I. Certainty of a combat between aeroplanes in actual warfare—Air-scouts
protected by aerial "cruisers."
"The duty of an aerial fleet, armed and equipped for offensive warfare,
will be to put out of action an enemy’s aerial force before it can carry
out its role of reconnoitring—or attacking vital points of
communication."
In these words, a military authority of international repute indicates
the war in the air which will, inevitably, take place in connection with
any future European campaign.
His view is endorsed by another famous expert, who declares: "It is
certain that the consequences of the use of aerial navigation will be to
bring about, at the very outset of hostilities, a fight to the death
between opposing aerial fleets."
The point that military authorities have come to recognise, of course,
is this: if the flying machine is of vital importance to one side, it
will prove equally valuable to the other. Therefore, the aim of one
Commander-in-Chief will be to take steps to prevent his opponent from
deriving full benefit from his aerial scouts.
Artillery-fire has been quoted, previously, as a means of combating the
aeroplane, and destroying reconnoitring craft. But this method has been
shown to be uncertain. What is considered a far more efficacious way of
hampering the operations of an enemy’s air-scouts, is to send up
machines to meet them in the air, and either drive them off, or put them
out of action.
This suggests an actual contest, in mid-air, between two hostile craft;
and such aerial battles are bound to occur. The most efficacious
weapons, for such fighting, experience alone will indicate; but it is
obvious that the ramming of one machine by another will not be resorted
to. Were one aeroplane to charge an enemy’s vessel, the result would be
the fall and destruction of both aircraft. Such an expedient might, of
course, be resorted to as a last desperate move, say in the case where a
hostile aircraft was escaping with very valuable information.
What is anticipated, in the way of a fighting aeroplane, is a machine
which will carry two men, a pilot and a marksman, and be armed with some
form of small quick-firing gun or rifle.
One of the experts of the French army air-corps thinks that a war
aeroplane, in the immediate future, will carry a pilot, observer, and
combatant. This combatant, in his opinion, should be armed with a light
repeating rifle, ready to ward off the attacks of other machines.
This suggests that a reconnoitring aeroplane should be a fighting unit
as well; but other views entertained are that a scouting aircraft should
be accompanied by one or more fighting aeroplanes, the duties of which
would be to protect it from attack.
It seems probable, in fact, that armed aeroplanes will accompany each
reconnoitring machine when it is about to set out over the enemy’s
position. These armed craft, or aerial cruisers, will most likely circle
round the scouting machine, so as to open fire upon any hostile
aeroplanes which approach.
In such an arrangement as this, the reconnoitring machine would probably
be a slow-flying, reliable biplane, equipped exclusively for its work of
observation. The fighting machines, on the other hand, would be built
for speed. Fast-flying, strongly-built monoplanes would most likely be
used; and one prominent constructer suggests that such fighting units
should be fitted with a gun firing a small explosive shell, something
like a "pom-pom." Such a form of armament would certainly be effective;
and such an aerial cruiser is likely to prove a formidable opponent.
In connection with the carrying of guns upon an aeroplane, it may be
mentioned that a light machine-gun has already been fitted to a biplane;
but little has been said about such tests, and nothing definite, in the
way of experiments, has, as yet, been recorded.
In connection with the aerial battles that are certain to precede the
land actions of the future, it is difficult to foresee, exactly, what
method will be pursued by the Commanders of two rival Air Battalions. It
is fairly clear, however, that each will seek to prevent a hostile
aeroplane from coming within observation distance of his forces; and, at
the same time, by such strategy as wide detours, each will endeavour to
slip reconnoitring craft through the enemy’s lines.
In the elaboration of any such plans of campaign, it is obvious that the
fighting units of the air-fleet—the fast "cruisers" which will carry
machine-guns—will come into speedy conflict. Combat, probably, will
resolve itself into a question of manoeuvring for position; then the
opponents will open fire. Marksmanship and skill in handling a machine
will spell all the difference between victory and defeat. After a
preliminary exchange of shots, two machines will sweep into closer
range, and then one of them, "winged" by well-directed fire, will be put
out of action, and will flutter away earthwards.
It is obvious that an exceptionally fast, high-powered aeroplane,
capable of rising at a maximum speed, will be most suitable for hostile
work against other machines.
The question has been discussed as to protecting, with some form of
armour, the vital parts of aircraft for offensive work. It seems likely
that some such plan will be adopted.