Ranken dart facts for kids

The Ranken Dart was a special weapon used during First World War. It was designed to attack huge German airships called Zeppelins. This dart was like a small, explosive bomb dropped from airplanes.

It weighed about 0.45 kilograms (1 pound). The dart was 330 millimeters (13 inches) long and 150 millimeters (5.9 inches) wide. It was made from a mix of steel and wood.

Engineer Lieutenant Commander Francis Ranken created this weapon. It was first used by the Royal Naval Air Service. Later, the Royal Flying Corps also started using it in 1916.

Airplanes usually carried 24 Ranken Darts at a time. Pilots could drop them one by one or all at once. To use them, the aircraft had to fly above the Zeppelin. The Ranken Dart started being used in February 1916. It became less useful when new types of bullets appeared. These were explosive Pomeroy bullets and incendiary ammunition fired from .303 Vickers and Lewis guns. These new bullets were very effective against airships.

How the Ranken Dart Was Designed

The Ranken Dart had a simple but clever design. It was a metal tube, about 23 centimeters (9 inches) long. One end had a pointed nose made of cast iron. This sharp nose helped it pierce the airship's skin.

The other end had a plug and three arms that could spring open. A cap, made of tin or rubber, kept these arms closed. This cap also acted as a cushion when the dart was in its dropping tube. When the dart was released, the cap came off. The arms would then open up and lock into place. They worked like a grappling hook, helping the dart stick to the airship's fabric.

Inside the dart was a mix of high explosive, black powder, and phosphorus. When the dart's head went through the airship's outer skin, these materials would ignite. This caused an explosion and fire inside the Zeppelin.