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zPg-3w<br />
GENERAT<br />
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3. Fmrq<br />
t. atcomq@tqrc.z<br />
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to, [com6^urc.3<br />
Plan of the ZPG-SWAEWship. Note the<br />
dorsal platform supported by envelope<br />
carrying height-finder radar; also the 4O<br />
foot-antenna of search radar.<br />
Contemporary proposals envisage<br />
similar craft as an extension ofthe Aegis<br />
AAW system, with its capacityto track<br />
rnultiple targets and control numerous<br />
missiles simultaneously. The airship's<br />
phbsed array radar would feed into Aegis<br />
ships' computers by automated highfrequency<br />
data-links, lending the<br />
extended horizon ofthe airborne radar to<br />
the Aegis system, giving gYeatly<br />
advanced warrring and tracking of seaskimming<br />
anti-ship missiles. Such craft<br />
would possess these advantages oyer<br />
HTA craft: greater endurance (60 days<br />
with at-sea refuelling has been<br />
suggested), much larger sensors (possibly<br />
ASWtowedarrays as well as AEW<br />
radgrs), and the ability to support and<br />
resrlpply from surface groups lacking a<br />
carrfur deck. Good,year Aerospoce<br />
marine airships. They were followed by<br />
the K-2, prototype of the class of 134ASW<br />
airships of World War II.<br />
The K-ships were the largest, fastest,<br />
most capable anti-submarine airships to<br />
date, with speeds of up to 75mph, 12-man<br />
crews, the ability to cross the Atlantic via<br />
the Azores, and, by the end of the war,<br />
radar, depth charges, sonor buoys, and<br />
MAD. These ships operated from Newfoundland<br />
to Brazil, as well as over the<br />
Straits of Gibraltar and in support of<br />
British Mediterranean minesweeping<br />
operations. They flew 550,000 hours over<br />
55,900 operational flights, and escorted<br />
89,000 ships without loss.<br />
However, the question of the blimp's<br />
effectiveness against the sub remains<br />
unanswered from the limited experience<br />
of World War IL The blimp lost no ships<br />
to subs; but on the other hand scored few<br />
victories over them. T'he reason is that<br />
few U-boats ever operated in the areas<br />
patrolled by blimps, mainly offthe North<br />
and South American coasts. The exception<br />
was operation Paukenschlag,<br />
the assault on the nearly unprotected<br />
East Coast shipping during the first half<br />
of 1942. But just as there were practically<br />
no effective escorts or patrol planes available,<br />
so the US had only the four airships<br />
of Squadron ZP-12 (commissioned 2<br />
January 1942) on the East Coast. Like the<br />
World War I Eagle boats (see <strong>Warship</strong> 4L)<br />
and Army B-18s, they were thrown into<br />
the breach without doctrine, haining,<br />
weapons, or even a convoy system. Later,<br />
when East Coast defenses took shape, the<br />
20L
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