Wi: A different battle of jutland

As a scout in this time, an Airship would have to be more reliable then a scout aircraft.

It might not be quite as quick, but its probably a safer option then flying an early single engined aircraft over water for extended periods of time, plus the instruments available at the time would have presumably limited them to what is now VFR conditions, whereas an airship would be less limited by this, and also have greater endurance.
IIRC the RN tried towing a Sea Scout or Coastal non-rigid airship behind a warship and the trials were successful. I don't remember the date, but it was after Jutland.

IIRC the Sea Scout had been around for about a year at the time of the Battle of Jutland and even if it hadn't there were the non-rigid airships transferred to the RNAS in 1914 (IIRC) so it's possible to have the trials brought forward if someone thought of it.
 
The CID decision was very likely before the book. The decision was changed after Louis Bleriot flew the Channel in July 1909. The sub-committee chair, Lord Esher was recommending 30-40 aircraft in 1910 and that such craft were superior to the airship. Leadership at the Army's Balloon Factory (renamed Royal Aircraft Fatory) was replaced by a promising engineer F.M. Green and pioneering aviator Geoffret de Havilland. Of greater importance was the press and publics support for aviation and innovation. By 1914, the Naval Air service had plans for 300 aircraft, 20 airships, 18 bases, conversion of a merchant ship to a mobile seaplane base and more concepts for purpose built ships.

Once a flying boat flies the Atlantic and claims the Daily Mail's £10,000 prize then that type will become the focus for the RN. The airship's advantage was it's endurance, up to 4 days. The best of the era aircraft was about 6 hours.
The CID decision was in January 1909 so it is indeed very likely before the book. Which is a great pity because Lord Esher is the ideal person to have read it.

IOTL the British Army and RN didn't start work on aeroplanes until the end of 1910-beginning of 1911 IOTL so there would have been significant changes had the CID recommended that aeroplanes be developed as well as airships.

I don't think that the state of the art in August 1914TTL would have been the same as August 1916OTL but on the rule of thumb that one year of development in war is equal to 2 years of development in peace the state of the art in August 1914TTL might equal August 1915OTL.
 
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