PATROL BALLOON - SC-3 CLASS 1914
Type 1 is on the left, the Type 2 is on the right
Length 143.5ft
Diameter 27.9ft
Height 43.9ft
Speed 50mph
Engines 1 x 75hp (Type 1 - tractor style, Type 2 - pusher style)
Volume 60, 000cft
The navy manned balloon program began in 1910 with the purchase of a pair of hot air balloons for evaluation. After 9 months of tests, the admiralty elected to move ahead with the program of using manned airships for coastal patrol duties. A number of both rigid and non-rigid airships were purchased for these purposes.
As tensions mounted between the Harberian Empire and the Prussian Alliance it was determined that a larger number of airships was needed, and needed quickly. In 1913 the Scout Balloon program was begun. The SC-1 (RB-1 to RB-5) and SC-2 (RB-6 to RB-14) classes were small shorter range powered balloons, meant primarily as a stop-gap measure until the new SC-3 class was available. Once the design was finalized they were quickly put into construction, the first squadron of 4 airships commissioning in March 1914. By the time war broke out in June of that year 2 more squadrons were active. By September production had reached full level, finishing 3 new airships each month until the first order of 44 was reached. In June 1915 a further 20 were ordered, bringing the eventual total of 64 for the SC-3 class.
Two types of gondolas were built, the Type 1 built by Guild Aero and the Type 2 built by Bellsmith Boat Builders. The blimp portion was manufactured by Endricksen Fabrics, the primary maker of the fabric coverings for military aeroplanes at the time.
Guild Aero won the initial contract for the gondolas and based their design on current aeroplanes, but this proved unsuitable because of the cramped conditions for the 2 man crew on extended patrols, sometimes up to 8 hours. As Guild Aero began building more pursuit aircraft and bombers their facilities quickly became overtasked, so the Admiralty re-assigned production of the gondolas to Bellsmith, who redesigned the gondolas to be more boat-like. The increased size permitted more room for the crew, more petrol storage, and the ability to carry a pair of medium sized depth charges or bombs. The increased petrol also extended the endurance up to 10 hours maximum. The Type 1 was fitted with fore and aft pontoons to permit landing on water. This was not needed for the Type 2 as the boat-like gondola permitted this without pontoons. As a general rule, they only landed on water during emergencies however.
The majority of the patrol balloons were used from shore installations, however 2 Mail Packets were converted in late 1915 to carry 2 each and were used as anti-submarine escorts for convoys.
Guild Aero built 18 gondolas, Bellsmith built 46. Endricksen manufactured 64 blimps.
Active service began in march 1914 and lasted throughout the war. After the war they were gradually replaced in the coastal patrol role by fixed wing seaplanes and rigid airships, the last patrol balloon being withdrawn from service in april 1924.
The SC-3 class was followed by the enlarged SC-4 class of 21 balloons.
Ships in Class
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RB-15 through RB-79
(The SC class airships did not have official names, although most crews gave them unofficial ones)
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