French Blimps operated by the USN
Encyclopedia
Records concerning the history of French airships in US Navy service are fragmentary. A number of airship
s of various classes were operated by the US Navy (USN) during World War I
from the French Naval Base at Paimbœuf
, which was designated a US Navy Air Station from 1 March 1918 onward. It appears that at least 13 French manufactured airships were operated by the USN from Paimbœuf; six were eventually shipped to the United States and one was returned to France before the armistice. The Navy operated or ordered four Astra-Torres type airships, one T-2—the Captain Caussin, two CM types, and three or four VZ types.
was 223 feet (68 m) in length with a diameter of 47.4 feet (14.4 m), and was powered by two engines. The USN operated AT-1, AT-13 and AT-17. AT-18 was ordered but cancelled. Missions were flown by the first two airships during the war and included training, convoy patrol, mine spotting, and anti-submarine operations. There is no record of flights in the United States by the three AT airships which were shipped to there after the armistice
. AT-1 was stricken from Naval records in July 1920 at the Naval Aircraft Factory; AT-13 was stricken in October 1920 at Hampton Roads, and AT-17 was transferred to the US Army at Langley Field in October 1919.
at Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
The US Navy also operated a T-2 type Chalais-Meudon airship Capitaine Caussin. The Capitaine Caussin was operated for training at Paimbœuf and Guipavas. It was shipped to Hampton Roads, but was not erected or flown after arriving there.
built the VZ-7 and VZ-13. Both were operated at NAS Paimboeuf before the armistice and flew combat missions. They were shipped first to Norfolk, and then Coco Solo, where they were scrapped in October 1919. Zodiac VZ-3 was operated by the USN at Paimbœuf during 1918, but was returned to the French in September of that year. The Zodiac ZDUS-1 and ZDUS-2 were ordered by the Navy and shipped to the US. They were both apparently transferred to the Army, and one, the ZDUS-1, was operated by the Army at Langley, where the name was changed to ZD-1. The ZD-1 was rebuilt as the RN-1 at Scott Field
in 1923. A new 340000 cubic feet (9,627.7 m³) envelope was provided and the two 250 hp Renault engines were replaced by Liberty engines.
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
s of various classes were operated by the US Navy (USN) during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
from the French Naval Base at Paimbœuf
Paimbœuf
Paimbœuf is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.-See also:*Communes of the Loire-Atlantique department*:fr:Paimbœuf...
, which was designated a US Navy Air Station from 1 March 1918 onward. It appears that at least 13 French manufactured airships were operated by the USN from Paimbœuf; six were eventually shipped to the United States and one was returned to France before the armistice. The Navy operated or ordered four Astra-Torres type airships, one T-2—the Captain Caussin, two CM types, and three or four VZ types.
Astra-Torres blimps
The Astra-Torres airshipAstra-Torres airship
The Astra-Torres airships were non-rigid airships built by Société Astra to a design by Spaniard Leonardo Torres Quevedo in France between about 1908 and 1922. They had a highly-characteristic tri-lobed cross-section rather than the more usual circular cross-section. This was the result of moving...
was 223 feet (68 m) in length with a diameter of 47.4 feet (14.4 m), and was powered by two engines. The USN operated AT-1, AT-13 and AT-17. AT-18 was ordered but cancelled. Missions were flown by the first two airships during the war and included training, convoy patrol, mine spotting, and anti-submarine operations. There is no record of flights in the United States by the three AT airships which were shipped to there after the armistice
Armistice Day
Armistice Day is on 11 November and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day...
. AT-1 was stricken from Naval records in July 1920 at the Naval Aircraft Factory; AT-13 was stricken in October 1920 at Hampton Roads, and AT-17 was transferred to the US Army at Langley Field in October 1919.
Chalais-Meudon (French State Airship Factory)
The US Navy purchased the CM-5, which was completed after the armistice. The CM airships were 262.5 feet (80 m) long, 45.7 feet (13.9 m) in diameter and were powered by two 230 hp Salmson engines. The CM-5 was shipped to Akron, where it was offered for sale. There is no record of the USN operating the CM-5. One engine car from the CM-5 is in the New England Air MuseumNew England Air Museum
The New England Air Museum is located at Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA. The museum is housed in three large display buildings consisting of more than of exhibit space...
at Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
The US Navy also operated a T-2 type Chalais-Meudon airship Capitaine Caussin. The Capitaine Caussin was operated for training at Paimbœuf and Guipavas. It was shipped to Hampton Roads, but was not erected or flown after arriving there.
Vedette Zodiac
The Zodiac GroupZodiac Group
Zodiac, which became Zodiac Aerospace in 2007, is a French corporation, specialized in the production and development of on-board systems, safety systems and cabin interiors...
built the VZ-7 and VZ-13. Both were operated at NAS Paimboeuf before the armistice and flew combat missions. They were shipped first to Norfolk, and then Coco Solo, where they were scrapped in October 1919. Zodiac VZ-3 was operated by the USN at Paimbœuf during 1918, but was returned to the French in September of that year. The Zodiac ZDUS-1 and ZDUS-2 were ordered by the Navy and shipped to the US. They were both apparently transferred to the Army, and one, the ZDUS-1, was operated by the Army at Langley, where the name was changed to ZD-1. The ZD-1 was rebuilt as the RN-1 at Scott Field
Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville.-Overview:The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash...
in 1923. A new 340000 cubic feet (9,627.7 m³) envelope was provided and the two 250 hp Renault engines were replaced by Liberty engines.