Coastal class airship
Airship Company / RNAS · United Kingdom · first flew 1916 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Coastal class was a British non-rigid airship operated by the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War for anti-submarine patrol and convoy escort around the British Isles.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 60 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- elongated non-rigid envelope
- open car with twin engines
- biplane tail fins on envelope
A non-rigid airship of medium size — larger than the SS type blimp but considerably smaller than the rigid Zeppelin-style ships. Identified by the open car suspended below the envelope and the characteristic biplane stabilising fins at the tail of the gas bag.
Specifications
- The Coastal class airship has a length of 60 m (197 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.6 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 80 km/h (50 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by the Admiralty in 1915–16 as an improvement on the earlier SS (Sea Scout) type, the Coastal class was larger and carried greater endurance and payload for North Sea and Atlantic patrols. Over 27 were built and they flew thousands of hours of convoy escort, helping to deter U-boat attacks on coastal shipping.
Variants
The C-class was the standard build; a stretched C* (C-star) variant added fuel capacity for extended endurance.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by the RNAS from stations around the British Isles, Scotland, and Ireland from 1916 to 1918.
Related aircraft
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