The defeat of the Zeppelins : Zeppelin raids and anti-airship operations, 1916-18

Mick Powis describes the novel threat posed to the British war effort by the raids of German airships, or Zeppelins, and the struggle to develop effective defenses against them. Despite their size and relatively slow speed, the Zeppelins were hard to locate and destroy at first. They could fly higher than existing fighters and the early raids benefited from a lack of coordination between British services. The development of radio, better aircraft, incendiary ammunition, and, above all, a more coordinated defensive policy, gradually allowed the British to inflict heavy losses on the Zeppelins. The innovative use of seaplanes and planes launched from aircraft carriers allowed the Zeppelins to be intercepted before they reached Britain and to strike back with raids on the Zeppelin sheds. July 1918 saw the RAF and Royal Navy cooperate to destroy two Zeppelins in their base at Tondern (the first attack by aircraft launched from a carrier deck). The last Zeppelin raid on England came in August 1918 and resulted in the destruction of Zeppelin L70 and the death of Peter Strasser, Commander of the Imperial German Navy's Zeppelin force. Mick Powis Decribes The Novel Threat Posed To The British War Effort By The Raids Of German Airships, Or Zeppelins, And The Struggle To Develop Effective Defenses Against Them. Despite Their Size And Relatively Slow Speed, The Zeppelins Were Hard To Locate And Destroy At First. They Could Fly Higher Than Existing Fighters And The Early Raids Benefited From A Lack Of Coordination Between British Services. The Development Of Radio, Better Fighters, Incendiary Ammunition, And, Above All, A More Coordinated Defensive Policy, Gradually Allowed The British To Inflict Heavy Losses On The Zeppelins. The Innovative Use Of Seaplanes And Planes Launched From Aircraft Carriers Allowed The Zeppelins To Be Intercepted Before They Reached Britain And To Strike Back With Raids On The Zeppelin Sheds. July 1918 Saw The Raf And Royal Navy Coperate To Destroy Two Zeppelins In Their Base At Tondern (the First Attack By Aircraft Launched From A Carrier Deck). The Last Zeppelin Raid On England Came In August 1918 And Resulted In The Destruction Of Zeppelin L70 And The Death Of Peter Strasser, Commander Of The Imperial German Navy's Zeppelin Force.--book Jacket. A Note On Time -- Introduction -- 1. Weapons Of Darkness -- 2. Operations In 1914 -- 3. Terror Bomber: The Raids Of 1915 -- 4. The Raids Of January And February 1916 -- 5. Blinker's Boys: Radio Location And The Tracking Of Airships -- 6. Fokker Fodder: The Development Of Night Fighter Aircraft -- 7. The Begian Rattlesnake: The Lewis Gun -- 8. March To August 1916 -- 9. A Dangerous Autumn: September To December 1916 -- 10. The Air Raids Of Early 1917 -- 11. The Large America Flying Boat -- 12. The Silent Raid: 19/20 October 1917 -- 13. The End Game: November 1917 And 1918 -- 14. The Scuttling. Appendix One: Airships Destroyed In The Great War -- Appendix Two: Name Changes Of Towns And Cities. Mick Powis. Includes Bibliographical References: (pages 266-270) And Index. Mick Powis describes the novel threat posed to the British war effort by the raids of German airships, or Zeppelins, and the struggle to develop effective defences against them. Despite their size and relatively slow speed, the Zeppelins were hard to locate and destroy at first. They could fly higher than existing fighters and the early raids benefited from a lack of coordination between British services. The development of radio, better aircraft, incendiary ammunition, and, above all, a more coordinated defensive policy, gradually allowed the British to inflict heavy losses on the Zeppelins. The innovative use of seaplanes and planes launched from aircraft carriers allowed the Zeppelins to be intercepted before they reached Britain and to strike back with raids on the Zeppelin sheds. July 1918 saw the RAF and Royal Navy cooperate to destroy two Zeppelins in their base at Tondern (the first attack by aircraft launched from a carrier deck). The last Zeppelin raid on England came in August 1918 and resulted in the destruction of Zeppelin L70 and the death of Peter Strasser, Commander of the Imperial German Navy's Zeppelin force. Explains the novel use of the Zeppelins for reconnaissance and long-range strategic bombing of Britain as a terror weapon.