Torpedo bombers at Jutland

robertp6165

Just an idea after reading Napoleon XIV's Zeppelins at Jutland thread. What if the Germans had developed and deployed torpedo bomber aircraft in time for the Battle of Jutland? In OTL, the British developed a torpedo bomber (the Sopwith Cuckoo) which, using a 200hp engine, was able to carry a torpedo to a range of 400 miles, but it didn't enter service until September 1918. The Germans had a goodly number of similarly powered recon and patrol aircraft and seaplanes which could have been converted to carry a torpedo, but they never did.

But let's say some bright young chap in the Imperial German Naval Air Service gets support for the idea to do some tests on such an aircraft in mid- to late 1915, the tests are successful, and the Germans manage to deploy 100 of them (by converting existing aircraft mostly) by the time of the Battle of Jutland (May 31-June 1, 1916).

Bear in mind that most naval vessels of the time would have very limited anti-aircraft armament (who ever heard of aircraft attacking battleships!).

How much of an impact would they have made? Would they have been able to produce a German victory in the battle?
 
MrP

MrP

Banned
robertp6165 said:
Just an idea after reading Napoleon XIV's Zeppelins at Jutland thread. What if the Germans had developed and deployed torpedo bomber aircraft in time for the Battle of Jutland? In OTL, the British developed a torpedo bomber (the Sopwith Cuckoo) which, using a 200hp engine, was able to carry a torpedo to a range of 400 miles, but it didn't enter service until September 1918. The Germans had a goodly number of similarly powered recon and patrol aircraft and seaplanes which could have been converted to carry a torpedo, but they never did.

But let's say some bright young chap in the Imperial German Naval Air Service gets support for the idea to do some tests on such an aircraft in mid- to late 1915, the tests are successful, and the Germans manage to deploy 100 of them (by converting existing aircraft mostly) by the time of the Battle of Jutland (May 31-June 1, 1916).

Bear in mind that most naval vessels of the time would have very limited anti-aircraft armament (who ever heard of aircraft attacking battleships!).

How much of an impact would they have made? Would they have been able to produce a German victory in the battle?
Click to expand...

Well, the mass firing of torps by the German small vessels toward the end of the OTL engagement merely made the Grand Fleet veer away. However, an additional 100 torps could be handy. But, this being WWI, I have a niggling feeling that this wouldn't be their first deployment (after all, 100's a pretty big #) - which introduces painful butterflies of all sorts.
 

Tom_B

I believe the British experimented with torpedo bombers during the Gallipoli campaign but it had a small torpedo (14"?). They sank something but it wasn't a major warship. IIRC the Germans used torpedo bombers during Operation Albion so the concept is not unknown to them.

I do not see the losses inflicted by the planes per se as devestating (there is a wiff of the World War 1.9 error to this thread). What might happen that could seriously impact the battle is an airstrike on 5th BS during the Run to the North could seriously slow one or with some real luck two of the QE's. This could let the HSF overtake them long before Jellicoe arrives.

And even this would not result in a victory that is likely to change the outcome of the war.
 

David S Poepoe

Banned
I believe that the British did attempt a seaplane attack, can't remember the target, in the opening days of the war and it failed. The British would do such a thing first. On the whole I doubt 100 aircraft would be fielded without the British being aware of it also the Germans will have to convert a few surface ships to seaplane tenders and the like and they only realistically carry a few aircraft.
 

talonbear01

An interesting concept, however to have made much of a difference in the battle, the Germans would have had to have had a large number of aircraft, with working torpedos, and trained pilots. A training program for this type of attack, with this many aircraft and pilots would have been noticed by British Intelligence. Spies were everywhere, and I don't think a program like this would have gone unnoticed. That being said, it would then be up to the British Admiralty to take the possiblity of attack from the air seriouly. Maybe, someone would say, 'Why can't we put a bunch of small AA guns on these little frigates and destroyers. Use them as escorts, so we don't clutter up our pretty Battleships with small guns.' Its possible that an air attack could have landed a few lucky hits, but I don't see that it would have turned the battle. Moreover, if it had been attempted, sucessful or not, the British and the rest of the world would have followed suit and we'd seen arial torpedo attacks become a common thing much earlier.
 

PMN1

The Germans put most of their resources into Zeppelins, given the early failiure of British attempts and the subsequent diverting of resources to seaplane and airplanes, its more likley it would be a British torpedo attack though whether in time for Jutland is debatable.


​
 

Redbeard

Banned
I wonder if some of the multi engine bombers the Germans used to bomb England with could be utilised as long range TBs.

Just a single battleship sunk by airattack would immediately put tremendous focus on airpower, and I guess we will see a boost to planes, AAA and carriers.

Regards

Steffen Redbeard
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top
Top