Fighters over the Grand Fleet

摘要

Prior to 1917 the handful of merchant ships modified to operate aircraft with the Grand Fleet as seaplane carriers had embarked Sopwith Baby floatplanes in the scout/fighter role. None of them had succeeded in intercepting the Zeppelins that constantly patrolled the waters of the eastern North Sea and many had failed even to get airborne in the rough sea conditions often encountered.The Baby had two main disadvantages as a fighter.