From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) , left and
USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) , right, in 1924 in Hangar No. 1, Lakehurst, New Jersey
List of airships of the United States Navy identifies the
airships of the
United States Navy by type, identification, and class.
Rigid airships (ZR)
In the background, Los Angeles , in front of it, (l to r) J-3 or 4, K-1, ZMC-2, in front of them, "Caquot" observation balloon, and in foreground free balloons used for training.
US Navy airships and balloons, 1931
Fabric-clad rigid airships
The fabric-clad rigid airships were given
commissions , the same as warships.
[1]
USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) - served 1923-25, lost 3 September 1925 due to structural failure while in line squalls, 14 killed
(ZR-2) - British-built as R38 , lost 24 August 1921 before US Navy acceptance (and before official use of the ZR-2 designation) due to severe control inputs at low altitude and high speed far in excess of structural strength, 44 killed including 16 USN personnel
[2]
[3]
USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) - German-built as
LZ 126 , served 1924-39 (decommissioned 1932, and dismantled 1940)
Akron class
USS Akron (ZRS-4) - aircraft carrier served 1931-33, lost 4 April 1933 in a storm, 73 killed
USS Macon (ZRS-5) - aircraft carrier served 1933-35, lost 12 February 1935 due to structural failure, 2 killed
(
ZRCV ), proposed successor to the Akron class, not built
Other airships
All other airships were
registered as aircraft .
Metal rigid airships
ZMC-2 , a metalclad-airship built by the Aircraft Development Corp - 1929-41 (scrapped)
Semi-rigid airships
Blimps (non-rigid airships)
Gallery
USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)
R38 / ZR-2
USS Los Angeles (ZR-3)
USS Akron (ZRS-4)
See also
^ Reilly, John C. (December 2022).
"Christening, Launching, and Commissioning of U.S. Navy Ships" . Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 25 March 2023 .
^ Higham, Robin, "The British Rigid Airship, 1908-1931 A study in weapons policy," London, G.T. Foulis & Co Ltd. p. 222, 1961
^ Althoff, William F., "Sky Ships," New York, Crown Publications, p. 17, 1990,
ISBN
0-517-56904-3
^
Grossnick, Roy A., "Kite Balloons to Airships. . . the Navy's Lighter-than-air Experience,", Washington, Government Printing Office, 1986
References
Allen, Hugh, "The Story of the Airship (non-rigid), Akron, Ohio, 1943
Althoff, William F., "Sky Ships" New York, Orion Books, 1990,
ISBN
0-517-56904-3
Grossnick, Roy A., "Kite Balloons to Airships. . . the Navy's Lighter-than-air Experience,", Washington, Government Printing Office, 1986
Higham, Robin, "The British Rigid Airship, 1908–1931: A Study in Weapons Policy," London, G.T. Foulis & Co Ltd.
Mowthorpe, Ces, "Battle Bags," Phoenix Mill, Far Thrupp, Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, Allan Sutton Publishing, 1995
Shock, James R., "U.S. Navy Airships 1915-1962, Edgewater, Florida, Atlantis Productions, 2001,
ISBN
0-9639743-8-6
Vaeth, J. Gordon, "Blimps & U-Boats", Annapolis, Maryland, US Naval Institute Press, 1992,
ISBN
1-55750-876-3
Ventry, Lord & Kolesnik, Eugen M., "Airship Saga," Poole, Dorset, Britain, Blandford Press, 1982,
ISBN
0713710012
USN non-rigid airship designations 1954-1961
Patrol airships Scout airships Early-warning airships
USN non-rigid airship designations 1947-1953
USN non-rigid airship designations 1940-1946
USN non-rigid airship classes