Airships (UtSS)

Due to Artifice, the development and usage of airships has flourished on the world of Thryn. With uses both military and civilian, there are many classifications of airships:

Terminology

• Canopy: The large gas-chamber(s) that provide buoyancy. Usually supported by a framework skeleton of aluminum or wood. In some rare civil designs, the canopy is supported solely by pressure of the gas inside.
• Cabin: Cargo-bearing structure, either built into the bottom of the canopy or suspended hanging from it by cables.
• Deck: A floor of a cabin. Most have one deck, but larger ships can have more.
  • Bomb Deck: the lowest-level deck in a ship, including non-bombers.
• Cockpit: Room in the bow of the cabin, contains piloting controls.
• Loft Cabin or Loft: Like a normal cabin, but built on top of the canopy, rather than below it. Usually accessed by a ladder running through a tunnel in the canopy chamber.
• Mid-cabin: Like a normal cabin, but built inside or on the sides of the canopy. Usually accessed by a ladder running through a tunnel in the canopy chamber.
• Artie: Slang for artificer. Rarely used outside aeronautics circles.
• Turret: Small emplacement on an airship. Usually placed on the side or bottom of a cabin.
  • Deck-turret: a turret accessed via a hatch in the floor of a deck. Common in gunships.
  • Canopy-turret: a turret built into the side of a canopy. Accessed via tunnels built into the canopy structure.
  • Loft-turret: a canopy-turret built on the top of the canopy. Can also refer to turrets built into a loft cabin.
• Aft: The rear of the ship. Usual location of the steering rudders
• Bow: The front of the ship.
• Rotational-prop: type of engine in which a mechanism allows the propeller to change its angle (eg., the engine can point up to move straight up). Expensive, but allows for more refined manuvers.
• Aerodrome: Ground-based facility for airship loading and maitrnance. Usually military-run, but depending on the nation civilian craft may be permitted to use the facilities.
• Moor: In rough weather or with ships with no landing gear mechanisms, the moor is a small tower from which an airship my be secured.

Military Designs

Military forces on Thryn have put much time and effort into developing this valuable resource. While each nation has their own specific designs, most follow a set model.

Bomber

Normally a single-canopy, eight engine ship, the bomber is outfitted with 4-6 turrets for defense. The cabin is filled with Zanara Bombs, which are dropped through a hatch in the deck floor. Bulkier, hard to maneuver, but their large canopy helps offset the effects of turbulence, providing more accurate bombing runs.

Crew: Pilot, 4-6 gunners, bombing specialist, mechanic.

Interceptor

Single-canopy, six engine ship. 6 turrets placed on the small cabin. The interceptor is designed as a countermeasure to bombers, and is one of the fastest airship designs. Minimizes on crew for maximum speed and maneuverability.

Crew: Pilot, 6 gunners.

Gunship

Single-canopy, with 8-12 engines. The gunship is rare, but devastating against ground troops if used effectively. 14-18 turrets, most facing downward. About the same maneuverability of the bomber, but capable of descending and ascending quickly.

Crew: Pilot, 14-18 gunners, mechanic.

Transport

Single or double-canopy, 16 engines. Incredibly slow and unweildy, the transport's sole purpose is to move large amounts of troops and/or goods. No turrets, it must rely on other airships to provide fire support. The average transport contains two wide decks on the cabin, and is capable of transporting 50 tons of cargo, or about 500 troops with gear. Often called "vomit-bombers" by members of the aeronautics community.

Crew: Pilot, mechanic, 2-4 midshipmen.

Platform

Very rare, a platform is a very large (many-canopied) vessel designed to stay aloft for months at a time. Incredibly slow and ungainly, their most common use is as a large cargo holder or as an aerial aerodrome. Carry up to 40 turrets can have a small cabin, but a very large loft deck, often as a large flat platform upon which other ships can dock.

Crew: Varies, pilot, gunners, mechanics, and other support personell.

Civil Designs

Luxury Vessels

Popular among rich nobles, luxury vessels carry approximately 50 clients on trips to various resort-like destinations. Notable examples of these craft include the Ackrain, serving customers in Zanara.

Crew: Varies, but usually several pilots, cooks, servants, and a mechanic.

Freighters

In areas where installation of dock facilities is impractical or impossible, freighter airships can provide necessary goods. This is common in mountainous areas and small, remote islands. Usually double-canopied, these ships can provide up to 70 tons of cargo faster than a similarly-sized steamship. Many vessels also have mounted turrets in case of brigands.

Smugglers will also outfit small freighters and use them to quickly move goods.

Crew: Pilot, mechanic/gunner.

Passenger Ships

Similar to the freighter, except hauling people. A double-canopied transport can carry 500 people in relative comfort. For the rich, smaller vessels designed to carry about 10 plus some cargo offer a very fast method of transport.

Crew: Pilot, optionally servants or a mechanic.

Pirates

Small and fast, pirate airships are designed to quickly approach and board other ships.

Crew: Pilot, boarding crew, gunners.

Unique Designs

Designs unique to a single nation, or individually unique airships.

Ionar Battlezepplin

Outdated double-canopy behemoth from Ionar's golden days, the Ionar Battlezepplin is a somewhat-slow 12-engine airship built for the express purpose of air superiority. With 24 machine gun turrets, a quartet of Cloudscar AVCs, heavy exterior armor, and a small bay for bombs, the Battlezepplin is a terrifying sight even for modern pilots. Originally designed as an answer and replacement for Bombers, the battlezepplin defined Ionar's air power for several years.

However, the airship is showing its age; with the advent of more powerful and accurate machineguns, along with better engines for airships, Battlezepplins have become oversized targets for interceptors. Additionally, the ammo and crew required for the ship's firepower, plus the additional weight from the heavier armor, leaves little space for cargo and troops. The result has been a slowly-dwindling number, since Ionar refuses to make more.

Still, the Battlezepplin is a formidable foe versus both air and land forces, and a respectful distance should generally be maintained if at all possible.

Crew: Pilot, 24 gunners, 8 artillery specialists, mechanic, bombing specialist

---