The Pomeroy Bullet
Updated - Saturday, 9 August, 2003

The Pomeroy Bullet was an explosive machine gun bullet deployed specifically for use against the Zeppelin threat over Britain.  The incendiary bullet, developed by New Zealand engineer John Pomeroy (1873-1950) in 1902, was quickly adopted by British defence services as a means of combating the growing German Zeppelin threat in the skies above Britain.

Filled with nitro-glycerine the bullet ignited the hydrogen gas which escaped from the tear in the Zeppelin gas bag created by the bullet's passage.  The bullet's effectiveness led to a marked decrease in the number of Zeppelin attacks.

In time Pomeroy was paid some £25,000 in royalties for his invention.

In slang a "beetle" was a landing craft for 200 men.

Original Material © Michael Duffy 2000-07, SafeSurf Rated