太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > aeroplanes and dirigibles of war >

第35节

aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第35节

小说: aeroplanes and dirigibles of war 字数: 每页4000字

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!




ignited; and would bring about the explosion of the airship。



Another method has even been advocated。  It is averred in

authoritative circles that when the aerial invasion in force of

Great Britain is attempted; the Zeppelins will advance under the

cover of clouds。  Also that the craft will make for one 

objectiveLondon。  Doubtless advantage will be taken of clouds;

inasmuch as they will extend a measure of protection to the craft;

and will probably enable the invading fleet to elude the vigilance

of the aeroplane scouts and patrols。  Under these circumstances it

is suggested that balloon…mines should be sent aloft and be

concealed in the clouds。  It would be impossible to detect the

wires holding them captive; so that the precise location of the 

lurking danger would not be divined by the invader。  Of course;

the chances are that the invading airship would unconsciously

miss the mines; on the other hand the possibilities are equally

great that it would blunder into one of these traps and be blown

to atoms。



An English airman has recently suggested a means of mining

invading Zeppelins which differs completely from the foregoing

proposals。  His idea is that aeroplanes should be equipped with

small mines of the contact type; charged with high explosives;

and that the latter should be lowered from the aeroplane and be

trawled through the atmosphere。  As an illustration I will suppose

that a hostile aircraft is sighted by a patrolling aeroplane。

The pilot's companion in the latter immediately prepares his

aerial mine; fixing the detonator; and attaching the mine to the

wire。  The latter is then dropped overboard; the wire being paid

out from a winch until it has descended to the level of the

hostile craft。  The airman now manoeuvres in the air circling

about the airship; dragging his mine behind him; and endeavouring

to throw it across or to bring it into contact with the airship

below。  Naturally the latter; directly it observed the airman's

object; would endeavour to elude the pursuing trawling mine;

either by crowding on speed or by rising to a greater altitude。

The aeroplane; however; would have the advantage both in point of

speed  and powers of climbing; while there is no doubt that the

sight of the mine swinging in the air would exert a decisive

moral effect upon those in the airship。



Attempts to render the mine harmless by discharging it

prematurely with the aid of rifle and machine…gun fire would; of

course; be made by the crew of the airship; but the trawling mine

would prove a very difficult target to strike。  If such a missile

were used against an airship of the proportions of a Zeppelin the

mine would inevitably be trawled across the vessel sooner or

later。  Once the airship had been fouled; the aviator would

merely have to drive ahead; dragging the wire and its charge 

across the gas…bag until at last one of the contact levers of the

mine was moved by being dragged against some part of the vessel;

when the mine would be exploded。  In such operations the aviator

would run a certain risk; as he would be more or less above the

airship; and to a certain degree within the zone of the ultimate

explosion。  But there is no doubt that he would succeed in his 

〃fishing〃 exploit within a very short time。



This ingenious scheme has already been tested upon a small scale

and has been found effective; the trawling bomb being drawn

across its target and fired by contact within a few minutes。  The

experiment seems to prove that it would be simpler and more

effectual to attack a hostile aircraft such as a Zeppelin in this

manner than to drop free bombs at random。  Moreover; we cannot

doubt that the sight of a mine containing even ten or twelve

pounds of high explosive dangling at the end of a wire would

precipitate a retreat on the part of an airship more speedily

than any other combative expedient。



The advocate of this mine…trawling method; who is a well…known

aviator; anticipates no difficulty in manoeuvring a mine weighing

30 pounds at the end of 300 feet of fine wire。  Success depends

in a great measure on the skill of the aviator in maintaining a

constant tension upon the line until it falls across its

objective。



The process calls for a certain manifestation of skill in

manoeuvring the aeroplane in relation to the airship; judgment of

distance; and ability to operate the aeroplane speedily。  The

rapid ascensional capability of the airship; as compared with

that of the aeroplane; is a disadvantage; but on the other hand;

the superior mobility and speed of the aeroplane would tell

decisively for success。



Among the many wonders which the Krupp organisation is stated to

have perfected; and which it is claimed will create considerable

surprise; is the aerial torpedo。  Many of the Krupp claims are

wildly chimerical; as events have already proved; but there is no

doubt that considerable effort has been expended upon this latest

missile; for which the firm is said to have paid the inventor

upwards of L25;000125;000。  Curiously enough the projectile

was perfected within gunshot of the British aerodrome of Hendon

and is stated to have been offered to the British Government at

the time; and to have met with a chilling reception。  One fact;

however; is well established。  The inventor went to Germany; and

submitted his idea to Krupp; by whom it was tested without delay。 

Upon the completion of the purchase; the great armament

manufacturers did not fail to publish broadcast the fact that

they had acquired a mysterious new terror of the skies。  That was

some three years ago; and in the interval the cleverest brains of

the German firm have been steadily devoting their time and

energies to the improvement of the missile; the first appearance

of which was recorded; in a somewhat hazy manner; in the closing

days of December。



While the exact mechanism of this missile is a secret; the

governing principles of its design and operation are known to a

select few technicians in this country。  Strange to say; the

projectile was designed in the first instance in the interests of

peace and humanty; but while engaged upon his experiments the

inventor suddenly concluded that it would be a more profitable

asset if devoted to the grim game of war。  At the time the

military significance of the airship and the aeroplane were

becoming apparent; hence the sudden diversion of the idea into a

destructive channel。



This aerial torpedo is a small missile carrying a charge of high

explosive; such as trinitrotoluene; and depends for its

detonation upon impact or a time fuse。  It is launched into the

air from a cradle in the manner of the ordinary torpedo; but the

initial velocity is low。  The torpedo is fitted with its own

motive power; which comes automatically into action as the

missile climbs into the air。  This self…contained energy is so

devised that the maximum power is attained before the missile has

lost the velocity imparted in the first instance; the result

being that it is able to continue its flight in a horizontal

direction from the moment it attains the highest point in its

trajectory; which is naturally varied according to requirements。 

But there is no secret about the means of propulsion。  The body

is charged with a slow…burning combustible; in the manner of the

ordinary rocket; whereby it is given a rapid rotary motion。



Furthermore it is stated to be fitted with a small gyroscope in

the manner of the torpedo used in the seas; for the purpose of

maintaining direction during flight; but upon this point there is

considerable divergence of opinion among technicians; the general

idea being that the torpedo depends upon an application of the

principle of the ordinary rocket rather than upon a small engine

such as is fitted to the ordinary torpedo。  The employment of a

slow combustible ensures the maintenance of the missile in the

air for a period exceeding that of the ordinary shell。  It is

claimed by the Germans that this projectile will keep aloft for

half…an…hour or more; but this is a phantasy。  Its maintenance of

flight is merely a matter of minutes。



The belated appearance of this much…lauded projectile and its

restricted use suggest that it is unreliable; and perhaps no more

effective than the aerial torpedo which appeared in the United

States during the Spanish…American War; and proved a complete

failure。  An effective and reliable means of combating or

frustrating a dirigible attack; other than by gun…fire or resort

to the drastic remedy of ramming the enemy; has yet to be

devised。







CHAPTER XVII

WIRELESS IN AVIATION



In a previous chapter the various methods of signalling between

the ground and the airman aloft have been described。  Seeing that

wireless telegraphy has made such enormous strides and has

advanced to such a degree of perfection; one naturally would

conclude tha

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的