Cjbobrow
Member
The aerial rocket developed by Sous-Lieutenant Yves Le Prieur in May 1915 were used by pilots to attack tethered German observation balloons.
These were little more than a Congreve-style rocket with a cutting-edge installed, they were electrically fired and launched from tubes attached to the struts of biplane fighter aircraft, they were inaccurate even at close range. The attached images (#1 #2) show the simple mechanics of the installed rockets.
It also appears more sophisticated systems were developed and were at least tested.
The second group of images (#3 #4), based on information of the original French caption said that they were experimental anti-balloon rockets being tested at Villacoublay on 20 February 1918.
These are similar to the rockets in the third group of photos, but the fins look different; and the launching tubes (?) are quite different.
This third group of image (#5 #6) shows a more complex cage setup.
Hopefully someone in the Forum has material to share on these two “other” systems?
These were little more than a Congreve-style rocket with a cutting-edge installed, they were electrically fired and launched from tubes attached to the struts of biplane fighter aircraft, they were inaccurate even at close range. The attached images (#1 #2) show the simple mechanics of the installed rockets.
It also appears more sophisticated systems were developed and were at least tested.
The second group of images (#3 #4), based on information of the original French caption said that they were experimental anti-balloon rockets being tested at Villacoublay on 20 February 1918.
These are similar to the rockets in the third group of photos, but the fins look different; and the launching tubes (?) are quite different.
This third group of image (#5 #6) shows a more complex cage setup.
Hopefully someone in the Forum has material to share on these two “other” systems?