• Source: SSP class airship

    • The SSP (Submarine Scout Pusher) were a class of Royal Navy non-rigid airship or "blimp" developed by the United Kingdom during World War I as a successor to the earlier SS class airship. Found to be inferior to a parallel development, the Submarine Scout Zero non-rigid, only a few were built.
    The main role of these craft was to escort convoys and scout or search for German U-boats.


    Design and development


    In 1916, design commenced at RNAS Kingsnorth on an SS class -type airship that would have a more comfortable purpose-built car, and not simply be an adaptation of an aeroplane fuselage. The SSP cars were of rectangular cross-section, had a blunt nose, and could accommodate a crew of three.
    As the name suggests, the SSP was powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Green engine mounted on bearers to the rear of the car, powering a 9 ft (2.7 m) diameter four-bladed propeller in pusher configuration. Four examples of the type were later fitted with 75 hp (56 kW) Rolls-Royce Hawk engines.
    Six SSPs entered service between January and June 1917, but because of the success of the SSZ type it was decided that these would become the standard SS variant, and the SSP programme was terminated.


    Operators


    Royal Navy


    Specifications


    Data from General characteristics
    Crew: 3
    Length: 143 ft 5 in (43.7 m)
    Diameter: 30 ft 0 in (9.1 m)
    Height: 43 ft 5 in (13.2 m)
    Volume: 70,000 cu ft (2,000 m3)
    Useful lift: 1,570 lb (710 kg)
    Powerplant: 1 × Green , 100 hp (75 kW) or
    Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Hawk , 75 hp (56 kW)
    Performance

    Maximum speed: 52 mph (84 km/h, 45 kn)
    Endurance: 24 hours
    Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s)


    See also


    Comparative specifications for all SS class variants
    List of aircraft of the Royal Naval Air Service


    References


    Notes

    Bibliography
    Whale, George (2008). British Airships: Past Present and Future. Toronto, Canada: Bastian Books. p. 124. ISBN 0-554-30772-3.


    External links


    SS-class airships on the Airship Heritage Trust website
    SSP-class airship specifications and logs on the Airship Heritage Trust website

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