The German armament manufacturers
endeavoured to solve the problem by using smoking shells or
missiles fitted with what are known as tracers. By following the
ascensional path of the projectiles as revealed by the smoke it
was possible to draw certain conclusions. But these were by no
means convincing or illuminating, as so many factors affected the
issue.
Despite the peculiar and complex difficulties associated with the
problem it was attacked some what boldly. In this trying field
of artillery research the prominent German armament
manufacturers, Krupp of Essen and Ehrhardt of Dusseldorf, played
a leading part, the result being that before the airship or the
aeroplane was received within the military fold, the
anti-aircraft gun had been brought into the field of applied
science. The sudden levelling-up serves to illustrate the
enterprise of the Germans in this respect as well as their
perspicacity in connection with the military value of aircraft.
Any gun we can hope to employ against aircraft with some degree
of success must fulfil special conditions, for it has to deal
with a difficult and elusive foe.
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