page_title: SSZ class airship
section_title: Design and development
hierarchical_section_title: SSZ class airship / Design and development
caption_attribution_description: English: Can anyone identify the airship? Training slide for pilots and mechanics. From the Robert McKenzie fonds, PR1991.0305/18.
context_page_description: The SSZ non-rigid airships or "blimps" were developed in United Kingdom during World War I from the earlier SS class. The main role of these craft was to escort convoys and scout or search for German U-Boats. A secondary purpose was to detect and destroy mines.
context_section_description: The SSZ was built at the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) airship station at Capel-le-Ferne near Folkestone to the design of three officers that were serving there as a successor to the SS class.
  Similar to other SS class types, the SSZs had an envelope of 70,000 cu ft (2,000 m³) capacity containing two ballonets of 6,375 cu ft (180.5 m³) each; and like the SSPs, the fuel was contained in aluminium tanks slung on the axis of the envelope.
  The design of the car was a departure from that of other SS types. It was streamlined, boat-shaped and watertight, was floored from end-to-end, and was enclosed with sides of fabric-covered 8-ply wood or aluminium. The car was comfortable and accommodated a 3-man crew – the forward position being occupied by the wireless operator/gunner with the pilot seated amidships, and the engineer was stationed at the rear.
  A single water-cooled 75 hp (56 kW) Rolls-Royce Hawk engine was mounted on bearers above the level of the rear of the car, and drove a 9 ft (2.7 m) diameter four-bladed propeller in pusher configuration.
  The SSZ design was judged superior to the SSP, which had been developed at  RNAS Kingsnorth at the same time, and so the SSP was cancelled.
caption: SSZ 8 airship cockpit, Alberta, Canada
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