241:
28:
572:
490:
Channel. U-boat commanders were wary of the
British airships and many chose to operate only outside the main shipping lanes, which greatly decreased the risk to convoys. Throughout 1918 not a single convoy ship was lost to U-boat action whilst the convoy was being protected by an RNAS airship. The C-Class, and other RNAS airship classes, also contributed to the sinking of several U-boats by surface ships, being able to track a submarine's course and guide a
525:(C*) -class. These had a larger envelope with a capacity of 210,000 cu ft (5,900 m) containing six ballonets of 68,860 cu ft (1,950 m) in total for an increased useful lift of 4,030 lb (1,830 kg); had a greater fuel capacity, a top speed of 57 mph (92 km/h), and had a
380:
The design of the C-Class was unsophisticated. The type was unstable, with poor control authority. The responsiveness in the controls was sluggish and often caused the crew to be airsick. However one of the main advances in airship technology was the very high rate of climb which the coastals managed
314:
The standard layout was to carry two 110-gallon (500 litre) fuel tanks, one per engine. These were usually mounted within the gondola, but when using the non-standard engines, the tanks would sometimes have to be relocated to outside the gondola or even hung from the rigging. Other equipment carried
548:
had one confirmed and three probable "kills" during her long career. She entered service in June 1916 and was struck off on 14 September 1918, after completing 3,720 hours of flying, covering 68,200 miles (109,800 km). It was claimed that in her 805 days of service she never missed an assigned
516:
could ignite the hydrogen in the envelope. The gunner manning the gun position at the top of the envelope was especially vulnerable, being directly in an attacker's line of fire and sitting atop a large, slow-moving bag of hydrogen. Many airship crews decided that the upper gun was ineffective, and
498:
to its position. Even if the airships attacked a target but failed to damage it, the submarine would often abort an attack once the commander knew an airship was on hand. Similarly, airship crews soon realised that after an attack a submarine commander would often surface to confirm his "kill", and
384:
The engines were prone to failure, regardless of the type used. This was mainly due to the extended duration of the patrols, which could reach 20 hours in length. The engines were run at virtually full speed all this time, leading to many units simply wearing out, and RNAS station maintenance crews
502:
The sluggish performance of the
Coastal class made them vulnerable to enemy aircraft. The RNAS was careful to keep its airships away from the central and eastern parts of the English Channel, which were in range of German bombers and some fighters. On the rare aerial encounters that occurred, the
248:
Sometimes referred to as the "ugliest" dirigibles ever made, production
Coastals looked very similar, but used a bespoke gondola with canvas sides built over a wooden frame. The trilobe envelope allowed the gondola to be hung closer to the envelope, reducing the overall height of the aircraft and
329:
on the top of the envelope to provide a token defence from attacking aircraft. This position was accessed by climbing up a light wooden- or rope ladder inside a tube running up inside the envelope. Some C-Class commanders fitted additional Lewis guns to the bottom of the gondola to provide added
489:
The overall offensive capabilities of the C-Class was weak – in total, only six U-boats were confirmed sunk by the 35-strong class during World War I. However, they had a great deterrent value. The type allowed the RNAS to operate a continuous air presence in the
Western Approaches and English
416:
Shortly after entering service, the ballonet air-scoop was relocated from behind the front propeller to behind the rear propeller. This not only improved the efficiency of the system, but greatly improved the visibility from the front cockpits, making the difficult task of landing the airships
253:, two in each of the two lower lobes, were used to maintain the envelope's shape and pressure. These were kept inflated by a metal air scoop mounted in the slipstream of the forward propeller on earlier examples, and at the rear propeller on later versions. The nose of the envelope was made of
520:
Towards the end of 1917, many of these ships were in need of a complete refit having been in commission for over two years. Initially several were put in order, but it was later decided instead to replace each ship as it became no longer fit to fly by the more modern
Coastal type known as the
299:
engine in the front position. The former change was usually an attempt to improve the
Coastals' leisurely top speed, whilst the latter was an attempt to improve reliability over the Sunbeam units, which had short lives when required to run at full speed for hours at a time in the long patrols
381:
to provide. It had a top speed of around 40 knots (75 km/h), making it vulnerable to enemy aircraft and even surface ships. Even at these modest speeds, and despite its strengthening ribs, the nose of the airship was prone to denting, further compromising handling.
507:
could drive away the attackers. It was difficult to physically destroy the blimps – bullets could knock out the engines, which would simply cause the airship to drift; or puncture the envelope, which would cause the craft to slowly settle to the ground. German
470:
poking above the surface, or even the faint outline of the submarine itself if it was running just below the surface. The more reliable method was to search for a light oil slick on the surface coming from the various external
478:
Most encounters started with the submarine on the surface. Even if the airship crew sighted the submarine, the enemy crew were just as likely to sight the slowly approaching airship, dive and so have a good chance of escape.
