aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第39节
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such as a battleship; may be detected at a far greater range。
Consequently the German naval programme is to send the Zeppelin a
certain distance ahead of the battleship squadron。 The dirigible
from its coign of vantage would be able to sight a hostile
squadron if it were within visual range and would communicate the
fact to the commander of the fleet below。 The latter would
decide his course according to information received; thus he
would be enabled to elude his enemy; or; if the tidings received
from the aerial scout should be favourable; to dispose his vessels
in the most favourable array for attack。
The German code of naval tactics does not foreshadow the use of
dirigible aircraft as vessels of attack。 Scouting is the primary
and indeed the only useful duty of the dirigible; although it is
quite possible that the aerial craft might participate in a
subsequent naval engagement; as; indeed; has been the case。 Its
participation; however; would be governed entirely by climatic
conditions。 The fact that the dirigible is a weak unit of attack
in naval operations is fully appreciated by all the belligerents。
The picture of a sky 〃black with Zeppelins〃 may appeal to the
popular imagination; and may induce the uninitiated to cherish
the belief that such an array would strike terror into the hearts
of the foe; but the naval authorities are well aware that no
material advantage would accrue from such a force。 In the first
place they would constitute an ideal target for the enemy's
vessels。 They would be compelled to draw within range in order
to render their own attack effective; and promiscuous shooting
from below would probably achieve the desired end。 One or more
of the hostile aircraft would be hit within a short while。 Such
disasters would undoubtedly throw the aerial fleet into
confusion; and possibly might interfere with the tactical
developments of its own friends upon the water below。
The shells hurled from the Zeppelins would probably inflict but
little damage upon the warships beneath。 Let it be conceded that
they weigh about 500 pounds; which is two…thirds of the weight of
the projectile hurled from the Krupp 128…centimetre howitzer。
Such a missile would have but little destructive effect if
dropped from a height of 1;000 feet。 To achieve a result
commensurate with that of the 28…centimetre howitzer the airship
would have to launch the missile from a height of about 7;000
feet。 To take aim from such an altitude is impossible;
especially at a rapidly moving target such as a battle…cruiser。
The fact must not be forgotten that Count Zeppelin himself has
expressed the opinion; the result of careful and prolonged
experiments; that his craft is practically useless at a height
exceeding 5;000 feet。 Another point must not be overlooked。 In
a spirited naval engagement the combatants would speedily be
obliterated from the view of those aloft by the thick pall of
smokethe combination of gun…fire and emission from the furnaces
and a blind attack would be just as likely to damage friend as
foe。
Even if the aircraft ventured to descend as low as 5;000 feet it
would be faced with another adverse influence。 The discharge of
the heavy battleship guns would bring about such an agitation of
the air above as to imperil the delicate equilibrium of an
airship。 Nor must one overlook the circumstance that in such an
engagement the Zeppelins would become the prey of hostile
aeroplanes。 The latter; being swifter and nimbler; would harry
the cumbersome and slow…moving dirigible in the manner of a dog
baiting a bear to such a degree that the dirigible would be
compelled to sheer off to secure ts own safety。 Desperate
bravery and grim determination may be magnificent physical
attributes; ut they would have to be superhuman to face the
stinging recurrent attacks of mosquito…aeroplanes。
The limitations of the Zeppelin; and in fact of all dirigible
aircraft; were emphasised upon the occasion of the British aerial
raid upon Cuxhaven。 Two Zeppelins bravely put out to overwhelm
the cruisers and torpedo boats which accompanied and supported
the British sea…planes; but when confronted with well…placed
firing from the guns of the vessels below they quickly decided
that discretion was the better part of valour and drew off。 In
naval operations the aeroplane is a far more formidable foe;
although here again there are many limitations。 The first and
most serious is the severely limited radius of action。 The
aeroplane motor is a hungry engine; while the fuel capacity of
the tank is restricted。 The German military authorities speedily
realised the significance of this factor and its bearing upon
useful operations; and forth with carried out elaborate
endurance tests。 In numerable flights were made with the
express purpose of determining how long a machine could remain in
the air upon a single fuel supply。
The results of these flights were collated and the achievements
of each machine in this direction carefully analysed; a mean
average drawn up; and then pigeon…holed。 The results were kept
secret; only the more sensational records being published to the
world。 As the policy of standardisation in the construction of
aeroplanes was adopted the radius of action of each type became
established。 It is true that variations of this factor even
among vessels exactly similar in every respect are inevitable;
but it was possible to establish a reliable mean average for
general guidance。
The archives of the Berlin military department are crowded with
facts and figures relating to this particular essential; so that
the radius of action; that is the mileage upon a single fuel
charge; of any class and type of machine may be ascertained in a
moment。 The consequence is that the military authorities are
able to decide the type of aeroplane which is best suited to a
certain projected task。 According to the dossier in the
pigeon…hole; wherein the results of the type are filed; the
aeroplane will be able to go so far; and upon arriving at that
point will be able to accomplish so much work; and then be able
to return home。 Consequently it is dispatched upon the especial
duty without any feeling of uncertainty。
Unfortunately; these experimental processes were too methodical
to prove reliable。 The endurance data were prepared from tests
carried out in the aerodrome and from cross…country trials
accomplished under ideal or fair…weather conditions。 The result
is that calculations have been often upset somewhat rudely by
weather conditions of a totally unexpected character; which bring
home vividly the striking difference between theory and practice。
The British and French aviation authorities have not adopted such
methodical standardisation or rule of thumb inferences; but
rather have fostered individual enterprise and initiative。 This
stimulation of research has been responsible for the creation of
a type of aeroplane specially adapted to naval service; and
generically known as the water plane; the outstanding point of
difference from the aeroplane being the substitution of canoes or
floats for the wheeled chassis peculiar to the land machine。 The
flier is sturdily built; while the floats are suf ficiently
substantial to support the craft upon the water in calm weather。
Perhaps it was the insular situation of the British nation which
was responsible for this trend of development; because so far as
Britain is concerned the sea…going aeroplane is in dispensable。
But the salient fact remains that to…day the waterplane service
of Great Britain is the most efficient in the world; the craft
being speedy; designed and built to meet the rough weather
conditions which are experienced around these islands; and ideal
vessels for patrol and raiding duties。
So far as the British practice is concerned the waterplane is
designed to operate in conjunction with; and not apart from; the
Navy。 It has been made the eyes of the Navy in the strictest
interpretation of the term。 In any such combination the great
difficulty is the establishment of what may be termed a mobile
base; inasmuch as the waterplane must move with the fleet。 This
end has been achieved by the evolution of a means of carrying a
waterplane upon; and launching it from; a battleship; if
necessary。
For this purpose a docking cradle or way has been provided aft
where the aeroplane may be housed until the moment arrives for
its employment。 Several vessels have been devoted to this
nursing duty and are known as parent ships to the waterplane
service。 All that is requisite when the time arrives for the
use of the seaplane is to lift it bodily by derrick or crane
from its cradle and to lower it upon the water。 It will be
remembered that the American naval authorities made an
experiment with a scheme for directly launching the warplane
from