C-class blimp

The C-type blimp was another Navy design, and a systematic improvement upon the B-type which was very suitable for training, but of limited value for patrol work. Larger, with two motors, and a longer endurance. Once again, the envelope production was split between Goodyear and Goodrich, with all control cars being built by the Burgess division of Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. All ten of the "C" type blimps were delivered in late 1918, and examples served at all of the Navy's airship stations in 1919 and 1920. The Navy deflated it's last two C-type airships, the C-7 and C-9 in 1922. The C-type envelope was 196 feet long, 42 feet in diameter with a total volume of 181,000 cubic feet (originally 172,000, of which 55,250 cubic feet was occupied by two ballonet. The useful lift was 4,050 pounds. The C-type had a maximum speed of 60 mph, cruised at 40 mph, and could cover 1,250 miles in 31.2 hours at cruising speed. For the first time a practical armament for a patrol airship was supplied, comprised of 1 Lewis machine gun and 4 270 pound bombs. Power was either 2 150 hp Hispano-Suiza or 2 125 hp Union engines.

Operations

Arriving too late for the war, the C-type was used for a variety of activities. Training of course, but there were also other exploits. C-1 was the first Airship to release an airplane in flight when the C-1 dropped a JN-4 over Fort Tilden, NY. C-1 also tested a job which Navy blimps would also perform for the rest of their service. It was flown to Key West where it tracked torpedos fired in practice from submarines. The only "famous" C-type was the C-5, which was flown to St. Johns, Newfoundland, where it was to attempt a transAtlantic flight in competition with the US Navy's 'heavier than air" NC flying boats. The attempt ended when the C-5 was blown from the hands of the ground crew and was blown out to sea. Two C-type blimps were transfered to the US Army.