Frederick William Lanchester

“ In brief, the aeroplane, and to some degree other aircraft, suitably armed, may be expected to prove an effective check on the unbridled activity of the submarine. With a properly-equipped naval aeroplane service, supported by a few fast, light cruisers, such as the type known as the "destroyer leader," the enemy's submarines will be unable to roam at large or to make unexpected attacks on our cruiser patrols. They will need to operate under the protection of a supporting force, and will only leave that protection at the risk of almost certain destruction. ”

“ It is not in any sense certain or likely that the operations of aircraft in relation to the submarine will be confined to observation. In the opinion of the author, aircraft, whether aeroplane or dirigible, will prove to be the submarine's most dangerous enemy, the submarine being attacked by bombs charged with high explosive while submerged. Owing to the absence of any danger of counter-attack the aeroplane may fly as low as deemed desirable to obtain the necessary accuracy of aim, and much of the difficulty commonly associated with bomb-dropping will accordingly vanish. ”

“ Hence, if the aeroplane or the airship is to possess any power of offence at all against the ships of the enemy, it must be sought elsewhere. A great deal has been said on the subject of bomb-dropping as a means of attack on armoured ships, but it is not as well recognised as it should be how comparatively impotent a bomb, even charged with high explosive, may be when used without "tamping" against armour-plate. ”

“ It is evident that what is possible to the airship in this direction is also possible to the aeroplane, provided that the latter be built of sufficient carrying capacity; and whereas the airship would find it difficult to approach a battleship or cruiser within 2 miles without detection and destruction, the aeroplane would rarely find this either difficult or dangerous; the matter is mainly one of choosing the proper time and direction of attack. In the haze of the early morning, or in the dusk after sunset, an aeroplane at the distance in question is quite invisible ”

“ It would, in any case, take a vast number of hits to put a first-class battleship or cruiser out of action. Further, the difficulties of aim, as pointed out in the preceding chapter, are considerable, and with the counter-aircraft armament with which warships are now being fitted, it will not, generally speaking, be possible for an aeroplane to descend to low altitude with impunity. The dropping of bombs from an airship is a matter of somewhat less difficulty ”

“ So far as the scouting aeroplane is concerned, the obvious solution to the difficulty is the provision of a floating aeroplane base, capable of accompanying, or acting in co-operation with, the fleet on the high seas, or of acting independently if required. ”

“ In order to obtain the requisite area it would probably be necessary to design something comparable in dimensions to one of the largest of our existing battle-cruisers, and in particular the maximum beam possible should be provided. ”

“ Aeroplane as affected by Discharge of Torpedo. It might be thought, considering the matter superficially, that the dropping of one-quarter of the gross weight of a machine whilst in flight would be a dangerous and risky business. ”