404:
The open, unheated cockpits of the
Coastals were uncomfortable; some crew members resorted to walking around the outside of the gondola on the grab-handles to stretch their legs. In winter crews were at risk from
559:
A total of 45 standard
Coastals and C-Stars were built. Twelve were totally destroyed in one way or another, but only two were lost to enemy action in the entire war, and just four survived to the Armistice.
420:
Despite these flaws, the C-Class was the only aircraft available that could mount the long patrols needed to keep the
Western Approaches and carry a useful bomb load in the hope of destroying a U-boat.
277:
that allowed the 196 ft (60 m)-long airships to be handled on the ground. No landing gear was fitted, apart from two wooden skids at either end of the gondola which also protected the propellers.
455:
The airships carried no mechanical method of detecting submarines. On war patrols, crews had to rely on their own eyesight to find a U-boat, but in 1918 experiments were carried out to develop a
237:
to hold the gas and resist the effects of weather, and had a distinctive trilobe shape in which the two lower lobes were situated side-by-side, and the third was positioned centrally above them.
429:
To maximise the amount of daylight for patrols, takeoffs would be made before dawn and landings would take place in darkness at night. RNAS stations were not equipped with
757:
170:. Entering service in 1916, the Coastal class remained in widespread service until 1918, with a few members of the class still in service at the signing of the
499:
to allow his boat to exit the area at maximum speed. Airships simply had to hover over the site of the attack and wait for the U-boat to come to the surface.
762:
In book: Proceedings of the 7th
International Airship Convention, pp.1-12, Publisher: German Society for Aeronautics and Astronautics (DGLR), October 2008.
739:
401:
replacements were of poorer quality and it was common for crews to carry several spares on patrol and many became adept at changing them in mid-flight.
273:. Ten main suspensions were incorporated in the Coastal envelope, of which seven supported the weight of the gondola, and the remaining three took the
261:
canes to prevent it deforming due to the airflow pressure as the airship moved. Three tailfins were used. The two upper ones were mounted in a shallow
475:
on the submarine. The airship crew would follow this trail until they reached the end of the slick, where it could be assumed the U-boat was.
341:. Most patrols carried four 100 or 112-lb (45 or 50 kg) bombs, but these could be replaced with a pair of 230-lb (104 kg) bombs or
482:
When airships escorted convoys, it was more effective to shadow the convoy and wait for the submarine to attack. The release of air when a
1124:
437:
held by the ground crew providing basic illumination. Later C-Class airships had a hatch in the floor of the gondola to allow a
1129:
1048:
171:
334:. Firing these required the crew to lean out of their cockpits or even stand on the landing skid to operate the weapon.
315:
in the gondola included the compressed-air tanks for the engine starters, the engine oil tanks and the sandbag ballast.
783:
992:
925:
448:
pack for each crew member for the flight. This was usually little more than some salted bacon or a sandwich, some
532:
The most successful Coastal airship (often described as "the darling of the airship service" during the War) was
1002:
Turpin, Brian J. (2023). "The Pulham Coastals: Royal Naval Air Service Airship Operations in Norfolk, 1916–17".
194:. The Coastal class was one of the first aircraft types specifically designed to detect and attack submarines.
556:
set a new world record for airborne endurance when she mounted a patrol that lasted for 24 hours, 15 minutes.
430:
295:
engine of 220 hp (164 kW), and various airships were deployed with a 100 hp (74 kW)
967:
325:. These could be mounted in a variety of places around the gondola. Another Lewis Gun was mounted on a
1041:
648:
463:
set that would be trailed below the craft; however, the war ended before this project was completed.
284:
240:
27:
413:. Often ground staff had to lift crewmen from their cockpit, they being unable to help themselves.
584:
211:
147:
98:
466:
If the sea was calm, it was sometimes possible to make out the wake of a submerged submarine's
389:. Before the war, the majority of magnetos used worldwide had been made in Germany, usually by
179:
318:
There was no standard armament for the class. The most usual set-up consisted of at least two
504:
223:
385:
became skilled at rapidly overhauling the engines. Other problems stemmed from the engine's
1078:
1034:
522:
472:
398:
394:
230:
227:
207:
175:
118:
8:
438:
266:
162:
after the war was a completely unrelated design. In total 35 Coastals were built, all at
850:
London, 1999, pp. 14– applies to all information on gondola specification and armaments.
