SSZ class airship
| SSZ class | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Role | Patrol airship |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| First flight | 1916 |
| Primary user | Royal Navy |
| Number built | 77 |
The SSZ (Sea Scout Zero) non-rigid airships or "blimps" were developed in United Kingdom during World War I from the earlier SS ("Sea Scout") class. The main role of these craft was to escort convoys and scout or search for German U-Boats.
The SSZ was built at the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) airship station at Capel-le-Ferne near Folkestone to the design of three officers that were serving there as a successor to the SS class.
Similar to other SS class types, the SSZs had an envelope of 70,000 cu ft (2,000 m3) capacity containing two ballonets of 6,375 cu ft (180.5 m3) each; and like the SSPs, the fuel was contained in aluminium tanks slung on the axis of the envelope.
The design of the car was a departure from that of other SS types. It was streamlined, boat-shaped and watertight, was floored from end-to-end, and was enclosed with sides of fabric-covered 8-ply wood or aluminium. The car was comfortable and accommodated a 3-man crew – the forward position being occupied by the wireless operator/gunner with the pilot seated amidships, and the engineer was stationed at the rear.
A single water-cooled 75 hp (56 kW) Rolls-Royce Hawk engine was mounted on bearers above the level of the rear of the car, and drove a 9 ft (2.7 m) diameter four-bladed propeller in pusher configuration.
The SSZ design was judged superior to the SSP, which had been developed at RNAS Kingsnorth at the same time, and so the SSP was cancelled.
The SSZ's patrolled extensively from late 1917 to late 1918. The average patrol lasted eight hours, but there were instances of flights of much greater duration – three of 25–26 hours; one of 30 h 20 min; and a record of 50 h 55 min held by SSZ.39 in the summer of 1918. After the Armistice SSZ-73 became the only airship to fly under a bridge. Maj. Thomas Elmhirst (CO Anglesey), piloted SSZ-73 under the Menai Bridge. The act did not harm Elmhurst's career.
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