British Airships 1905–30: : New Vanguard Ian Castle Osprey Publishing

British Airships 1905–30

Description

At a time when German U-Boats were ruthlessly attacking the maritime convoys engaged in bringing essential supplies to British shores, British airships played a vital role in neutralizing this danger and were crucial in enabling Britain to eventually emerge victorious. In 1907 the British Army built the military's first airship, and at the outbreak of World War I there were a total of seven airships under control of the Admiralty, hunting U-Boats from the skies. This book reveals the fascinating story of the cat and mouse duel between the airship and another pioneering form of technology - the submarine. Detailed cut-away drawings reveal the design and development of the airship, during and after the war, whilst full-color illustrations depict the airship in dramatic action shots. A tragic accident in 1930 brought the airship's military service to an end, resulting in a tiny window in which they were used and little acknowledgement over the years. Ian Knight gives deserved attention to an aeronautical wonder that for a short amount of time played a crucial service to the defense of Britain.

· Introduction: A background to the origins of lighter-than-air flight in Britain and a look at the development of the first airships by the Army · Design and development: SS (Sea Scout) Class, Coastal Star Class, SSP (Sea Scout Pusher) Class, SSZ (Sea Scout Zero) Class, SST (Sea Scout Twin) Class, NS (North Sea) Class, Airship No. 9, 23 Class, R.31 Class · Operational history: An overview of the type of work underwork undertaken by the British airship fleet throughout World War I: the successes, failures, innovations and tragedies.

Product details

Published	May 19 2009
Format	Paperback
Edition	1st
Extent	48
ISBN	9781846033872
Imprint	Osprey Publishing
Illustrations	20 b/w; 28 col
Dimensions	10 x 7 inches
Series	New Vanguard
Short code	NVG 155
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

Author

Ian Castle

Ian Castle has lived in London all his life and ba…

Illustrator

Tony Bryan

This is a small book but it is jam packed with photographs... It is divided into 3 sections; non-rigid, semi-ridged, and rigid airships. It includes the envelope capacity, overall length, engines, disposable lift, and top speed. This book even has a bibliography so that the curious, like me, can go and get more detailed information on them... I highly recommend this book.

Mike Hinderliter, IPMS USA (August 2009)
The book is full of superb period photos and the superb artwork of illustrators Tony Bryan and Giuseppe Raval really help bring to light the fragility and the look of these airships. In all, it makes for another fascinating read and one that I know will draw you into it as it did I.

Scott Van Aken, www.modelingmadness.com (August 2009)
Ian Castle provides a highly lucid explanation of the various types of dirigibles, covering not only the development and operational use of the nonrigid blimps during World War I, but also Britain's far less successful program for the construction of giant rigid airships... Castle's book is a must for World War I enthusiasts, focusing on an aspect of that conflict rarely covered anywhere else. It should prove equally indispensable to anyone interested in lighter-than-air technology.

Robert Guttman, Aviation History (July 2010)