Following the Cuxhaven raid December 1914, the Admiralty had visions of attacking shipping in the Schilling Roads.
The fact that the weather conditions were ideal for seaplane operations had blinded them to the problems of operating seaplanes and the need for proper aircraft.
However, the basis of a proper A/C had been laid down previously in 1909
"L'Aviation Militaire" is especially famous for its precise description of the concept of the modern aircraft carrier with a flat flight deck, an island superstructure, deck elevators and a hangar bay.
On the structure of the aircraft carrier:
"An airplane-carrying vessel is indispensable. These vessels will be constructed on a plan very different from what is currently used. First of all the deck will be cleared of all obstacles. It will be flat, as wide as possible without jeopardizing the nautical lines of the hull, and it will look like a landing field."
—Military Aviation, p35
On stowage:
"Of necessity, the airplanes will be stowed below decks; they would be solidly fixed anchored to their bases, each in its place, so they would not be affected with the pitching and rolling. Access to this lower decks would be by an elevator sufficiently long and wide to hold an airplane with its wings folded. A large, sliding trap would cover the hole in the deck, and it would have waterproof joints, so that neither rain nor seawater, from heavy seas could penetrate below."
—Military Aviation, p36
On the technique of landing:
"The ship will be headed straight into the wind, the stern clear, but a padded bulwark set up forward in case the airplane should run past the stop line"
—Military Aviation, p37
It was expanded on in 1911 by Hugh Williamson but when naval airpower came to get proper funding in the UK in 1912, it was pushed towards seaplanes as they had the whole sea to take off and land on - the fact that ideal conditions were needed was ignored. Now move that funding to proper wheeled aircraft....
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
The fact that the weather conditions were ideal for seaplane operations had blinded them to the problems of operating seaplanes and the need for proper aircraft.
However, the basis of a proper A/C had been laid down previously in 1909
"L'Aviation Militaire" is especially famous for its precise description of the concept of the modern aircraft carrier with a flat flight deck, an island superstructure, deck elevators and a hangar bay.
On the structure of the aircraft carrier:
"An airplane-carrying vessel is indispensable. These vessels will be constructed on a plan very different from what is currently used. First of all the deck will be cleared of all obstacles. It will be flat, as wide as possible without jeopardizing the nautical lines of the hull, and it will look like a landing field."
—Military Aviation, p35
On stowage:
"Of necessity, the airplanes will be stowed below decks; they would be solidly fixed anchored to their bases, each in its place, so they would not be affected with the pitching and rolling. Access to this lower decks would be by an elevator sufficiently long and wide to hold an airplane with its wings folded. A large, sliding trap would cover the hole in the deck, and it would have waterproof joints, so that neither rain nor seawater, from heavy seas could penetrate below."
—Military Aviation, p36
On the technique of landing:
"The ship will be headed straight into the wind, the stern clear, but a padded bulwark set up forward in case the airplane should run past the stop line"
—Military Aviation, p37
It was expanded on in 1911 by Hugh Williamson but when naval airpower came to get proper funding in the UK in 1912, it was pushed towards seaplanes as they had the whole sea to take off and land on - the fact that ideal conditions were needed was ignored. Now move that funding to proper wheeled aircraft....
[FONT="]
[/FONT]