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Hot Air Balloons for Artillery spotting
| Hot Air Balloons for Artillery spotting | |
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by Steelpoodle
» Sat Nov 08, 2014 11:43 pm
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Steelpoodle
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Perhaps this has been mentioned but hot air balloons for spotting make sense for the army and navy of the Charisian empire. Better artillery co-ordination and harder for privateers to attack convoys without being seen well in advance. Even without telegraph ability the signal flags and message drops would work.
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by chrisd
» Sun Nov 09, 2014 12:34 am
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chrisd
Posts: 348
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There could well be obvious dangers from a "hot-air" balloon at sea.
Might some kind of "kite" be a better proposition (IIRC the Kriegsmarine did deploy something similar from some U-boats, but they did have a pretty respectable surface speed to generate "wind-of-passage") |
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by Henry Brown
» Sun Nov 09, 2014 5:58 pm
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Henry Brown
Posts: 912
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I don't think any of the current land based artillery pieces have the range to truly need a balloon for spotting. The angle-guns approach it, but so far forward observers have been able to manage things. However, once Charis gets smokeless powder into production, I expect artillery ranges to increase to the point they might consider hot air balloons for spotting.
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by pokermind
» Sun Nov 09, 2014 6:34 pm
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pokermind
Posts: 4002
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Actually I think a hydrogen filled balloon, perhaps with a cylindrical shape and car for observer/signaler like those used early in WW 1 would be better than a hot air balloon.
 Typical round pre WW 1 observation balloon from 1907  Caquot type dirigible, used by the Allies in the mid-latter part of WWI See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observation_balloon The advantage of Hydrogen is that they can stay loft without fuel requirement, disadvantage is flammability of hydrogen, although the fuel of a hot air balloon is also a flame danger. Poker CPO Poker Mind
 and, Mangy Fur the Smart Alick Spacecat."Better to be hung for a hexapuma than a housecat," Com. Pang Yau-pau, ART. |
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by DrakBibliophile
» Sun Nov 09, 2014 7:18 pm
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DrakBibliophile
Posts: 2311
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen#Discovery_and_use
I wonder if the experiment that led to the discovery of hydrogen is one of those things in the Writ of "what not to do"? Mind you, I'm not sure that Langhorne and company would worry about production of hydrogen. 
*
Paul Howard (Alias Drak Bibliophile) * Sometimes The Dragon Wins! [Polite Dragon Smile] * |
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by Keith_w
» Sun Nov 09, 2014 7:19 pm
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Keith_w
Posts: 976
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While Hydrogen would be a more effective lifting gas than hot air, there is a natural advantage to hot air - hydrogen needs to made, stored in stong ncontainers, transported and then used - probably just once. Hot air can be made on the spot where ever theirs something burnable, or if there is a politician handy.
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A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. |
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by Highjohn
» Sun Nov 09, 2014 11:32 pm
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Highjohn
Posts: 221
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Bad, idea. I believe, though I cannot remember where from, that flight is proscribe by the, well.... So flying devices would be a tough sell especially with other changes like steam.
Note: There is a precedent for this. In the original discussion on introducing steam engines the idea of manufacturing ice was brought up and discarded because it would be a big fight to get people to accept it at the same time as steam power. |
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by SWM
» Mon Nov 10, 2014 6:25 pm
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SWM
Posts: 5928
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What you remember that from is speculation here on the forums. There is no textev that flight is prohibited, but a number of people here on the forum feel that it is plausible that flight is considered the prerogative of the Angels. We won't know until we get some text evidence. --------------------------------------------
Librarian: The Original Search Engine |
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by TN4994
» Mon Nov 17, 2014 1:14 am
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TN4994
Posts: 404
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During WW2, the USN had several Rigid Airframe Squadrons using helium, reportedly a very common gas in the universe.
If a PICA comes into contact, would it's voice change? |
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by pokermind
» Mon Nov 17, 2014 1:21 am
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pokermind
Posts: 4002
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The change in voice comes from the difference in the composition of air changing sound wave propagation thus pitch by changing wave length, thus a record would also sound different in a Helium environment. Thus Merlin would sound different in 'helium air'. The speed ofsoundis faster in Helium. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliox that discusses this near the bottom of the article.
Poker
CPO Poker Mind
and, Mangy Fur the Smart Alick Spacecat."Better to be hung for a hexapuma than a housecat," Com. Pang Yau-pau, ART. |
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