The Goodyear Aircraft Company of Akron, Ohio built the M-class blimp for the US Navy as the follow-on to the K-class anti-submarine warfare blimp used during World War II. It was a significantly larger airship, 50% larger than its predecessor. Four airships, designated M-1 through M-4, were delivered in early 1944. Operations of K-ships in tropical regions had shown a need for a blimp with greater volume to offset the loss of lift due to high ambient temperatures.
A contract was awarded to the Goodyear Aircraft Company for the prototype M-class blimp on August 16, 1943. This contract was followed by another contract on September 11, 1943 for 21 M-class blimps. These airships were given the Navy designation of ZNP-M, (Z = lighter-than-air; N = non-rigid; P = patrol; M = type/class.) However, on November 22, 1943, the quantity of blimps was reduced to four. These were delivered to the Navy in February, March, and April 1944. The M-Class airships were retired from service by 1956. The gondola of the M-4 was retained in the conservation area at NAS Lakehurst until the mid-1970s.
The M-class blimps were 310 feet (94 m) long with a 117-foot (36 m) long control car. In order to maintain the proper loading on the catenary, the control car was built in three sections with universal joints between the sections. The catenary is the webbing internal to the envelope from which the control car is hung from the top of the envelope. Control of the weight distribution from the catenary is necessary to control wrinkling of the envelope. The capacity of the envelope of the M-1 was 625,000 cu ft (17,698 m3) with an increase in capacity to 647,000 cu ft (18,321 m3) for M-2 through M-4. These airships were powered by two Pratt & Whitney radial air-cooled engines.
Goodyear produced a final follow-on design, the N-class blimp, in the 1950s. The N-class was 50% larger than its predecessor, which was itself 50% larger than the K-class.
class, blimp, goodyear, aircraft, company, akron, ohio, built, navy, follow, class, anti, submarine, warfare, blimp, used, during, world, significantly, larger, airship, larger, than, predecessor, four, airships, designated, through, were, delivered, early, 19. The Goodyear Aircraft Company of Akron Ohio built the M class blimp for the US Navy as the follow on to the K class anti submarine warfare blimp used during World War II It was a significantly larger airship 50 larger than its predecessor Four airships designated M 1 through M 4 were delivered in early 1944 Operations of K ships in tropical regions had shown a need for a blimp with greater volume to offset the loss of lift due to high ambient temperatures M class Role ASW airship Manufacturer Goodyear Aircraft Corporation First flight 1944 Retired 1956 Primary user US Navy Number built 4 A contract was awarded to the Goodyear Aircraft Company for the prototype M class blimp on August 16 1943 This contract was followed by another contract on September 11 1943 for 21 M class blimps These airships were given the Navy designation of ZNP M Z lighter than air N non rigid P patrol M type class However on November 22 1943 the quantity of blimps was reduced to four These were delivered to the Navy in February March and April 1944 The M Class airships were retired from service by 1956 The gondola of the M 4 was retained in the conservation area at NAS Lakehurst until the mid 1970s The M class blimps were 310 feet 94 m long with a 117 foot 36 m long control car In order to maintain the proper loading on the catenary the control car was built in three sections with universal joints between the sections The catenary is the webbing internal to the envelope from which the control car is hung from the top of the envelope Control of the weight distribution from the catenary is necessary to control wrinkling of the envelope The capacity of the envelope of the M 1 was 625 000 cu ft 17 698 m3 with an increase in capacity to 647 000 cu ft 18 321 m3 for M 2 through M 4 These airships were powered by two Pratt amp Whitney radial air cooled engines Goodyear produced a final follow on design the N class blimp in the 1950s The N class was 50 larger than its predecessor which was itself 50 larger than the K class Specifications M 2 editGeneral characteristics Crew 10 14 Length 302 ft 0 in 92 07 m Diameter 69 ft 6 in 21 19 m Height 92 ft 6 in 28 20 m Volume 647 000 cu ft 18 320 m3 Useful lift 10 000 lb 4 356 kg Powerplant 2 Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 AN 2 radials 550 hp 410 kW each Performance Maximum speed 80 mph 128 km h 70 kn Cruise speed 58 mph 93 km h 50 kn Endurance 50 hours 30 minutes Armament 1 50 M2 machine gun 8 350 lb 159 kg AN Mk 47 depth chargesReferences editShock James R 2001 U S Navy Airships 1915 1962 Edgewater Florida Atlantis Productions ISBN 0 9639743 8 6 Althoff William F 1990 Sky Ships New York Orion Books ISBN 0 517 56904 3 Vaeth J Gordon 1992 Blimps amp U Boats Annapolis Maryland US Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 876 3 See also editUS Navy airships during World War II Related lists List of airships of the United States Navy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title M class blimp amp oldid 1047396108, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
