The ship as designed was intended "to be generally in conformity
with existing Zeppelin construction," with the following main
requirements stipulated for in the specification:
1. She was to attain a speed of at least 45 miles per hour at the
full power of the engines.
2. A minimum disposable lift of five tons was to be available for
movable weights.
3. She was to be capable of rising to a height of 2,000 feet
during flight.
The design of this ship was prepared by Messrs. Vickers, Ltd.,
and as it was considered likely that owing to inexperience the
ship would probably be roughly handled and that heavy landings
might be made, it was considered that the keel structure and also
the cars should be made very strong in case of accidents
occurring. This, while materially increasing the strength of the
ship, added to its weight, and coupled with the fact that
modifications were made in the design, rendered the lift somewhat
disappointing. The hull structure was of the "Zahm" shape as in
No. 1, a considerable portion being parallel sided, while in
transverse section it formed a 17-sided polygon. In length it was
526 feet with a maximum diameter of 53 feet. The hull framework
was composed of triangular duralumin girders, both in the
longitudinal and transverse frames, while the bracing was carried
out by means of high tensile steel wires and duralumin tubes.
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