Ranken dart

Usually carried in packs of 24; the darts could be dropped individually or all at once. Aircraft equipped with Ranken darts had to climb above their targets, before dropping them. It entered service in February 1916. Ranken Darts became obsolete with the advent of the combination of explosive Pomeroy bullets and incendiary ammunition fired from.303 Vickers and Lewis guns mounted on fighter aircraft.

• Name — Ranken Dart • Type — Anti-Zeppelin weapon • Origin — UK • Is Ranged — yes • Is Bladed — no • Is Explosive — yes • Is Artillery — no • Is Vehicle — no • Is Missile — yes • Is Uk — yes • Service — February 1916 • Used By — Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Flying Corps • Wars — World War I • Designer — Engineer Lieutenant Commander Francis Ranken • Mass — 1 lb (450 g) • Length — 13 inches (330 mm) • Width — 5.9 inches (150 mm) • Rate — Could be dropped individually or all at once (in packs of 24) • Filling — High explosive, black powder, phosphorus • Detonation — Ignited upon penetration of airship skin • Armour — Steel and wood construction • Launch Platform — Aircraft

The Ranken dart consisted of a tinplate tube long, with a cast iron pointed nose at one end, and a plug and three spring loaded arms at the other. The arms were kept closed in storage by a cap, either tin or rubber, which acted as a buffer when the dart was in its dropping tube. When released, the arms opened up and locked in place to act as a grapnel, thus ensuring that the body entered the fabric. The Dart contained high explosive, black powder and phosphorus which were ignited when the head penetrated the airship's outer skin.