Nimbarmatus Class Airship

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Nimbarmatus Class Airships are massive, slow, heavily armored rigid airships built and operated by the Etrurian Imperial Aviation Squadron capable of strategic surface attack. The Nimbarmatus employs a several weapons systems to provide for a range of missions. Conventional bombs can be dropped from the bomb bays of the main gondola to attach surface targets. An array of guided missiles can be launched from mounts on the gondola support beams. Furthermore, the Nimbarmatus is capable of launching several surface attack ballistic missiles in a way similar to how a submarine launches torpedoes.

Development

The Nimbarmatus was developed in response to the Etrurian needs to secure its overseas trade interests and project Etrurian military ability and strength. Etruria's military leadership recognized that the traditionally weak Etrurian navy could not compete with the established naval powers and chose to instead develop the "new high ground" in naval warfare.

The Nimbarmatus is a first generation airship and, as a result, is actually two Arcus airships joined by a gondola. As such, the Nimbarmatus shares much more with the earlier Arcus design than the two other large airships (Aetherius and Arboriri). For example, it is propelled by four externally mounted engine pods and utilizes ballast for stabilization rather than by vectored thrust ports powered by internal engine compartments that were developed after the Nimbarmatus.

Design

Four external vectoring pods capable of 180-degree rotation provide control and augment the two gondola mounted fixed thrust engines. The vectoring pods are used to maneuver the airship at low speeds. At cruise speeds, the three aft-mounted control vanes provide aerodynamic control. The Nimbarmatus kept aloft primarily by internal gas pods with moderate dynamic lift characteristics produced by the aerodynamic shape of the gondola. Without internal engine compartments, the Nimbarmatus' design is relatively simple with propellers attached directly to the engines. Despite the mechanical simplicity of this design, the Nimbarmatus engines are difficult to maintain requiring machinists to risk their lives outside the envelope of the airship to reach the external pods to make in-flight repairs.

Each of the two envelopes contains fuel cells, gas cells, and bomb bays as well as five ball-turret guns. The forward cone of the starboard envelope contains the crew's mess and kitchen while the port envelope contains the crew berths and officer's quarters. The suspended gondola houses the bridge control compartment and the missile room.

The crew consists of five officers and forty-five crewmen. The captain (commander), first officer (executive officer), second officer (flight engineer), and third officer (navigator), meteorologist, radio officer, radio technician and helmsmen (2) control the airship from the bridge control compartment. Two loadmasters manage a crew of ten loaders who maintain the bomb bays. A total of ten machinists assist the flight engineer. The machinists serving six-hour shifts around the clock to monitor and maintain each engine pod. The machinists rotate manning the observation windows.

Specifications

• Crew: 40
• Power plant: four-1250hp V-12 engines mounted on vectored maneuvering pods; three 2500HP V-24 main thrust engines
• Maximum speed: 110 knots
• Range: 5,000 km (2,698 nm)
• Service ceiling: 18300m (60,000 feet)
• Armament: conventional bombs, guided missiles, conventional ballistic missiles, and ten ball turret anti aircraft guns