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Photo # NH 82263: Interior of USS Shenandoah, while she was under construction at Lakehurst, N.J., 1922-1923

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT -- LIGHTER-THAN-AIR --

USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), Airship 1923-1925 -- Construction and Christening, 1922-1923

USS Shenandoah's construction was funded by Congress in 1919, as part of the Fiscal Year 1920 Navy appropriations legislation. Her design was based on that of a German dirigible that had been captured in France in 1917, but she was extensively modified to meet American requirements. The first rigid airship built in the United States, she was primarily intended for naval purposes, but it was also expected that she would serve as an experimental prototype for commercial airships, of which great things were then anticipated. Design work began in September 1919 and was completed in early October 1921.

Though originally intended for hydrogen, a series of tragic fires convinced the Navy that the chemically inert helium should be used as her lifting gas. This decision, made while she was under construction, greatly improved the new airship's security against fire. However, helium had only about 90 percent of the lifting force of hydrogen and was vastly more expensive. The resulting reduction in the airship's lifting capacity and range, plus persistent difficulties in obtaining enough helium and a resulting emphasis on conserving the gas, would severely limit her intended employment with the Fleet and cause other operational difficulties. These problems continued throughout the life of the Navy's rigid airship program, greatly restricting its success.

Construction on the new airship, designated ZR-1, was primarily done at the Naval Aircraft Factory, located adjacent to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania. Considerable pioneering work with aluminum was involved, which would pay great dividends when applied to future airplane building. Since the only facility in the United States large enough to erect the dirigible was the new airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, ZR-1 was assembled there from parts shipped over from Philadelphia. Her first frame, a midships unit, was set up in April 1922 and her great skeleton of aluminum girders was essentially complete just over nine months later. She then received her fabric covering, which was coated with aluminum paint. Internally, the airship was outfitted with twenty gas cells and a variety of tanks for fuel, lubricants and water ballast, the associated pipework, and wiring for electrical and control purposes. Her externally-mounted control car, located forward, contained one of her six engines. The other five were mounted in individual cars further aft, also externally-mounted, two on each side of the lower hull and one on the centerline.

The nearly complete ZR-1 was fully inflated with helium gas in mid-August 1923 and allowed to lift herself from the hangar floor. She left the hangar for the first time on 4 September, making a brief maiden flight in the vicinity of Lakehurst, and was christened on 10 October 1923, formally receiving the name Shenandoah at that time.

Characteristics of USS Shenandoah:

  • Dimensions: Length, over-all, 680 feet; Hull Diameter, 79 feet; Gas Volume, 2,115,000 cubic feet of helium.
  • Powerplants: Six 300 horsepower Packard water-cooled engines mounted in external cars. The control car engine was removed during repairs in January-May 1924.
  • Performance: Maximum Speed, 60 knots; Cruising Range, 2,770 nautical miles.
  • Flight Crew: 40 Officers and Enlisted Men.

    This page features all the views we have related to the construction and christening of USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)

    For other images related to USS Shenandoah, see:

  • USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), Airship 1923-1925.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 82263

    USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)


    View of her interior, while she was under construction inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 1922-1923.
    View looks aft along Shenandoah's keel, showing her midships frames in place. Those at her bow and stern have not yet been erected, but supports for some of the missing frames are visible in the foreground.

    Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 229KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82262

    USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)


    Under construction inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1923.
    This view looks aft, with her nose structure in the lower right.
    Note the jig on the hangar floor, lower left, used for the assembly of the airship's frames.

    Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 143KB; 740 x 535 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82256

    USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)


    Under construction inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1923.
    Note platforms at left used for erecting her horizontal tail fins.

    Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 145KB; 740 x 535 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98225

    USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)


    Under construction inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1923.
    This view was taken from the hangar overhead, looking forward and to port from off Shenandoah's starboard quarter.
    Note the workman, hanging by a cable, working on the airship's side.

    Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 156KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98224

    USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)


    Under construction inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1923.
    This view was taken from the hangar floor, looking forward and to port from off Shenandoah's starboard quarter.
    Note the wooden scaffolding used to support her hull and to provide working platforms.

    Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 152KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98223

    USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)


    View looking up into the airship's interior, showing her aluminum girder structure, fuel tanks and pipework, taken while she was under construction at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 1923.
    Photographed by Clements.
    Note the wooden poles used to support the airship while she was not inflated with helium lifting gas.

    Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 190KB; 690 x 625 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82264

    USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)


    View of her interior, showing tanks for her gasoline fuel. Taken while she was under construction inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1923.
    Note weight and capacity (113 gallons) markings on the fuel tanks, details of her aluminum structure, and the narrow catwalk used for crew movement inside the airship's hull.

    Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 155KB; 740 x 555 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82266

    USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)


    Interior view, looking along her keel, showing bunks (foreground), arrangement of fuel and oil tanks, telephone and water supply. Taken while she was under construction inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1923.
    Note the narrow (10 inches wide) catwalk used for crew movement inside the airship's hull.
    Photographed by Clements.

    Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 135KB; 740 x 410 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98221

    USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)


    Christening ceremonies, held inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 10 October 1923.

    Collection of the Society of Sponsors of the United States Navy.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 520 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98219

    Secretary of the Navy Edwin Denby


    With his wife and son, by the control car of USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), during the dirigible's christening ceremonies inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 10 October 1923.
    Mrs. Denby was Shenandoah's sponsor.
    Note the sandbag weights used to keep the inflated airship on the ground.

    Collection of the Society of Sponsors of the United States Navy.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 560 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98220

    Mrs. Edwin Denby
    ,
    Wife of the Secretary of the Navy and Sponsor of USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)

    On the Sponsor's platform during the dirigible's christening ceremonies, held inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, on 10 October 1923.
    Mrs. Denby is ready to pull the cord that will break the christening bottle.

    Collection of the Society of Sponsors of the United States Navy.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 545 x 765 pixels

     

    For other images related to USS Shenandoah, see:

  • USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), Airship 1923-1925.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 2 December 2002