The New York herald., 1921-07-04
Protected From Air Attacks.


If enemy airplanes became bother
some during this procedure they would
not find, as was the case with the Ger
man Zeppelns. that there was an un-
protected spot under the ZR-2's lower
part aft. where they could hover and
pump machine gun bullets into her gas
oene tanks. To meet just such con-
tingency there is the stern machine gun
nest. one situated some fifty yards
ahead on the under part of the ship
and one in each of four of the ships
engine cars. which are suspended at her
sides.
Should the attack come from above a
gunner protected from the fury of high
altitude winds In a cockpit at the top
of the ship, would probably be able to
do anything necessary with his one
pound automatic piece.
These represent some of the many i'm
provements, indicated by examination
of wrecked Zeppelins and other expert
ence, which have been incorporated In
the ZR-2.
Seen in fight. the zR-2 will be much
like her sister ship R-34. of transatlantic
fame. But her shimmering sides and
clean appearance conceal a confusion Of
interior workings" that, to one unac-
customed to such craft, Is most bewil-
dering.
AS one proceeds along the narrow
"man high" corridor which extends the
entire length of the ship. he sees a COM
plication of criss-crossed aluminium gir-
ders, rows of gasolene and water tanks,
what seem to be and actually are acres
OF fabric gas bags and q miscellany OF
guy wires, control valves. pipes, swivels.
hinges and gew-gaws that defy under
standing. But after a guide who knows
every inch of the gigantic bulk has
made explanations the handling of the
ship is seen to be simplicity itself.
Thus. the Skipper" standing at the
wheel in his cabin, just as a sea cap
tain on the bridge. has within reach a
miscellany of buttons, switches and
levers. electrically controlled, with which
he can release ballast water, defiate one
or more gas bags. empty his gasolene
tanks. start a bomb toward an objec-
tive and, of course. steer the ship up
ward, downward, to right or left.
He can send orders through a tele-
phone system which connects up the
whole ship, for the starting or stopping
of one or all of the ships six propelling
engines advise his machine gunners of
the approach of an enemy, or, through
the operator at his back, send observa-
base.
Needs 30 Officers and Men.
Comfortable hunks are provided for
the off shift of the crews-in all. thirty
officers and men. During prolonged
flight warm meals are made possible by
a system of cooking from engine ex-
haust heat. Electric lights are provided
whenever required. The ship can ''tie
up" to a mooring mast. replenish her
gas, oil water and fuel containers
through feed" pipes terminating at her
bow and resume her journey with the
loss of but a few hours sailing time.
Here are some of the ZR-2's measure
ments and specifications: Length, 695
feet (hfty feet longer than R-34).
Diameter. S5 feet 4 inches (six feet
seven inches larger than R-3D.
Capacity. 100000 cubic feet against
R-34's 1000, ,000).
Total lift under normal conditions, S3
tons (against R-34's 59z tons).
Disposable lift available for carrying
fuel and other stores, or IL altered for
commercial uses for freight or passen-
gers, so tons against R-34's "a tons)
Total horsepower, 2,1o0 against
R-34's 1850.
Engines. six OF $50 horsepower each
(against R-34's Ave of ESQ horsepower
each).
Endurance at so miles an hour. cruis-
ing speed for ZR-2 and full speed for
R-34. 5000 miles against R-S4s 1900
n1iles).
Ceiling" or maximum. altitude. u.s.
COO feet against R-3fs 1890 feet).
III adapted for transport. ZR-2 could
carry forty passengers and two tons OF
freight in nonstop flight from Eng
land Ia Egypt In about forty-eight hours.