View source for M-class blimp

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{{Infobox aircraft
 |name=M class
 |image= File:M class blimp.jpg
 |caption=
 |type=ASW airship
 |manufacturer=[[Goodyear Aerospace|Goodyear Aircraft Corporation]]
 |designer=
 |first_flight=1944
 |introduction=
 |retired=1956
 |status=
 |primary_user=[[United States Navy]]
 |more_users=
 |produced=
 |number_built=4
 |variants=
}}

The [[Goodyear Aerospace|Goodyear Aircraft Company]] of Akron, Ohio built the '''M-class blimp''' for the [[United States Navy]] as the follow-on to the [[K-Class (ZNP-K)|K-class]] anti-submarine warfare [[blimp]] used during World War II. It was a significantly larger [[airship]], 50% larger than its predecessor. Four airships, designated M-1 through M-4, were delivered in early 1944. Operations of K-ships in tropical regions had shown a need for a blimp with greater volume to offset the loss of lift due to high ambient temperatures.
 
A contract was awarded to the Goodyear Aircraft Company for the prototype M-class blimp on August 16, 1943. This contract was followed by another contract on September 11, 1943 for 21 M-class blimps. These airships were given the Navy designation of '''ZNP-M''', (Z = lighter-than-air; N = non-rigid; P = patrol; M = type/class.) However, on November 22, 1943, the quantity of blimps was reduced to four. These were delivered to the Navy in February, March, and April 1944. The M-Class airships were retired from service by 1956. The gondola of the M-4 was retained in the conservation area at [[NAS Lakehurst]] until the mid-1970s.

The M-class blimps were {{convert|310|ft|m}} long with a {{convert|117|ft|m|adj=on}} long control car. In order to maintain the proper loading on the [[catenary]], the control car was built in three sections with universal joints between the sections. The catenary is the webbing internal to the envelope from which the control car is hung from the top of the envelope. Control of the weight distribution from the catenary is necessary to control wrinkling of the envelope. The capacity of the [[envelope]] of the M-1 was 625,000 cu ft (17,698 m<sup>3</sup>) with an increase in capacity to 647,000 cu ft (18,321 m<sup>3</sup>) for M-2 through M-4. These airships were powered by two Pratt & Whitney radial air-cooled engines.

Goodyear produced a final follow-on design, the [[N-class blimp]], in the 1950s. The N-class was 50% larger than its predecessor, which was itself 50% larger than the K-class.

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==Specifications (M-2)==
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units? = imp
|crew=10-14
|length m=92.07
|length ft=302
|length in=0
|dia m=<!-- airships etc -->21.19
|dia ft=<!-- airships etc -->69
|dia in=<!-- airships etc -->6
|height m=28.20
|height ft=92
|height in=6
|volume m3=<!-- lighter-than-air -->18,320
|volume ft3=<!-- lighter-than-air -->647,000
|lift kg=<!-- lighter-than-air -->4,356
|lift lb=<!-- lighter-than-air -->10,000
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-1340]]-AN-2 radials
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->410
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->550
|max speed kmh=128
|max speed mph=80
|cruise speed kmh=<!-- if max speed unknown -->93
|cruise speed mph=<!-- if max speed unknown -->58
|endurance=50 hours 30 minutes
|armament = *1 × .50 [[M2 machine gun]]
*8 × 350 lb (159 kg) [[AN-Mk 47 depth charge]]s
}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last= Shock |first= James R. |title=U.S. Navy Airships 1915-1962 |year=2001 |publisher=Atlantis Productions |location=Edgewater, Florida |isbn=0-9639743-8-6 }}
* {{cite book |last= Althoff|first= William F. |title=Sky Ships |year=1990 |publisher=Orion Books |location=New York |isbn=0-517-56904-3 }}
* {{cite book |last= Vaeth |first= J. Gordon |title=Blimps & U-Boats |year=1992 |publisher=US Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-876-3 }}

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==See also==
{{Aircontent
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. -->
|related=<!-- related developments -->
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
* [[List of airships of the United States Navy]]
|see also=<!-- other relevant information -->
* [[US Navy airships during World War II]]
}}

{{Goodyear aircraft}}
{{USN non-rigid airships 1947}}
{{USN non-rigid airships 1940}}
{{USN non-rigid airship classes}}

[[Category:1940s United States anti-submarine aircraft]]
[[Category:Airships of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Goodyear aircraft]]