aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第20章

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！



the　prow；　and　upon　the　upper　face　of　the　body　of　the　machine。　

The　gun　mounting　is　disposed　in　such　a　manner　that　it　is　able　to

command　a　wide　arc　of　fire　in　the　vertical　plane　over　the　nose　of

the　machine　and　more　particularly　in　the　downward　direction。



The　marksman　is　provided　with　a　special　seat；　but　when　he　comes

into　action　he　has　to　stand　to　manipulate　his　weapon。　　The　lower

part　of　his　body　is　protected　by　a　front　shield　of　steel　plate；　a

fifth　of　an　inch　in　thickness；　while　a　light　railing　extending

upon　either　side　and　behind　enables　the　gunner　to　maintain　his

position　when　the　aeroplane　is　banking　and　climbing。　　The　machine

gun；　of　the　Hotchkiss　type；　is　mounted　upon　a　swivel　attached　to

a　tripod；　while　the　latter　is　built　into　the　bracing　of　the　car；

so　as　to　ensure　a　fairly　steady　gun　platform。



While　the　gun　in　the　hands　of　a　trained　marksman　may　be

manipulated　with　destructive　effect；　the　drawbacks　to　the

arrangement　are　obvious。　　The　gunner　occupies　a　very　exposed

position；　and；　although　the　bullet…proof　shield　serves　to　break

the　effects　of　wind　when　travelling　at　high　speed　which　renders

the　sighting　and　training　of　the　weapon　extremely　difficult；　yet

he　offers　a　conspicuous　target；　more　particularly　when　the　enemy

is　able　to　assume　the　upper　position　in　the　air　as　a　result　of

superior　speed　in　travelling。　　The　gun；　however；　may　be　elevated

to　about　60　degrees；　which　elevation　may　be　accentuated　by　the

inclination　of　the　aeroplane　when　climbing；　while　the　facility

with　which　the　weapon　may　be　moved　through　the　horizontal　plane

is　distinctly　favourable。



But　the　aerial　marksman　suffers　from　one　very　pronounced　defect：

he　has　a　severely　restricted　survey　of　everything　below；　since

his　vision　is　interrupted　by　the　planes。　　The　result　is　that　an

enemy　who　has　lost　ascendancy　of　position　is　comparatively　safe

if　he　is　able　to　fly　immediately　below　his　adversary：　the

mitrailleuse　of　the　latter　cannot　be　trained　upon　him。　　On　the

other　hand　the　enemy；　if　equipped　with　repeating　rifles　or

automatic　pistols；　is　able　to　inflict　appreciable　damage　upon　the

craft　overhead；　the　difficulties　of　firing　vertically　into　the　

air　notwithstanding。



In　the　Vickers　system；　where　the　propeller　is　mounted　behind　the

car；　the　aeroplane　thus　operating　upon　the　pusher　principle；　the

nose　of　the　car　is　occupied　by　the　arm；　which　is　a　rifle　calibre

machine　gun　fitted　upon　a　special　mounting。　　The　prow　is　provided

with　an　embrasure　for　the　weapon　and　the　latter　is　so　installed

as　to　command　an　angle　of　30　degrees　on　all　sides　of　the

longitudinal　axis　of　the　machine　when　in　flight。　　In　this

instance　the　marksman　is　provided　with　complete　protection　on　all

sides；　inasmuch　as　his　position　is　in　the　prow；　where　the　hood　of

the　fo'c's'le　shields　him　from　overhead　attack。　　The　gun　is

protected　by　a　special　shield　which　moves　with　the　gun　barrel。　

This　shield　is　provided　with　mica　windows；　through　which　the

gunner　is　able　to　sight　his　arm；　so　that　he　is　not　inconvenienced

in　any　way　by　the　wind　draught。



One　shortcoming　of　such　methods　of　arming　an　aeroplane　will　be

observed。　　Ahead　firing　only　is　possible；　the　weapon　cannot　be

trained　astern；　while　similarly　the　line　of　fire　on　either

broadside　is　severely　limited。　　This　is　one　reason　why　the

machine…gun　armament　of　aerial　craft　of　the　heavier…than…air　type

has　not　undergone　extensive　development。　　In　many　instances　the

pilot　and　observer　have　expressed　their　preference　for　repeating

high　velocity　rifles　over　any　form　of　fixed　gun　mounting；　and

