Caquot Type R

Battlefield Observation Balloon [ 1916 ]

The Caquot Type R was relied on by the Americans during its commitment to World War 1 - to a lesser extent with the British as well.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/03/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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During World War 1 (1914-1918), the United States - like other powers in the conflict - put a premium on observation balloons for general reconnaissance duties. The observation balloon was used to good effect during the American Civil War (1861-1865) where forces could spy on one another's positons and movements at range, relatively safe from any ground-based fire. The "rigid-style" airship was born sometime after in 1890 when the first such form went airborne for the first time on November 3rd, 1897 - powered by a Daimler 12 horsepower engine, it was designed by Austro-Hungarian David Schwartz and launched from Templehof Airport in Berlin.

During the First World War, Germany employed a fleet of rigid airships through its Zeppelin brand label and operated these as both observation and bombing platforms for a time. Their value and contribution were such that balloon-hunting squadrons were arranged by the Allies to reduce the enemy's effectiveness with the platform. In time, the dedicated strategic bomber overtook the role originally assigned to Zeppelin fleets.

France followed suit and utilized semi-rigid airship designs early in the conflict until their limitations were clearly showcased. Non-rigid types (also known as "Blimps") for the French (and British) continued to be fielded in the non-direct-contact maritime role where they provided excellent over-the-horizon capabilities to warships and at strategic waterways in danger of enemy attack.

If the airship had one key quality it was in its ability to stay aloft for extended periods of time - an advantage not yet held by manned, fixed-wing powered aircraft of the period.

Against this backdrop, the Americans went to war in France with the Caquot Type R in its arsenal. This observation balloon was developed by French Lieutenant Albert Caquot and showcased a length of 92 feet and width of 32 feet. The design held the ability to remain on station in winds as high as 70 miles-per-hour through its hydrogen gas filling. While American industry produced some 1,000 of the Type R for use in the war (where they were fielded over the Wester Front in France), the type was also manufactured - on a much limited scale - by the British during the subsequent World War (1939-1945). In British hands, the line ran into the 1960s as they participated in various data-collecting tasks such as parachute testing.

The baskets could hold two personnel and raise up to a height of about 4,000 feet under load, giving unfettered views for miles. U.S. forces relied on this capability for artillery direction and sighting enemy aircraft at range.

Despite their inherent fragility, semi-rigid and rigid airships continued to be used in the post-war years, designs even seeing extended development / experimentation to bring about more value out of the concept. Some were to serve as "motherships" to accompanying pursuit fighters while others set records in long distance flight. Still others were used in much the same commercial airliners are today, ferrying passengers from Point A to Point B.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

1916

Origin

United States

Status

RETIRED
Not in Service.

Crew

2

Production

1,100
UNITS

Albert Caquot / Goodyear Aerospace Corporation - USA

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

United Kingdom; United States

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Special-Mission: Airborne Early Warning (AEW)
Specially-equipped platform providing over-battlefield Command and Control (C2) capability for allied aerial elements.

✓ Special-Mission: Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy underwater elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and weapons.

✓ Special-Mission: Anti-Ship
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.

✓ Special-Mission: Electronic Warfare (EW)
Equipped to actively deny adversaries the ElectroMagnetic (EM) spectrum and protect said spectrum for allied forces.

RUGGED AIRFRAME

Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.

HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE

Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.

EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE

Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.

MARITIME OPERATION

Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.

BAILOUT PROCESS

Manual process of allowing its pilot and / or crew to exit in the event of an airborne emergency.

Length

91.9 ft
(28.00 m)

Width/Span

32.8 ft
(10.00 m)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Caquot Type R production variant)

Installed: None.

Ceiling

4,003 ft
(1,220 m | 0 mi)

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Caquot Type R production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

None.

Supported Types

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

Type R - Base Series Name.

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