The motor-car suffers from another serious disability. It cannot
manoeuvre with sufficient celerity. For instance, if it is
necessary to turn round in a narrow lane, valuable time is lost
in the process, and this the airman turns to account. In hilly
country it is at a still greater disadvantage, the inclines,
gradients, and sinuosities of the roads restricting its
effectiveness very pronouncedly. It must also be remembered
that, relatively speaking, the "Archibald" offers a better target
to the airman than the aeroplane offers to the man behind the
anti-aircraft gun on the motor below. A few well-placed bombs
are sufficient to induce the pursuers to cease their activities.
Even if the missiles fail to strike the motor-car itself they can
wreak disaster in directly by rendering the road impassable or
dangerous to negotiate at high speed. On the whole therefore,
the "Archibald" is a greatly exaggerated weapon of offence
against aircraft, and, so far as is known, has failed to fulfil
expectations. In fact, the Germans have practically abandoned
the idea of using it in the manner of a pursuing arm; they work
the weapon as a fixture, depending upon the car merely as a means
of moving it from point to point.
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