![]() ![]() These blimps were designed for patrol and escort duties and were delivered to the Navy in late 1941 and early 1942. On October 24, 1940, the Navy awarded a contract to Goodyear for six airships ( K-3 through K-8) that were assigned the designation Goodyear ZNP-K. K-2 was flown extensively as a prototype, and continued to operate testing new equipment, techniques, and performing whatever tasks were needed, including combat patrols in World War II. The envelope capacity of the K-2-404,000 ft³ (11,440 m³)-was the largest for any USN blimp up to that time. K-2 flew for the first time at Akron, Ohio on Decem and was delivered to the Navy at NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey on December 16. K-2 was the production prototype for future K-class airship purchases. In 1937, K-2 was ordered from Goodyear as part of a contract that also bought the L-1, (Goodyear’s standard advertising and passenger blimp). Before and during World War II, 134 K-class blimps were built and configured for patrol and anti-submarine warfare operations, and were extensively used in the Navy’s anti-submarine efforts in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean areas.ĭevelopment A color photo of an unidentified Navy K blimp These blimps were powered by two Pratt & Whitney Wasp nine-cylinder radial air-cooled engines, each mounted on twin-strut outriggers, one per side of the control car that hung under the envelope. The K-class blimp was a class of blimps (non-rigid airship) built by the Goodyear Aircraft Company of Akron, Ohio for the United States Navy. Goodyear-Zeppelin and Goodyear Aircraft Corporation ![]()
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