outside Germany; there was very little private
initiative in this field。 Experiments and developments were
undertaken by the military or naval; and in some instances by
both branches; of the respective Powers。 Consequently the aerial
craft; whether it be a dirigible airship; or an aeroplane; can
only be regarded from the military point of view。
Despite the achievements which have been recorded by human
endeavour in the field of aerial travel; the balloon per se has
by no means been superseded。 It still remains an invaluable
adjunct to the fighting machine。 In Great Britain its value in
this direction has never been ignored: of late; indeed; it has
rather been developed。 The captive balloon is regarded as an
indispensable unit to both field and sea operations。 This fact
was emphasised very strongly in connection with the British naval
attacks upon the German forces in Flanders; and it contributed to
the discomfiture of the German hordes in a very emphatic manner。
The captive balloon may be operated from any spot where
facilities exist for anchoring the paying out cable together with
winding facilities for the latter。 Consequently; if exigencies
demand; it maybe operated from the deck of a warship so long as the
latter is stationary; or even from an automobile。 It is of small
cubic capacity; inasmuch as it is only necessary for the bag to
contain sufficient gas to lift one or two men to a height of about
500 or 600 feet。
When used in the field the balloon is generally inflated at the
base; to be towed or carried forward by a squad of men while
floating in the air; perhaps at a height of 10 feet。 A dozen men
will suffice for this duty as a rule; and in calm weather little
difficulty is encountered in moving from point to point。 This
method possesses many advantages。 The balloon can be inflated
with greater ease at the base; where it is immune from
interference by hostile fire。 Moreover; the facilities for
obtaining the requisite inflating agenthydrogen or coal gas
are more convenient at such a point。 If the base be far removed
from the spot at which it is desired to operate the balloon; the
latter is inflated at a convenient point nearer the requisite
position; advantage being taken of the protective covering
offered by a copse or other natural obstacle。
As is well known; balloons played an important part during the
siege of Paris in 1870…1; not only in connection with daring
attempts to communicate with the outer world; but in
reconnoitring the German positions around the beleaguered city。
But this was not the first military application of the aerial
vessel; it was used by the French against the Austrians in the
battle of Fleurus; and also during the American Civil War。 These
operations; however; were of a sporadic character; they were not
part and parcel of an organised military section。
It is not generally known that the British War office virtually
pioneered the military use of balloons; and subsequently the
methods perfected in Britain became recognised as a kind of
〃standard〃 and were adopted generally by the Powers with such
modifications as local exigencies seemed to demand。
The British military balloon department was inaugurated at
Chatham under Captain Templer in 1879。 It was devoted
essentially to the employ ment of captive balloons in war; and in
1880 a company of the Royal Engineers was detailed to the care of
this work in the field。 Six years previously the French military
department had adopted the captive balloon under