How fearless British pilots downed giant German Zeppelins using exploding DARTS in the First World War
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:46 PM on 18th February 2011
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It was the logical way to take out targets that were essentially massive balloons filled with flammable gas.
When British First World War pilots were asked to destroy German Zeppelins, they did not turn to guns - but a giant exploding dart.
Now one of the foot-long steel-tipped darts is being sold at auction, without the explosives, and is expected to fetch £1,200.
Bullseye: the exploding dart was dropped on German zeppelins by British pilots who leaned over the side of their cockpits
Bullseye: The exploding dart was dropped on German Zeppelins by British pilots who leaned over the side of their cockpits
British biplane pilots would fly above the giant airships - filled with highly flammable hydrogen - lean over the side of the cockpit and drop the darts on top of them.
The projectile was designed to puncture the canvas skin of the balloon, drop inside and then explode, igniting the hydrogen.
Zeppelins successfully targeted would explode in a ball flames - similar to the Hindenburg disaster in 1937 - meaning the pilots had to make a quick escape if they were to avoid going down with the airship.
Sitting target: a German Zeppelin pictured leaving for a bombing raid on London during the First World War The balloons were filled with highly flammable hydrogen
Sitting target: A German Zeppelin pictured leaving for a bombing raid on London during the First World War. The balloons were filled with highly flammable hydrogen
The Aerial Anti Zeppelin Ranken Exploding Dart was invented by Commander Francis Ranken of the Royal Navy in 1915 and was dropped from a height of up to 700ft, but between 300ft and 400ft was the optimum altitude to attack the low-flying German airships.
The example that has turned up for sale at auction is thought to have been a demonstration model, which is why it was never used.
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* Pictured: The 500mph pilot with time for a friendly wave
The metal dart comes in a specially designed wooden box with the other components fixed next to it.
In the First World War, planes were initially not seen as a weapon, but increasingly became so as their potential destructive power was realised.
Dropping bombs was quickly seen to be an effective way to inflict damage on the enemy - and the method of destroying Zeppelins was a refinement.
They were either dropped individually or in clusters.
Steven Bosley, who is selling the dart at auction, said: 'You had to be extremely brave to use these things.
Up in flames: the zeppelins would explode in a fireball similiar to the 1937 Hindenburg disaster, above, when the hydrogen-filled airship burst into flames after hitting a mooring mast
Up in flames: The Zeppelins would explode in a fireball similar to the 1937 Hindenburg disaster, above, when the hydrogen-filled airship burst into flames after hitting a mooring mast
'They are very rare and we believe this example was used as an instructional aid. It was designed to bring down Zeppelins.
'And to do that it was designed to ignite the gas inside, and if you've seen pictures of these things go up you know that the person dropping it would have had to make a quick getaway.
'The plane would have flown above the Zeppelin and the dart was dropped on to the Zeppelin from above.
'The sharp point would pierce the material and then a small charge behind it would explode, igniting the gas.
"They did work apparently, and they showed how quickly air warfare became part of the overall conflict.'
The dart goes up for auction at Bosleys in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, on March 2.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1G9iKOtEn
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/War_To_End_All_Wars/
http://www.military-discussion.com/forum/
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:46 PM on 18th February 2011
* Comments (24)
* Add to My Stories
It was the logical way to take out targets that were essentially massive balloons filled with flammable gas.
When British First World War pilots were asked to destroy German Zeppelins, they did not turn to guns - but a giant exploding dart.
Now one of the foot-long steel-tipped darts is being sold at auction, without the explosives, and is expected to fetch £1,200.
Bullseye: the exploding dart was dropped on German zeppelins by British pilots who leaned over the side of their cockpits
Bullseye: The exploding dart was dropped on German Zeppelins by British pilots who leaned over the side of their cockpits
British biplane pilots would fly above the giant airships - filled with highly flammable hydrogen - lean over the side of the cockpit and drop the darts on top of them.
The projectile was designed to puncture the canvas skin of the balloon, drop inside and then explode, igniting the hydrogen.
Zeppelins successfully targeted would explode in a ball flames - similar to the Hindenburg disaster in 1937 - meaning the pilots had to make a quick escape if they were to avoid going down with the airship.
Sitting target: a German Zeppelin pictured leaving for a bombing raid on London during the First World War The balloons were filled with highly flammable hydrogen
Sitting target: A German Zeppelin pictured leaving for a bombing raid on London during the First World War. The balloons were filled with highly flammable hydrogen
The Aerial Anti Zeppelin Ranken Exploding Dart was invented by Commander Francis Ranken of the Royal Navy in 1915 and was dropped from a height of up to 700ft, but between 300ft and 400ft was the optimum altitude to attack the low-flying German airships.
The example that has turned up for sale at auction is thought to have been a demonstration model, which is why it was never used.
More...
* Pictured: The 500mph pilot with time for a friendly wave
The metal dart comes in a specially designed wooden box with the other components fixed next to it.
In the First World War, planes were initially not seen as a weapon, but increasingly became so as their potential destructive power was realised.
Dropping bombs was quickly seen to be an effective way to inflict damage on the enemy - and the method of destroying Zeppelins was a refinement.
They were either dropped individually or in clusters.
Steven Bosley, who is selling the dart at auction, said: 'You had to be extremely brave to use these things.
Up in flames: the zeppelins would explode in a fireball similiar to the 1937 Hindenburg disaster, above, when the hydrogen-filled airship burst into flames after hitting a mooring mast
Up in flames: The Zeppelins would explode in a fireball similar to the 1937 Hindenburg disaster, above, when the hydrogen-filled airship burst into flames after hitting a mooring mast
'They are very rare and we believe this example was used as an instructional aid. It was designed to bring down Zeppelins.
'And to do that it was designed to ignite the gas inside, and if you've seen pictures of these things go up you know that the person dropping it would have had to make a quick getaway.
'The plane would have flown above the Zeppelin and the dart was dropped on to the Zeppelin from above.
'The sharp point would pierce the material and then a small charge behind it would explode, igniting the gas.
"They did work apparently, and they showed how quickly air warfare became part of the overall conflict.'
The dart goes up for auction at Bosleys in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, on March 2.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1G9iKOtEn
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/War_To_End_All_Wars/
http://www.military-discussion.com/forum/
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