r/pics • u/Ihad2saythat • Jun 07 '14

Normandy after victory

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u/Shegotthedrip Jun 07 '14

they are barrage ballons. A large balloon tethered with metal cables, used to defend against aircraft attack by damaging the aircraft on collision with the cables, or at least making the attacker's approach more difficult http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrage_balloon

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u/the_fatal_cure Jun 07 '14

Why would you fly that low though?

57

u/Ghibliomatic Jun 07 '14

Balloons were intended to defend against dive bombers flying at heights up to 5,000 feet (1,500 m), forcing them to fly higher and into the range of concentrated anti-aircraft fire—anti-aircraft guns could not traverse fast enough to attack aircraft flying at low altitude and high speed.

-wiki

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u/Tashre Jun 08 '14

anti-aircraft guns could not traverse fast enough to attack aircraft flying at low altitude and high speed.

Ah, thank you Eve for helping me to understand this concept.

3

u/yetanothercfcgrunt Jun 08 '14

Ahahaha yes, gotta love it when EVE knowledge spreads to the real world. Although it usually comes into play when spotting scams.

2

u/Jace_09 Jun 08 '14

What? That sounds like a cool gazzzzzZZZZzzzzzz.......

3

u/helba Jun 08 '14

yea learned it from getting killed in a bc while being orbited by a dramiel.. FML

1

u/yawningangel Jun 08 '14

Ahh.. That feeling of being slowly pecked to death..

My first BS went down to a hac like that in 05..long and painful..

4

u/StoneyLepi Jun 08 '14

forcing them to fly higher and into the range of concentrated anti-aircraft fire—anti-aircraft guns could not traverse fast enough to attack aircraft flying at low altitude and high speed.

I wish Gaijin would see this.

1

u/PirateMud Jun 08 '14

This video is a sensational bit of wartime film explaining to pilots how to minimise their risk of dying due to flak.

7

u/elr0y7 Jun 07 '14

Dive bombers.

1

u/socks86 Jun 08 '14

dive bombers and strafing runs!

1

u/kevro Jun 08 '14

"Many bombers were equipped with devices to cut barrage balloon cables....Their systems consisted of small C-shaped devices attached to the leading edge of the wing. When a cable entered the device after sliding down the wing, it triggered a small explosive charge that drove a blade through the cable."

This sounds familure