have　recourse　to　the　latter　only　when　the　conditions　are

extremely　favourable　to　its　effective　employment。



Efforts　are　now　being　made　to　equip　the　military　type　of

aeroplane　with　both　forward　and　astern　firing　guns。　　The　urgency

of　astern　fire　has　been　brought　home　very　vividly。　　Suppose；　for

instance；　two　hostile　aeroplanes；　A　and　B；　are　in　the　air。　　A　has

the　advantage　at　first；　but　B　is　speedier　and　rapidly　overhauls

A。　　During　the　whole　period　of　the　overhauling　movement　the

gun　of　B　can　be　directed　upon　A；　while　the　latter；　owing　to　the

arc　of　training　being　limited　to　c　d　cannot　reply。　　Obviously　in

the　running　fight　it　would　be　to　the　advantage　of　B；　although　the

fleeter　machine；　to　keep　behind　A　（position　1）；　but　the　latter　is

making　towards　its　own　lines。



Under　these　circumstances　A　must　be　headed　off；　so　B　crowds　on

speed　to　consummate　this　end。　　But　in　the　overtaking　process　B

renders　his　gun…fire　ineffective；　inasmuch　as　B　passes　beyond　the

arc　of　his　gun　which　is　represented　by　e　f。　　But　in　so　doing　B

comes　within　the　firing　arc　of　A　（position　9）。　　To　minimise　this

danger　B　ascends　to　a　higher　level　to　obtain　the　paramount

position。



If；　however；　B　were　equipped　with　an　astern　gun　the　aeroplane　A

would　be　within　the　fire　of　B　when　the　forward　gun　of　the　latter

could　not　be　used。　　Similarly　if　A　were　also　fitted　with　an

astern　gun　it　would　be　able　to　attack　its　pursuer　the　whole

time　B　was　to　its　rear　and　in　this　event；　if　its　gun…fire　were

superior；　it　would　be　able　to　keep　the　latter　to　a　safe　distance；

or　compel　B　to　manoeuvre　into　a　superior　position；　which　would

entail　a　certain　loss　of　time。



An　astern　firing　gun　would　be　valuable　to　B　in　another　sense。　

Directly　it　had　passed　A　or　brought　the　latter　within　the　zone　of

its　astern　gun　it　could　maintain　its　fire　at　the　most

advantageous　range；　because　owing　to　its　speed　it　would　be　able

to　dictate　the　distance　over　which　shots　should　be　exchanged　and

if　mounted　with　a　superior　weapon　would　be　able　to　keep　beyond

the　range　of　A's　guns　while　at　the　same　time　it　would　keep　A

within　range　of　its　own　gun　and　consequently　rake　the　latter。　　In

the　interests　of　self…preservation　A　would　be　compelled　to

change　its　course；　in　fact；　B　would　be　able　to　drive　it　in　any

direction　he　desired；　as　he　would　command　A's　movements　by

gun…fire。



The　value　of　combined　ahead　and　astern　firing　has　been

appreciated；　but　there　is　one　difficulty　which　at　the　moment

appears　to　be　insuperable　the　clearance　of　the　propeller。　　At　the

moment　astern…firing；　if　such　it　may　be　called；　is　maintained　by

repeating　rifles；　but　this　armament　is　not　to　be　compared　with

machine…gun　firing；　as　the　latter　with　its　capacity　to　pour　400

to　600　shots　a　minute；　is　far　more　deadly；　particularly　when　the

weapon　is　manipulated　by　a　crack　gunner。



Up　to　the　present　the　offensive　armament　of　aeroplanes　has　been

confined　to　light　machine　guns　such　as　the　Hotchkiss；　Berthier；

Schwartlose；　and　Maxim　weapons。　　So　far　as　the　arming　of

aeroplanes　is　concerned　the　indispensable　condition　is　light

weight。　　With　airships　this　factor　is　not　so　vital；　the　result

being　that　some　dirigibles　are　mounted　with　guns；　throwing　one

pound　bursting　shells；　fitted　either　with　delay　action　or

percussion　fuses；　the　former　for　preference。　　These　shells　are

given　a　wide　cone　of　dispersion。　　Experiments　are　also　being　made

with　a　gun　similar　to　the　pom…pom　which　proved　so　useful　in　South

Africa；　the　gun　throwing　small　shells　varying　from　four　to　eight

ounces　in　weight　at　high　velocity　and　in　rapid　succession。　　While

