NS class airship

The NS class airship was developed in response to the increasing requirement of the RNAS to carry out long-range anti-submarine patrols and convoy escort duties off the west coast of Great Britain, though its name came from the fact that the type was intended to work in collaboration with the Grand Fleet which mainly operated in the North Sea east of the British Isles. The main requirements for the new design were: • Capability to carry out flights of considerable duration [ 24 hours with a speed of ]. • Great reliability. • The necessary lift to carry an ample supply of fuel. • Adequate arrangements to accommodate a double crew in comfort. Approval was given in January 1916 for the construction of six NS class airships; designed and built at RNAS Kingsnorth on the Hoo Peninsula, not far from the Chatham Dockyard in Kent. It incorporated all the improvements that had been previously suggested for those classes – its shape was streamlined throughout, and having a capacity of it was significantly larger than that of the "Coastals". Six ballonets of in total were provided; equivalent to 35.5% of the total volume. Cars The first examples of the type were equipped with two enclosed cars slung from the underside of the envelope – a control car, and to the rear an engineers' car (power or engine car), joined by an exposed wooden walk-way suspended on cables. The control car was rectangular in cross-section, long and high, and was constructed from a frame of light steel tubing braced with diagonal wires. The forward portion was clad in duralumin, and the remainder covered with fabric laced to the framework. Duralumin sheeting was chosen instead of aluminium as it is not affected by the combined action of sea air and water. Windows and portholes provided both light for the crew, and afforded a good field of view. The forward section of the control car was extensively glazed, and formed the pilot's cabin which housed all the flight controls, navigating instruments, engine telegraphs and voice pipes. Behind this was the wireless telegraphy cabin, while the living and sleeping accommodation for the 10-man crew was located at the rear of the car. In addition to the radio equipment, the wireless operators' compartment carried Aldis lamps as well as international maritime signal flags. The latter could be lowered from the control car, and were effective for communicating with foreign vessels. The engineers' car housed the controls for the engines, and gave access to a flanged hotplate for cooking that was attached to one of the engine exhaust pipes. Two dynamos and batteries provided power for the ship's electrical systems which included lights, telephones and signalling lamps etc. Propulsion The type was initially fitted with a pair of Rolls-Royce Eagle engines mounted one either side of the power car in streamlined enclosures. Each drove a diameter four-bladed propeller on independent shafts through an elaborate transmission system. Armament A maximum of six bombs could be carried as well as up to five machine-guns. Similar to the Coastal and C-Star class airships, one gun was mounted on a platform on top of the envelope which was reached through a climbing shaft. Crew The normal crew comprised two watches of five – necessary for extended patrols – and consisted of a captain and Second Officer, a Coxswain and Second coxswain, two W/T (Wireless Telegraph) Operators, two Engineers and two Air Gunners. The Captain was in overall command of the vessel, and was assisted by the Second Officer in navigating, maintaining height, and regulating gas pressure. The Coxswain was responsible for the rest of the crew, and for the care and maintenance of the ship whilst on the ground. He or the Second Coxswain steered the vessel in flight from a position at the very front of the control car. During patrols, the Air Gunners took on the duties of look-outs and also acted as cooks. ==Development==