uninjured, the machine is virtually unsinkable—it cannot be swamped, as is the case with the boat-type.
A serious disadvantage under which the sea-going aeroplane at present labours, whether it be of the single boat or double-float type, is that its speed is essentially limited by the fact that it has to alight and take off from the water, and this involves designing to a comparatively low minimum flight velocity. Whilst not necessarily limiting the mean or maximum in like degree it tends in that direction.
§ 81. The Ocean-Going Aeroplane Pontoon Base or Pontoon Ship. Passing now to the alternative scheme—the aeroplane pontoon-ship, we find opened up possibilities of quite a different kind. We are no longer concerned of necessity with the limitations imposed by rising from or alighting on water, and the vessel will be expressly designed to suit the aeroplane service, instead of the aeroplane requiring to adapt itself to the vessel. Any land type of machine could be used from the pontoon-ship, but by preference floats would be fitted, and so far as practicable, machines would be rendered amphibious. Whilst it is evidently desirable that all machines in the service of the Navy should be able to rise from the sea, the conditions are evidently altered when an immersion is to be regarded as an accident rather than as part of the regular routine. For the primary function of the aeronautical arm in the Navy, whether it be scouting, or attack on the submarine, or torpedo work, there is no outstanding advantage in the employment of machines in great numbers.
For the latter duty (when the machine for this class of work has been developed), it may be found desirable to attack by squadrons or flights rather than by individual machines. But even this is doubtful, since the advantage gained by simultaneous attack from different points of
118
