Saturday, 13 February 2016

Poem ~ Super Zeppelins - Sunday, 13 February - Monday, 14 February 1916

Impression sketch of Engine Factory of Maybach - by Jamie. From an original image that can be seen at: <http://www.worldskyrace.com/the_maybach_motors.htm
[Accessed: 13 February 2016]

For details of original patent application in methods of metallic plating or coating see: http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US1128059

From sources of a Swiss paper
Der Bund, came the information
Of a new super type of Zeppelin.

The Berne city of Switzerland's
Union paper, told developments
Taking place on Lake Constance.

There, German waters at the foot
Of the Alps, offered wide spaces
To trial out Zeppelin machines.

On north shore of a Swiss border,
was situated the industrial city 
Of Friedrichshafen, since 1908.

Here the Maybach engine factory,
As part of the Zeppelin industry,
Tested all motors up to 48 hours.

For lengthy times during all tests,
The drone of noise carried across
Lake Constance without any stop.

From earliest designs of air ships
The Zeppelin had been elongated -
Described as forming a fish shape.

Changes to the gondolas included
making them independent, save
For any corridor within the balloon.

Both crew cars were then built with 
Armour plating; to be equipped by 
Six machine and quick fire gunnery.

While car platforms were hidden,
Another device introduced, would 
Pace out the drops of ariel bombs.

The stronger reinforced motors
made rudder gear to be a compact
Size; all making for a greater noise.

Trial flights of these air machines
Would show off manoeuvrability
And sharp improvements in power.

In addition, inventor Count Friedrich
Zeppelin, also gained M. Schoops
Patent, for his Swiss metallic plating.

A process able to give Zeppelins
A metallic sheen, to cover a fifth
Of the great airship's body length.

The likely suggestion to provide
Protection - while yet another
Invention was clever camouflage.

To attempt their invisibility, such
Ships emitted volumes of vapours,
To create billowing artificial clouds.

A technique ideally relying on other
Clouds - while on any clear day
A ship might look like a sore thumb.

by Jamie Mann.

Beaumont, A.,1916. New Arial Monsters. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 12 February 1916. P.9. Col.5. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12149082/Daily-Telegraph-February-12-1916.html [Accessed: 13 February 2016].




#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Zeppelins

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