[TML] Molding Ships

[Stephen Tempest]

"Charles Prevatte" <prevattec at bellsouth.net> writes:

>As for the nepalm idea, bomb sites would not have been all that necessary in
>WW1.  A low pass with a single large bomb, that spread on impact like modern
>naplam dropped weapons would open a large whole in the lines.
>
>You would only need a few such surprises to gain a tactical advantage that
>you could turn into a strategic victory.

The same way that the surprise first use of poison gas gave a tactical
advantage that was turned into a strategic victory? Or the first use
of flamethrowers? Or the first use of tanks? Or the first use of
infiltration tactics?

I'm not sure that airdropped napalm would be all that effective
against men sheltered below ground level in trenches. If the aircraft
got a direct hit then you'd kill the men in one particular bay of the
trench. No more. In other words, apart from the terror factor, not
really any more effective than an artillery bombardment.

And even if you blew a huge hole in the trench line, you've still got
to feed through men advancing on foot across torn-up muddy ground,
when the defender can bring up their own reinforcements by rail and
intact roads.

A single small-scale technological innovation was not going to affect
the course of WW1 that dramatically, in my opinion. 

Not to mention that I'd not fancy trying to fly a string and canvas
WW1 biplane with a huge tank of napalm slung underneath...

Stephen