Indeed, despite the Admiralty’s efforts to ridicule Trenchard’s claims, they were very worried about what the torpedo-bomber might mean for the future of their capital ships. During the 1920s they would go to great lengths to improve air defence, including, with the Hornet programme, an attempt to develop a guided ground-to-air missile.
The Admiralty were already investigating this possibility with their ground-to-air Hornet system. A radio-controlled ‘ram interceptor’, with a 50 per cent speed advantage over the bomber, seemed a real possibility. There were some encouraging reports of success in the United States with similar systems. Less encouraging was the Admiralty decision to abandon their Hornet programme because the guidance problems were too great.
Baughen, Greg. The Rise of the Bomber: RAF-Army Planning 1919 to Munich 1938 (Kindle Location 1405). Fonthill Media. Kindle Edition.
This looks to be earlier than the RAE Ram, is there any information on it?
The Admiralty were already investigating this possibility with their ground-to-air Hornet system. A radio-controlled ‘ram interceptor’, with a 50 per cent speed advantage over the bomber, seemed a real possibility. There were some encouraging reports of success in the United States with similar systems. Less encouraging was the Admiralty decision to abandon their Hornet programme because the guidance problems were too great.
Baughen, Greg. The Rise of the Bomber: RAF-Army Planning 1919 to Munich 1938 (Kindle Location 1405). Fonthill Media. Kindle Edition.
This looks to be earlier than the RAE Ram, is there any information on it?