Ships versus Zeppelin

[P3D]

Zeppelin L7 downed by Galatea and Phaeton by low-angle (20o) 4" and 6" guns, May 4, 1916.

[Mr. Freeze]

What, if any, advantage due airships provide in Navalism?  Their strengths are going to be recon I would think, but other than that...  They weren't the best bombers since their altitude (and lack of precision instrumentation) didn't allow them to navigate all that wll let alone hit a specific target.  Does it count as a terror weapon? :P  I mean, that's at ~1917 standards.  In WWII the US Navy could actually use them for convoy escort against submarines with depth charges and bombs.  But I'm guessing that we are working with historical accuracy here...

All I can see it doing is screening the fleet much more cheaply then a light cruiser.  Am I missing anything? :)

[swamphen]

Well the DKB's three operational-type Zeppelins have seen some combat in the current Swiss v Everyone Else  :P War, the quick version was posted in the news, here's the detailed version of their effectiveness (each airship carrying 4 x 45kg 150mm artillery shells modified for airdrop):

Z-4 suffers a weather related accident and is destroyed while leaving for the first raid.

Z-2 and Z-3 succeed in missions but do nothing more than psycological effects on their first raid.

Second raid scores big when Z-2's warhead strike a Swiss destroyer and punch through the deck into the magazine sinking it.  Z-3 stricks at troop positions and forces them to hold for the day.

Third raid sees Z-2 doing what Z-3 did the previous day.  Z-2 misses her targets.

Fourth raid hits Swiss supplys, destroying ammunition and food stocks.

Fifth raid.  Does little more than psycological damage.

Sixth raid (the airships are pulled back after this for rest and repair)  Does little more than psycological damage to Swiss forces.

[Ithekro]

Mostly psycological effects on a battlefield.  Sort of like artillery, just that depending on how high up the airship is, the defenders can't shoot it down.  Artillery can be attacked, but it is more dangerous than airships to do so.  About the only advantage would be recon and the ability to hit targets that are out of artillery range.

Submarines are not yet quite a large threats to shipping as the best boats in the world would probably classify as Coastal Submarines in the Great War.  They might be able to attack local shipping and act as harbor defense, but then you wouldn't need an airship to find them.

Observation ballons and blimps might work for  recon, but only the airship could have the range to stay with a fleet.  But most at the moment don't have the range for such long distance operations.

[Mr. Freeze]

That weather related loss was Mr. Murphy at work? :)

(each airship carrying 4 x 45kg 150mm artillery shells modified for airdrop):

What the dickens? lol  Not using GP bombs eh?

[swamphen]

Not using GP bombs eh?

*Herr Ralf von Zinobop of the Weissenstab makes furious notes*

[Ithekro]

Rolled a critical failure, so the airship was lost before the mission started...she didn't even go on a three hour tour.  It was fortunate she didn't take the hanger with her.

[maddox]

If you look at the development of the Zeppelin during the Great War, it is obvious that the real use is recon. 
1 zeppelin can scout a larger area, with a higher maintained speed than any warship.

But even if we would build them now, with the most advanced materials like titanium, flash aluminium and carbon/kevlar/dyneema/whetever, the Rigid airship will be fragile compared to other means of transport.

But the gentle giants of the air have a lot of advantages, and I myself want to see them return to the skies. Just because they are so unsuited to offensive actions.

[Desertfox]

Swiss zeppelins have also seen action, sowing death and destruction over China, inculding a massively sucesful mission which saw Canton hit by 10" shells! They also have seen good use as scouts

Scouting is going to be their main role here, but for the time being they have a window of oportunity for bombing while heavier than air aircraft make their apperance.

[Carthaginian]

But the gentle giants of the air have a lot of advantages, and I myself want to see them return to the skies. Just because they are so unsuited to offensive actions.

I just like the idea of leisurely cruising the skies in something that large and stately.

[maddox]

There was a French colonial project, where a large airplane had a walk around, so the gouvernor could show himself to his subjects.

But a zeppelin is just so much bigger, it's as if a country comes down from the skies.

[The Rock Doctor]

I remember that.  The Alizandro regime would love it.