These hovering mammoths were used for directing artillery, which required spotters and observation well beyond the visual range of ground based observers. As much as planes were able to record enemy positions and movement on film, having real time spotters and observational balloon baskets linked to the ground by telephone was essential. It allowed the artillery to take advantage of increasingly large guns with vastly longer ranges.
The first military use of observation balloons was by the French Aerostatic Corps during the French Revolutionary Wars, the very first time during the Battle of Fleurus They were also used by both sides during the American Civil War —65 and continued in use during the Franco-Prussian War — World War I was the high point for the military use of observation balloons. The British, despite their experience in late s Africa, were behind developments and were still using spherical balloons.
These were quickly replaced by more advanced types, known as kite balloons, which were aerodynamically shaped to be stable and could operate in more extreme weather conditions.
The Germans first developed the Parseval-Siegsfeld type balloon, and the French soon responded with the Caquot type. Again, these were easily lost, destroyed or captured, and the lack of supply made it impossible to replace them. They were relieved when the Union Army had discontinued the use of balloons. The Teaser transported and launched one of the Confederate balloons to several observation posisitions before being captured by the Union Navy in July In during the Paraguayan War , balloons were used in the fighting between Brazil and Paraguay.
Between —71 efforts by two Royal Engineers officers, were made to catch the attention of senior British officers to the potential use of balloons. In July experimental balloon ascents for reconnaissance purposes were conducted by the Royal Engineers on behalf of the British Army , but although the experiments were successful it was considered not worth pursuing further because it was too expensive. It moved to Stanhope Lines, Aldershot in when a balloon section and depot were formed as permanent units of the Royal Engineers establishment.
Balloons were first deployed by the British Army during the expeditions to Bechuanaland and Suakin in Paul's Cathedral in London and back with a view to raising public interest. The use of manned air-war mechanisms would not be seen for nearly 30 years after the Civil War when the airship a dirigible, blimp, or Zeppelin would come into existence with their motorized propulsion and mechanical means of steering.
Up to this point, the idea of dropping ordnance on the enemy was not seriously considered, although there were mechanical drawings made up depicting bomb dropping devices that could be floated aloft by balloons. These depictions were paper theory at best designed by mechanical wizzes with no idea about aviation , in particular, balloons, and all that it takes to successfully launch gas-filled aerostats.
There weren't really any practical types of grenades or bombs to use during the Civil War. Weight was a great factor in determining the size of balloons to be used and the amount of gas they needed to ascend. Carrying heavy ordnance and ungainly mechanisms in balloons would have been out of the question.
And if Prof. Lowe thought that he would have to drop bombs on enemy positions, he would have never offered his services. With the newer, larger and more manageable aerostats, and smaller munitions, the use of bombs would make aerial warfare much more appealing in later days. Although there is no record of it ever having been deployed, during the Boxer Uprising in China, the French forces did bring a balloon with them.
German war plane brings down "enemy's" tethered kite balloon Military observation balloons were used over the trenches of the Western Front. Germany used Zeppelins for aerial bombing and reconnaissance.
One famous raid conducted by Zeppelin on London. The United States Navy used its blimp force to hunt submarines. Barrage balloons were used by the United Kingdom to intercept air attacks by V-1 cruise missiles.
Japan used recently discovered high-altitude air currents to send fire balloons or fu-go carrying explosive payloads to the American mainland. He tried to get some of Lowe's equipment, but Lowe refused to cooperate. Each man found supporters, and the rivalry between the two grew. Finally, after accusations and hostilities on both sides, on February 19, , General McClellan dismissed LaMountain from any further service to the military. Lowe continued providing tactical reports to the Union troops.
He provided information during the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, and in late April , at Fredericksburg, he transmitted hourly reports on Confederate movements. During the battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia, Lowe continually transmitted information on enemy troop positions. Observations made during this battle proved to be crucial to the Union victory. The presence of the balloons forced the Confederates to conceal their forces. To avoid detection, they blacked out their camps after dark and also created dummy encampments and gun emplacements, all of which took valuable time and personnel.
However, the balloon corps did not last until the end of the war. General George McClellan was relieved of his command in , and Captain Cyrus Comstock, who was assigned to oversee the balloon corps, cut its funding and thus its effectiveness.
Lowe was also accused of financial impropriety, and his pay was reduced. Lowe resigned from the balloon corps on May 8, By August , the corps had disbanded. As well as aerial reconnaissance and telegraphy, Lowe and LaMountain also introduced the use of aircraft carriers. Lowe directed the construction in of the first aircraft carrier, George Washington Parke Custis, a rebuilt coal barge with a flight deck superstructure. On one occasion, she towed one of Lowe's balloons for 13 miles 21 kilometers at an altitude of 1, feet meters while Lowe made continuous observations.
On August 3, , LaMountain used the deck of the small vessel Fanny to launch an observation balloon 2, feet meters over the James River.
He used the Union tugboat Adriatic for the same purpose. A variety of factors led to the abandonment of the balloon corps in As a civilian, Lowe had a difficult time integrating his operation into Army bureaucracy. Lowe, while politically astute and conscious of the need for good public relations, had a difficult time with the officers overseeing his operation. The communication of balloon intelligence to a commander engaged in battle was sometimes difficult. The Corps faced difficult logistical problems that sometimes prevented it from moving as quickly as desired.
No, he did not come to the U. He served with Federal cavalry units in Northern Virginia. At the end of his visit, he wanted to see some more of the country. Zeppelin flew with him and listened to his dreams of a navigable airship. Many years later the Count explained that the experience with Steiner had marked the beginning of his own interest in flight.
Learn More: Thaddeus Lowe. Civil War Article. Civil War Ballooning. Interesting Facts and Frequently Asked Questions. Gaines' farm Library of Congress.
Fair Oaks, Virginia. Thaddeus S. What roles did balloons play during the Civil War? Did both sides use balloons during the Civil War? Were the balloons used in the Civil War purpose built for military use?
0コメント