820:
354:
183:
159:
280:
Various engines were used on the Coastal class. The most common configuration was two
1098:
1093:
1088:
1007:
988:
779:
698:
537:
513:
434:
390:
143:
759:
Leonardo Torres Quevedo, 1902-1908. The Foundations for 100 years of Airship designs
202:
The C-Class was far from a new design. The prototype was built in 1915 by using the
1103:
1083:
509:
386:
773:
526:
346:
187:
163:
64:
433:
or marker lights, and most landings were made in near-total darkness, with only
577:
365:
358:
1118:
1011:
495:
281:
234:
155:
342:
319:
1026:
449:
410:
326:
151:
486:
was fired and the weapon's wake would betray the submarine's position.
350:
304:
288:
139:
491:
467:
406:
331:
322:
254:
541:
517:
moved it down onto the gondola to provide further offensive power.
369:
274:
250:
233:. The envelope was composed of rubber-proofed fabric that was also
219:
203:
269:, while the single vertical fin below the envelope incorporated a
483:
445:
311:
to power the radio and, if needed, an auxiliary ballonet blower.
296:
292:
178:
as they became unfit for service. The blimps were used for long
308:
270:
262:
258:
191:
503:
airship crew's tactic was to run for the nearest coast, where
460:
1071:
456:
338:
215:
167:
970:
The Airship Heritage Trust. Retrieved on 14 March 2009.
928:
The Airship Heritage Trust. Retrieved on 15 March 2009.
823:
The Airship Heritage Trust. Retrieved on 14 March 2009.
441:
to be fired downwards to light up the landing ground.
357:
could be carried, usually used for surveys to prepare
291:(111 kW) each. Some replaced the aft unit with a
214:, and a gondola built using the front-sections of two
349:
was often carried by one of the crew to destroy any
1116:
372:, an observer, a radio operator and a mechanic.
307:engine was mounted in the gondola. This drove a
740:"La dirección de globos y un inventor español"
672:at full speed 11 hours, at half speed 22 hours
1042:
174:, while others were replaced by the improved
222:joined together back-to-back to provide one
1056:
867:
865:
775:British Airships - Past, Present And Future
590:
1049:
1035:
985:U-boat Hunters: Cornwall's Air War 1916–19
750:
862:
772:Whale, George (2013). "Airship design".
249:slightly reducing head resistance. Four
239:
1117:
1001:
982:
926:Coastal * class airship specifications
666:52 mph (84 km/h, 45 kn)
635:170,000 cu ft (4,800 m)
1030:
816:
814:
812:
810:
808:
806:
804:
771:
337:The main anti-submarine armament was
197:
1020:Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1919
968:Coastal class airship specifications
765:
617:218 ft 0 in (59.76 m)
629:52 ft 0 in (15.85 m)
623:39 ft 6 in (12.04 m)
512:posed the greatest threat as their
13:
801:
14:
1141:
529:of 9,500 ft (2,900 m).
210:designed by the Spanish engineer
190:, protecting convoys from German
684:1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
570:
26:
961:
952:
940:
931:
919:
910:
901:
892:
883:
874:
853:
756:Francisco A. González Redondo.
651:engines , 150 hp (112 kW) each
303:A 1.5 horsepower (1.1 kW)
43:Patrol airship (coastal patrol)
1125:Airships of the United Kingdom
1022:. London: Sampson Low Marston.
844:
835:
826:
792:
732:
723:
452:chocolate and a flask of tea.
375:
364:The standard crew was five: a
265:configuration and carried the
1:
1130:1910s British patrol aircraft
641:3,580 lb (1,630 kg)
444:The RNAS provided a standard
424:
678:8,000 ft (2,400 m)
563:
300:undertaken by the airships.
7:
987:. Truro: Dyllansow Truran.
10:
1146:
976:
958:London, 1999, Appendix IX.
707:2 × 230 lb (104 kg) bombs
1062:
703:4 × 112 lb (50 kg) bombs
34:
25:
20:
841:London, 1999, pp. 13–15.
717:
591:Specifications (typical)
536:, operating out of RNAS
1057:RNAS non-rigid airships
697:2–6 × .303 in (7.7 mm)
602:General characteristics
585:Royal Naval Air Service
397:; but the British-made
345:. The standard British
287:engines, producing 150
212:Leonardo Torres Quevedo
148:Royal Naval Air Service
146:or "blimp" used by the
99:Royal Naval Air Service
1004:The Aviation Historian
257:sheet reinforced with
245:
243:
937:London, 1999, p. 32.
916:London, 1999, p. 24.
907:London, 1999, p. 34.
898:London, 1999, p. 43.
889:London, 1999, p. 21.
871:London, 1999, p. 22.
859:London, 1999, p. 15.
832:London, 1999, p. 13.
