Ranken dart

{{Short description|Anti-zeppelin weapon}}

{{Infobox weapon

| name = Ranken Dart

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| 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

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| mass = 1 lb (450 g)

| length = 13 inches (330 mm)

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| width = 5.9 inches (150 mm)

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| rate = Could be dropped individually or all at once (in packs of 24)

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| filling = High explosive, black powder, phosphorus

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| detonation = Ignited upon penetration of airship skin

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| armour = Steel and wood construction

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| launch_platform = Aircraft

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The Ranken Dart was an anti-Zeppelin weapon developed during the First World War. It was an air-dropped {{cvt|1|lb|g|lk=in}} explosive flechette-type of missile-shaped bomb which was {{convert|330|mm|order=flip}} long and {{convert|150|mm|order=flip}} wide while being of a steel and wood construction.{{Cite web |title=Ranken Dart IWM|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30023709 |access-date=2023-01-06|website=iwm.org}}

It was developed for use against German Zeppelin airships by Engineer Lieutenant Commander Francis Ranken, initially as a Royal Naval Air Service weapon but was also adopted by the Royal Flying Corps in 1916.

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 {{nowrap|February 1916}}.{{sfn|Castle|2008|pp=48–49}} 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.