The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Observers prepare to go aloft with the observation balloon attached to the destroyer HMAS Yarra. The trained observers looked for shadows that could indicate the presence of submarines; any submarine thus detected could then be attacked by a second destroyer. The ships of the Australian destroyer flotilla were engaged on patrol duty around the Adriatic Sea between October 1917 and October 1918; duties included searching for enemy submarines and escorting Italian troop transports.
View from HMAS Yarra of the observation balloon attached to her fellow destroyer HMAS Torrens. Just visible is the basket suspended from the balloon; it carried the observers who looked for shadows t
A distant view of HMAS Yarra, showing the kite balloon lowered. Kite balloons carried observers in a suspended basket. The observers were trained to look for shadows that suggested the presence of s
Distant view of the destroyer HMAS Parramatta towing a kite balloon at a speed of 25 knots. Kite balloons carried observers in a suspended basket. The observers were trained to look for shadows that
The kite balloon attached to HMAS Huon for observation purposes. Trained observers looked for shadows that might indicate the presence of enemy submarines, standing in a suspended basket (visible to
A kite balloon ascending from a ship. Kite balloons carried observers in a suspended basket. The observers were trained to look for shadows that suggested the presence of submarines; any submarine th
HMAS Yarra returning from a patrol in the Adriatic Sea to her base in Brindisi Harbour. The six ships of the Australian destroyer flotilla concentrated on searching for enemy submarines and escorting