798:London, 1999, p. 12.
208:Astra-Torres airship
130:(often known as the
983:London, P. (1999).
880:London, 1999, p. 4.
778:. Read Books Ltd.
699:Lewis machine guns
505:anti-aircraft guns
435:hurricane lanterns
330:firepower against
246:
198:History and design
184:Western Approaches
160:United States Navy
95:Primary user
1112:
1111:
514:tracer ammunition
459:carrying a basic
417:slightly easier.
347:Lee–Enfield rifle
144:non-rigid airship
124:
123:
1137:
1051:
1044:
1037:
1028:
1027:
1023:
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998:
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747:
736:
730:
727:
692:
676:Service ceiling:
659:
604:
576:
574:
573:
510:fighter aircraft
244:Gondola of C.23A
206:from the No. 10
158:operated by the
107:
53:
45:Type of aircraft
30:
18:
17:
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737:
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728:
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693:
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655:
600:
593:
571:
569:
566:
527:service ceiling
427:
378:
359:nautical charts
200:
188:English Channel
182:patrols in the
164:RNAS Kingsnorth
105:
65:RNAS Kingsnorth
56:United Kingdom
52:National origin
51:
46:
12:
11:
5:
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1006:(44): 92–100.
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785:978-1473391529
784:
764:
749:
731:
721:
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686:
685:
682:Rate of climb:
679:
673:
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664:Maximum speed:
653:
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642:
636:
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581:
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578:United Kingdom
565:
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426:
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199:
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180:anti-submarine
150:(RNAS) during
134:or simply the
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37:
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32:
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23:
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21:Coastal class
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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1128:
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994:1-85022-135-9
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922:
913:
904:
895:
886:
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868:
866:
856:
847:
838:
829:
822:
821:Coastal Class
817:
815:
813:
811:
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805:
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781:
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729:London, 1999.
726:
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715:
711:depth charges
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552:In July 1917
550:
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496:armed trawler
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343:depth charges
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156:C-class blimp
153:
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128:Coastal Class
120:
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109:
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79:Introduction
78:
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71:First flight
70:
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63:
61:Manufacturer
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50:
49:
42:
39:
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33:
29:
24:
19:
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734:
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714:
708:
704:
689:
687:
681:
675:
669:
663:
656:
654:
644:
639:Useful lift:
638:
632:
626:
620:
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608:
601:
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595:
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558:
553:
551:
545:
533:
531:
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443:
428:
419:
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403:
383:
379:
363:
355:plate camera
336:
317:
313:
302:
282:water-cooled
279:
247:
201:
176:C-Star class
135:
131:
127:
125:
119:C Star class
106:Number built
15:
657:Performance
645:Powerplant:
431:floodlights
411:hypothermia
376:Performance
327:Scarff ring
152:World War I
1119:Categories
949:1919, 10c.
670:Endurance:
425:Operations
332:submarines
323:Lewis guns
136:"Coastals"
1099:SST class
1094:SSZ class
1089:SSP class
1012:2051-1930
596:Data from
564:Operators
492:destroyer
468:periscope
450:Cadbury's
407:frostbite
353:found. A
267:elevators
255:aluminium
251:ballonets
231:propeller
220:fuselages
218:seaplane
172:Armistice
138:) were a
115:Variants
1104:NS class
1084:SS class
1079:C* class
744:La Época
690:Armament
549:patrol.
542:Cornwall
473:bearings
387:magnetos
370:coxswain
226:and one
224:tractor-
204:envelope
87:Retired
1067:C class
977:Sources
746:. 1902.
649:Sunbeam
633:Volume:
627:Height:
615:Length:
538:Mullion
484:torpedo
297:Berliet
293:Renault
285:Sunbeam
192:U-boats
132:C-Class
1010:
991:
947:Jane's
782:
621:Width:
575:
523:C-Star
446:ration
309:dynamo
271:rudder
263:V-tail
259:bamboo
228:pusher
154:. The
35:C.23A
718:Notes
609:Crew:
461:ASDIC
439:flare
399:Lucas
391:Bosch
366:pilot
351:mines
339:bombs
235:doped
140:class
90:1918
82:1916
74:1916
40:Role
1072:C.26
1008:ISSN
989:ISBN
780:ISBN
647:2 ×
611:Five
554:C-24
457:buoy
409:and
393:and
368:, a
320:.303
275:guys
216:Avro
186:and
168:Kent
126:The
546:C-9
540:in
534:C-9
494:or
395:AEG
305:ABC
142:of
110:35
1121::
864:^
803:^
742:.
709:or
705:or
544:.
361:.
289:hp
166:,
1050:e
1043:t
1036:v
1014:.
997:.
788:.
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