SS class airship

SS class
An SS class airship using a B.E.2c fuselage as a gondola
Role Patrol airship (submarine scout)
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Royal Aircraft Factory
RNAS Kingsnorth
RNAS Capel
RNAS Wormwood Scrubs
Vickers
First flight 1915
Introduction 18 March 1915
Primary user Royal Navy
Number built 60 original SS class [1]
(158 all variants) [2]
Variants SSP, SSZ and SST class

SS (Submarine Scout or Sea Scout) class airships were simple, cheap and easily assembled small non-rigid airships or "blimps" that were developed as a matter of some urgency to counter the German U-boat threat to British shipping during World War I. A secondary purpose was to detect and destroy mines.[3] The class proved to be versatile and effective, with a total of 158 being built in several versions.[2]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference BE2c was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b SS class airship. Airship Heritage Trust. Retrieved on 18 March 2009.
  3. ^ TAnti-Submarine Warfare in World War I: British Naval Aviation. Retrieved on 13 September 2018.