At a time when German U-boats ruthlessly preyed upon the maritime convoys bringing essential supplies to British shores, another pioneering form of technology - the airship - was being deployed to counter this threat. From the first military airships, including the optimistically named Nulli Secundus (Second to None), through the various designs introduced by the Admiralty at the height ofthe cat-and-mouse duel between airship and submarine in World War I, to their post-war development and the tragic accident in 1930 which marked the end of the airship's service, Ian Castle tells the story of these aeronautical wonders that played such a crucial role in the defence of Britain.
At a time when German U-Boats were ruthlessly attacking the maritime convoys engaged in bringing essential supplies to British shores, British airships played a vital role in neutralizing this danger and were crucial in enabling Britain to eventually emerge victorious. In 1907 the British Army built the military's first airship, and at the outbreak of World War I there were a total of seven airships under control of the Admiralty, hunting U-Boats from the skies. This book reveals the fascinating story of the cat and mouse duel between the airship and another pioneering form of technology - the submarine. Detailed cut-away drawings reveal the design and development of the airship, during and after the war, whilst full-color illustrations depict the airship in dramatic action shots. A tragic accident in 1930 brought the airship's military service to an end, resulting in a tiny window in which they were used and little acknowledgement over the years. Ian Knight gives deserved attention to an aeronautical wonder that for a short amount of time played a crucial service to the defense of Britain.
Muu info
A detailed history of the design, development and crucial role played by the British Airship in World War 1, complete with cut-away drawings and full-colour action artwork.
Introduction: A background to the origins of lighter-than-air flight in
Britain and a look at the development of the first airships by the Army
Design and development: SS (Sea Scout) Class, Coastal Star Class, SSP (Sea
Scout Pusher) Class, SSZ (Sea Scout Zero) Class, SST (Sea Scout Twin) Class,
NS (North Sea) Class, Airship No. 9, 23 Class, R.31 Class
Operational history: An overview of the type of work underwork undertaken by
the British airship fleet throughout World War I: the successes, failures,
innovations and tragedies.
Ian Castle has lived in London all his life and balances writing with work in the advertising industry. He has been writing for Osprey for over 15 years. Ian regularly lectures at the National Army Museum in London and is a member of the Airship Heritage Trust.
Tony Bryan is a freelance illustrator of many years' experience. He worked for a number of years in Military Research and Development, and has a keen interest in military hardware. Tony has produced many illustrations for partworks, magazines and books, including a number of titles in the New Vanguard series.
Lisainfo e-raamatute kohta