such　missiles　would　not　be　likely　to　inflict　appreciable　damage

upon　an　armoured　aeroplane；　they　would　nevertheless　be

disconcerting　to　the　aviators　subjected　to　such　fire；　and　in

aerial　combats　the　successful　undermining　of　the　adversary's

moral　is　of　far　greater　importance　than　in　land　operations；　since

immediately　ascendancy　in　the　artillery　operations　is　attained

the　final　issue　is　a　matter　of　moments。



But　the　most　devastating　arm　which　has　yet　been　contrived　for

aerial　operations　is　the　light　machine　gun　which　has　recently

been　perfected。　　The　one　objective　with　this　weapon　is　to　disable

the　hostile　aircraft's　machinery。　　It　fires　an　armour　piercing

projectile　which；　striking　the　motor　of　any　aircraft；　would

instantly　put　the　latter　out　of　action。　　The　shell　has　a　diameter

of　about　。75　inch　and　weighs　about　four　ounces。　　The　gun　is　a

hybrid　of　the　mitrailleuse　and　the　French　〃Soixante…quinze；〃

combining　the　firing　rapidity　of　the　former　with　the　recoil

mechanism　of　the　latter。　　This　missile　has　established　its

ability　to　penetrate　the　defensive　armouring　of　any　aeroplane　and

the　motor　of　the　machine　at　1；000　yards'　range。　　This　offensive

arm　is　now　being　manufactured；　so　that　it　is　likely　to　be　seen　in

the　near　future　as　the　main　armament　of　aeroplanes。



At　the　moment　widespread　efforts　are　being　made　in　the　direction

of　increasing　the　offensive　efficiency　of　aircraft。　　It　is　one　of

the　phases　of　ingenuity　which　has　been　stimulated　into　activity

as　a　result　of　the　war。







CHAPTER　XII

BATTLES　IN　THE　AIR



Ever　since　the　days　of　Jules　Verne　no　theme　has　proved　so　popular

in　fiction　as　fighting　in　the　air。　　It　was　a　subject　which　lent

itself　to　vivid　imagination　and　spirited　picturesque　portrayal。　

Discussion　might　be　provoked；　but　it　inevitably　proved　abortive；

inasmuch　as　there　was　a　complete　absence　of　data　based　upon

actual　experience。　　The　novelist　was　without　any　theory：　he

avowedly　depended　upon　the　brilliance　of　his　imagination。　　The

critic　could　only　theorise；　and　no　matter　how　dogmatic　his

reasonings；　they　were　certainly　as　unconvincing　as　those　of　the

object　of　his　attack。



But　truth　has　proved　stranger　than　fiction。　　The　imaginative

pictures　of　the　novelist　have　not　only　been　fulfilled　but

surpassed；　while　the　theorising　critic　has　been　utterly

confounded。　　Fighting　in　the　air　has　become　so　inseparable　from

the　military　operations　of　to…day　that　it　occurs　with　startling

frequency。　　A　contest　between　hostile　aeroplanes；　hundreds　of

feet　above　the　earth；　is　no　longer　regarded　as　a　dramatic；

thrilling　spectacle：　it　has　become　as　matter…of…fact　as　a　bayonet

melee　between　opposed　forces　of　infantry。



A　duel　in　the　clouds　differs　from　any　other　form　of　encounter。　

It　is　fought　mercilessly：　there　can　be　no　question　of　quarter　or

surrender。　　The　white　flag　is　no　protection；　for　the　simple

reason　that　science　and　mechanical　ingenuity　have　failed；　so　far；

to　devise　a　means　of　taking　an　aeroplane　in　tow。　　The　victor　has

no　possible　method　of　forcing　the　vanquished　to　the　ground　in　his

own　territory　except　driving。　　If　such　a　move　be　made　there　is

the　risk　that　the　latter　will　take　the　advantage　of　a　critical

opportunity　to　effect　his　escape；　or　to　turn　the　tables。　　For

these　reasons　the　fight　is　fought　to　a　conclusive　finish。



To　aspire　to　success　in　these　combats　waged　in　the　trackless

blue；　speed；　initiative；　and　daring　are　essential。　　Success　falls

to　the　swift　in　every　instance。　　An　aeroplane　travelling　at　a

high　speed；　and　pursuing　an　undulating　or　irregular　trajectory　is

almostimpossible　to　hit　from　the　ground；　as　sighting　is　so

extremely　difficult。　　Sighting　from　another　mac