Early Naval Air Power T his book examines the British and German approach to naval air power, describing the creation and development of the two naval air service organizations and doctrine. T his work provides new insights as to how two naval air services were influenced by internal and political interventions, and how each was integrated into the organizational structures of the Royal Navy and the Kaiserlichemarine (KM). Both the Admiralty and the KM made substantial alterations to their organizations and doctrine in the process. Principal air doctrines employed are examined chronologically and the application of operational doctrine is described. While they adopted similar air doctrines, there were differences in operational doctrine, which they addressed according to their different requirements. This book is a comparative study about the development of organization and air power doctrine in the RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service) and the IGNAS (Imperial German Naval Air Service). It investigates public and political interventions and early concepts of air power, placing into context the factors which contributed to how naval theorists came to think about the best means of controlling its working medium, air space. Ultimately, it examines the similarities, and differences, between the RNAS and IGNAS understanding of naval air power, within the broader strategic and theoretical framework of their parent organizations. This book will be of great interest to students of air power, naval power, military history, strategic studies and IR in general. Dennis Haslop holds a PhD in Defence Studies from King’s College, London and a PhD in Maritime History from the University of Exeter. He is also the author of Britain, Germany and the Battle of the Atlantic (2013). Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies Series Series Editors: Greg Kennedy, Tim Benbow and Jon Robb-Web, Defence Studies Department, Joint Services Command and Staff College, UK The Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies Series is the publishing platform of the Corbett Centre. Drawing on the expertise and wider networks of the Defence Studies Department of King's College London, and based at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the UK Defence Academy, the Corbett Centre is already a leading centre for academic expertise and education in maritime and naval studies. It enjoys close links with several other institutions, both academic and governmental, that have an interest in maritime matters, including the Devel- opments, Concepts and Doctrine Centre (DCDC), the Naval Staff of the Ministry of Defence and the Naval Historical Branch. The centre and its publishing output aim to promote the understanding and analysis of maritime history and policy and to provide a forum for the interaction of academics, policy-makers and practitioners. Books published under the aegis of the Corbett Centre series reflect these aims and provide an opportunity to stimulate research and debate into a broad range of maritime-related themes. The core subject matter for the series is maritime strategy and policy, conceived broadly to include theory, history and practice, military and civil, historical and contemporary, British and international aspects. As a result, this series offers a unique opportunity to examine key issues such as maritime security, the future of naval power, and the commercial uses of the sea, from an exceptionally broad chronological, geographical and thematic range. Truly inter- disciplinary in its approach, the series welcomes books from across the humanities, social sciences and professional worlds, providing an unrivalled opportunity for authors and readers to enhance the national and international visibility of maritime affairs, and provide a forum for policy debate and analysis. Also in this series : The Dynamics of Coalition Naval Warfare The Special Relationship at Sea Steven Paget Early Naval Air Power British and German Approaches Dennis Haslop Early Naval Air Power British and German Approaches Dennis Haslop First published 2018 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2018 Dennis Haslop The right of Dennis Haslop to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record for this book has been requested ISBN: 978-1-138-57855-5 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-351-26420-4 (ebk) Typeset in Times New Roman by Apex CoVantage, LLC Contents List of figures vi List of table vii Abbreviations viii Acknowledgements xii Introduction 1 1 The dawn of the era of flight and the formation of the RFC/RNAS, from its inception until the end of 1915 18 2 The dawn of the era of flight and the formation of the Imperial German Naval Air Service, from its inception until the end of 1915 57 3 RNAS development and the challenges from within and without, leading to the formation of the RAF, 1916–1918 95 4 IGNAS development and the challenges from within, 1916–1918 135 5 Conclusion 173 Bibliography 189 Index 221 Figures 1.1 RFC Organization April 1912 26 1.2 Board of Admiralty 1912–1916 29 1.3 HMS Engadine 40 2.1 Censorship in Berlin 68 2.2 The Imperial German Naval Air Service Organization Flowchart 1912–1916 72 2.3 SMS Santa Elena 82 3.1 Air Services of the Admiralty, 1916–1918 105 3.2 Spider Web Patrol Pattern 112 3.3 Spider Web in the Western Approaches 114 3.4 Admiralty/Air Ministry Liaison 115 3.5 HMS Furious 120 4.1 Change from B dL to BdFlieg 144 4.2 Change from B dFlieg to Marineflugchef 145 Table 1.1 116th Meeting of the CID 25 Abbreviations British ACA Advisory Committee for Aeronautics ACNS Assistant Chief of Naval Staff ASD Anti-Submarine Division A/S Anti-Submarine ASW Anti-Submarine Warfare BEF British Expeditionary Force CDC Colonial Defence Committee CID Committee of Imperial Defence C-in-C Commander-in-Chief CNS Chief of Naval Staff, First Sea Lord COS Chief of Staff DAS Director of Air Services DCNS Deputy Chief of Naval Staff D/F Direction Finder DMA Directorate of Military Aeronautics DGMA Director General of Military Aeronautics DNC Director of Naval Construction DOD Director of Operations Division FL First Lord of the Admiralty FSL First Sea Lord FSR Field Service Regulations GOC General Officer Commanding (Air Force) GFBO Grand Fleet Battle Orders Guerre de Course War on Commerce HTA Heavier-than-air HMS HM Ship HQ Headquarters ICA Inspecting Captain of Aircraft IGAAS Imperial German Army Air Service IGNAS Imperial German Naval Air Service JWAC Joint War Air Committee Abbreviations ix LTA Lighter-than-air NARA National Archives and Records Administration, Washington NCO Non-Commissioned Officers NHB Naval Historical Branch NID Naval Intelligence Department NPL National Physical Laboratory NW/RNAS Naval Wing/Royal Naval Air Service OPCOM Operational Command OPCON Operational Control OR Operational Research RAF Royal Air Force RFC Royal Flying Corps RN Royal Navy RNAS Royal Naval Air Service SNO Senior Naval Officer TNA The National Archives, formerly PRO U-boat Submarine USN United States Navy VLR Very Long Range WA Western Approaches WT Wireless Telegraphy German Admiralität Admiralty Admiralstab Naval Staff A.K.O.- Allerhöchste Kabinettsordre Decree BA-MA-Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv National Military Archive, Freiburg BdA-Befehlshaber der Commander Surface Scouting Forces Aufklärungsschiffe BdFlieg-Befehlshaber der C-in-C Naval Aeroplane Divisions Marinefliegerabteilungen BdL-Befehlshaber der C-in-C Naval Aviation Marineluftfahrtabteilungen BSB-Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Bavarian State Library, Munich BSN-Befehlshaber der Sicherung C-in-C Protection Forces North Sea Nordsee Einsatzgrundsätze Operational doctrine FdL-Führer der Luftschiffe Commander of Naval Airships FdF.HSK-Führer der Fliegerbei den Flight Leader High Sea Armed Forces Hochseestreitkräften FdU-Führer der U-boote U-boat Leader Feldflugchef Chief of army field flight-operations