sign, S.S. 2, did not
fulfil the conditions laid down and was put out of commission; the
other, designed by Messrs. Armstrong, was sufficiently successful for
them to receive further orders. In addition to these a car was
designed by Messrs. Airships Ltd., which somewhat resembled a Maurice
Farman aeroplane body, and as it appeared to be suitable for the
purpose, a certain number of these was also ordered.

About this period the station at Farnborough was abandoned by the Naval
Airship Service to make room for the expansion of the military
aeroplane squadrons. The personnel and airships were transferred to
Kingsnorth, which became the airship headquarters.

The greatest energy was displayed in preparing the new stations, which
were selected as bases for the airships building for this
anti-submarine patrol. Small sheds, composed of wood, were erected
with almost incredible rapidity, additional personnel was recruited,
stores were collected, huts built for their accommodation and that of
the men, and by the end of the summer the organization was so complete
that operations were enabled to commence.

The S.S., or submarine scout, airship proved itself a great success.
Beginning originally with a small programme the type passed through
various developments until, at the conclusion of the war, no fewer than
150 ships of various kinds had been constructed. The alterations which
took place and the improvements effected thereby will be considered at
some length in the following pages.

S.S.B.E. 2C

The envelope of the experimental ship S.S. 1 was only of 20,500 cubic
feet capacity; for the active-service ships, envelopes of similar shape
of 60,000 cubic feet capacity were built. The shape was streamline,
that is to say, somewhat blunt at the nose and tapering towards the
tail, the total length being 143 feet 6 inches, with a maximum diameter
of 27 feet 9 inches.

The gross lift of these ships with 98% pure gas at a temperature of 60
degrees Fahrenheit and barometer 30 inches, is 4,180 lb. The net lift
available for crew, fuel, ballast, armament, etc., 1,434 lb., and the
disposable lift still remaining with crew of two on board and full
tanks, 659 lb.

The theoretical endurance at full speed as regards petrol consumption
is a little over 8 hours, but in practice it is probable that the oil
would run short before this time had been reached. At cruising speed,
running the engine at 1,250 revolutions, the consumpti