Sea Adventure: The spotting tripods (colour litho)

The spotting tripods. When the British ships bombarded the German positions on the Belgian coast during the Great War of 1914-18, "spotting" the fall of shells was most important in order to ensure accuracy. Aircraft were shot down, and the ships were too far away for direct observation, so it was determined to use observation posts so small as not easily to be noticed. Iron tripods with searchlights for signalling were taken close to the coast at night, and dropped in the shallows with only the observer's tiny platform above water. Although drifters were assigned to rescue the tripod crews if necessary, the work was, of course, extremely hazardous. Illustration for one of a set of 50 cigarette cards on the subject of Sea Adventure, issued by Hignett Brothers in 1939.