Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!lll-winken!sun-barr!newstop!sun!amdcad!amdcad!military
From: anasaz!qip!john@asuvax.eas.asu.edu
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Airships
Message-ID: <1991Jun14.080109.20252@amd.com>
Date: 13 Jun 91 05:29:33 GMT
Sender: military@amd.com
Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
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Approved: military@amd.com


From: anasaz!qip!john@asuvax.eas.asu.edu


daly@strawber.princeton.edu (John Daly) writes:
>An airship would be the equivalent of a P-3C with helo-like
>loiter capability and unlimited range.  If airships are capable of
>sustained speeds of 40+ knots then they will make relentless submarine hunters.

I disagree.

Nuclear submarines reportedly can exceed 40 knots submerged. 

P-3's can be sent thousands of miles at 425 knots in order to
participate in ASW (we used to investigate SOSUS contacts at the
international date line from an airbase near San Francisco). That's
going to be tough to do in an airship.

Incidently, our hangar previously housed an airship used for ASW circa
WW-II (USS Macon, I believe). The airship was destroyed in a storm.  I
would say that the airship is an obsolete ASW weapon.