Created using the D-Class hull, the Type 5 was designed for large bulk cargo carrying. It was slow and unwieldy, but it had a good safety record and was economical.



Type: Aerocargoship
Commissioning: 1926 - 1937
Length: 394 m
Diameter: 41 m
Height: 50 m
Propulsion: 8 x 400 kW diesel engines
Lifting Gas: Helium
Lifting Gas Volume: 510 000 m3
Empty Weight: 448 tons
Normal Weight: 550 tons
Maximum Take-Off Weight: 638 tons
Fuel Weight: 20 tons
Normal Payload: 102 tons
Maximum Payload: 190 tons
Ferry Range: 3500 km
Operational Ceiling/Altitude: 1 500 m
Maximum Altitude: 2 500 m
Cruising Speed: 21 km/h
Maximum Speed: 27 km/h
Turning Circle (radius): 5 km
Crew: 3 Officers, 2 Pilots, 8 Crew

The Type 5 airship was designed with improved economy and safety in mind. More powerful engines were mounted, alongside more effective condensers to recover weight from the exhausts.

Typically 102 tonnes of cargo could be carried in 125 cubic metres of cargo hold, secured with thick cabling. The hold was in the central part of the keel, as were the fuel bunkers and food storage.

The front gondola was mainly for controlling the airship - the bridge was mounted here, as was much of the accommodation. The wireless office was also in this area.

The rear gondola was designed for propulsion ans steering. Both the engines and control surfaces were controlled from here, linked by telephone, voice pipe and telegraph to the front gondola. The engineer and his assistants had their accomodation here.

The airship was kept in trim with the aid of many 10 cubic metre ballast tanks dotted around the hull. There were two main ballast tanks, each capable of holding up to 100 tonnes of water, fore and aft. The ballast itself was a mixtire of water and an anti-freeze, typically glycol.

In the event of an emergency, there were controls fore and aft which would have jetissoned all the ballast, all the fuel or all the cargo. There were also 45 parachutes fitted, 15 in each gondola, in the event of an emergency. If a fire broke out on board, the crew could use carbon dioxide or water fire extinguishers. There was also the option to attach hosepipes to the ballast, to use the water for fire-fighting.