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voor de liefhebbers van anti-submarine warfare :)


O. N. I. Publication No. 46

KITE BALLOONS IN ESCORTS

NAVY DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE NOVEMBER 1918

KITE BALLOONS IN ESCORTS.

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PLANNING SECTION-MEMORANDUM.

PROBLEM.

Kite balloons being available for use with escort vessels, the following questions arise:
1. Should kite balloons be used by vessels escorting convoys?
2. If escort vessels use kite balloons, what are the principles governing their use? 

In considering these questions all available publications and reports have been carefully studied and freely used in the notes that follow.

The following information is pertinent:
(1) In July, 1917, experiments were carried out with a kite balloon by a destroyer. It was found that a kite balloon could trace the submarine after her movement could no longer be seen from the bridge; but it is doubtful if a kite balloon observer can follow a submarine that seeks to escape by diving more than a minute longer than the same submarine could be followed from the bridge. When the submarine is leaking oil the kite balloon is more useful in the chase than at any other time.

(2) In July, 1917, the Grand Fleet Destroyers made an experimental hunt for submarines. The submarine was discovered on the surface 8 miles away. Later, two periscopes were discovered, distance not stated.

(3) Later two other submarines were discovered in the same hunt by the kite balloons, distance not stated. No result of the contact, except that the submarine remained submerged during daylight.

(4) On July 12, 1917, H. M. S. Patriot sighted a submarine on the surface at a distance of 28 miles. The submarine submerged when kite balloon was distanced 6 miles. Submarine came up when kite balloon was 4 miles away and immediately submerged. Patriot was directed to the spot by the kite balloon and an attack was made; submarine was probably destroyed.

(5) On May 27, 1918, a convoy was attacked while escorted by a kite balloon. The attack was delivered five minutes after the balloon was hauled down to change observers. This was the first instance on record of an attack on the convoy while being escorted by a kite balloon. A second convoy was attacked on September 3, 1918, when escorted by a kite balloon; one vessel was sunk.

The British believe that enemy submarines feel that they incur no great danger while being sighted from kite balloons at a distance. British publications give the visibility of kite balloons in clear weather at about 20 miles. Visibility varies with light, background, color of balloon, relative positions of balloon and observing vessel.

(6) It is known, of course, that even when convoys are not accompanied by kite balloons, submarines as a rule sight convoys before they themselves are sighted...

Thanks to Rockhound57 :)