Akron class Airship Carrier (1931)

US Navy Airships (1931-35), ZRS-4/5, USS Akron, USS Macon

The Akron class remains the only class of aircraft carrier airship in history. They were in service with the US Navy for a very short time, and if the concept was very much in the line of "Popular Science" concepts, it was still quite serious. Alongside the 100+ aircraft carriers delivered by US shipyards from USS Langley to USS Gerald Ford, they were, and remains, the only flying ones, with a significant impact on the popular culture to this day. However for the US Navy, apart for the experimental value and wow factor, they were a complete (and costly) fiasco. Why it was so ?.

Iconic colorized photo: USS Macon over Manhattan. src pinterest, CC. variant.

Development

The experience of WWI Air War

The idea of a flying aircraft carrier is an old one, so much so that it was barely a decade after the first aircraft carriers were born at the end of WWI, that some proposed to turn the new "dirigibles" or "airships", seeing the kind of air warfare they drew into their own air defence carriers. Back in 1918, Zeppelins used for reconnaissance over the north sea and undrwa for bomb runs over Paris or London had only one protection: Altitude, and the time needed for fighters to climb to it. However as the allies developed new types of incendiary bullets and better, LePrieur style rockets to deal with balloons, it became clear that soon or later, in the interwar or a future conflict given the rapid progrsses in terms of aero engines, already reaching 400 hp and more, airships will not be able to roam the skies with impunity anymore, matched by interceptors that could be meeting them at their altitude on time.

Before the advent of radars for example there were already ways to detect approaching aircraft, "big ears" also called directional microphones, whaterve their size and complexity, already allowed trained operators to listen closely and pinpoint the exact location of enemy aircraft by sound alone. Thus a defence could be planned based on this data, and interceptors scrambled to meet their opponents, bombers or airships. Airships had powerful engines but still were the subject of a lot of drag due to their lighter than air structure. Before the Lakehurst catastrophy, they were very much the sexiest concept in the air, largest man-made objects flying, and the object of so much attention for the little number they represented, they became interwar defining cultural icons, still recoignized today.

USS Shenandoah, Nat. Geo 1920.

With their large size, it was envisioned to carry much more than military payloads, ie bombs or depth charges when used over seas. In the interwar new peacetime, Zeppelins that bombed London yesterday now carried passengers in a spartan luxury due to weight saving, but at a price and same amenities that rivalled luxury liners, another icon of their time. Thir military applications were numerous, as their payload was sitll largely superior (several fold) to any bomber of the time, for a speed that was not that far away, and the added bonus to take off and land from anywhere, provided there was equipment to "drop anchor" and be stabilized. For military application, there was the threat of AA fire, fighters... and the weather. Countries developed their own airships, out of national pride, for exploration in some cases, and the Count Ferdinand was happy to oblige, keeping his business alive in the postwar years.

USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) on the deck of USS Saratoga (CV-3) on 28 January 1928. She was by far the Navy's most successful airship.

His skills quickly met the enthusiasm of US military planners, both from the Army Air Corps and of the Navy. Without dviving too deep in the development of US balloon service as it was already treated in depth on the Blimps article, let's say both branches had their own lighter than air park. The US Navy for what we are concerned were interested in the concept of airships postwar, notably for one obvious capacity, or almost limitless reconnaissance. They could roam the Pacific or Atlantic for many hours across greatest distances than any traditional aircraft, apart perhaps flying boats.

Aside numerous blimps classes, the had its first true USN rigid airship as USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) based on the Zeppelin L-49, built by the NAF (The Navy own Naval Aircraft Factory) completed at NAS Lakehurst. This 680 ft (207.26 m) long airship inflated with helium weighed 36 tons (32,658 kg) with a range of 5,000 mi (4,300 nmi; 8,000 km) at up to 70 mph (61 kn; 110 km/h). On 3 September 1925 over Ohio she broke in two in a severe storm. ZR-2 was next, a Short Brothers, ex-British design, part of the RN R-38 family which was later cancelled, and lost in August 1921. There was also USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) built by Germany as compensation, soon to be the most successful, remaining in service for 7 years, making 330+ flights.

A German Popsi translation of a fantasy Royal Navy Carrier Airship. Note the top flight deck, lift, and secondary forward hook launch system, the two-level hangar and workshop (pinterest) In this depiction, aircraft landed on the top flight deck (which was a potential stability concerns), were retrieved through lifts, to be stored back in the hangar below and launched from trapeze. Date is unclear, but likely in 1932-35 given the style of the aircraft.

However the USN was not done with airship and the size of the USS Los Angeles gave ideas to test for the first time a "parasite fighter" for self-defence. The Navy back in 1926 had the idea of a new type of airship based on the Shenandoah design, but capable each of carrying their own defending squadron.

USS Los Angeles moored on USS Pakota, demonstrating that any airship could be serviced and refuelled anywhere at sea provided there was the right ship, putting forward the idea of a globe-spanning operation.

Construction

Akron ZRS-4 Goodyear–Zeppelin Corporation 24 June 1926 31 October 1929 8 August 1931 27 October 1931 Crashed off coast of New Jersey, 4 April 1933 Macon ZRS-5 1 May 1931 11 March 1933 23 June 1933 Crashed off Point Sur, California, 12 February 1935

Design of the Akron class

General layout

Engine and performances

Armament

Air Group

After the loss of both airship, the world's largest hangar, still the property of the USN, showing an impressive array of squadrons. Some suggested to add extra levels inside to house far of aircraft. Hangar One (Moffett Federal Airfield) still exist today, preserved as a national monument and largest freestanding structure for 8 acres (32,000 m2; 3.2 ha) surface now part of NASA Ames Research Center. It was restored from December 2025 to March 2026.

For a size of 785 feet or 239 m, a few feet difference with the shorter and contemporary USS Ranger (CV-4) at 769 ft (234.4 m), they carried five trapeze-hooked "parasite fighters" for defence, versus 86 on USS Ranger. The lighter than the air law made this title of "airship carrier", contraction for "airship aircraft carrier" was a bit of a stretch. Probabl in part because her own air group was for self defence: A "CAP" or "Carrier Air Patrol". It was a well known concept for naval aviation, in short a single fighter group retained at all times in rotation to defend the carrier, versus attack groups sent away.

But in her case, it was reduced to just four to intercept incoming threats, provided one was not in maintenance or repairs. But also because her hangar of 75 ft long, 60 ft wide and 16-foot high (22.9 m × 18.3 m × 4.9 m) was too small to contain anything else. So no attack component. She could not go against an enemy ship for example, as the hangar was way too small as well to accomodate an aircraft large and powerful enough to carry a torpedo.

The Hangar

The Trapeze

The Aircraft

Consolidated/NAF N2Y

F9C Sparrowhawk

The Spy Basket

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akron-class_airship

⚙ Akron class specs.
Gross Weight	403,000 lb (182,798 kg)
Volume	6,500,000 cu ft (180,000 m3)
Length	785 ft (239 m)
Height	146.5 ft (44.7 m)
Diameter	132 ft 11 in (40 m)
Engines	8× Maybach VL II V12 560 hp (420 kW)
Top Speed, sea level	73 kn (84 mph, 135 km/h)
Cruise Speed	43 kn (50 mph, 80 km/h)
Range	9,190 nmi (10,580 mi, 17,030 km) at 50 miles per hour (80 km/h)
Ceiling	19,200 feet (5,852 meters)
Armament	8x .30-cal. M1919 Browning LMGs
Air Group	5x F9C Sparrowhawk (+ spares)
Crew	60