Distant view of the destroyer HMAS Parramatta towing a kite balloon at a speed of 25 knots. Kite ...

Accession Number EN0325
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white - Glass original half plate negative
Maker Unknown
Place made Adriatic Sea
Date made October 1917-October 1918
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Distant view of the destroyer HMAS Parramatta towing a kite balloon at a speed of 25 knots. Kite balloons carried observers in a suspended basket. The observers were trained to look for shadows that suggested the presence of submarines; any submarine thus detected could then be attacked by a second destroyer. An aerofoil device enabled the balloon to maintain height at high speeds. During their period of patrol duty around the Adriatic Sea, the six Australian destroyers were primarily engaged in searching for enemy submarines and escorting Italian troop transports. See EN0283, EN0330.

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