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Just a thought I found another one of my stories I had been working on . It is an alternate history of Airships and go's up to the Iran hostage crisis . Do you want me to edit and post it . Fairly long story will come in chapters each day to week .


This is the first chapter.

The longest Flight.

At 1800 hours on February 11 1980 the Airship USS Arkon gently broke free of it's mooring post in a top secret section of Edwards Air Force Base . After nearly 50 years the USN was back in the Airship business.



As Captain James Johnston reflected upon the most hectic 10 years of his life a smile grew. Here he was commanding the first flight and first operational deployment of the USN Strategic Airship concept. The Largest and most powerful Airship ever to take to the skies. '







The Story of the Strategic Airship programme began some 10 years earlier when it was noted that The Soviet Bastion concept preserved a credible second strike weapon . What was needed was a high endurance Aircraft able to either penetrate the `defences of the area and kill the Boomers or a method of preserving for two weeks at a time or more an airborne deterrent . From this requirement several proposals were received. The first was to arm B-52 bombers with air-launched versions of ASROC and it's successor . This met with a lukewarm response from the Navy . Eventually a Then Junior Lieutenant Johnston mentioned to his Mentor and Admiral the Antisubmarine operations of the Blimps during WW2 . Admiral Brian Jackson immediately passed the thought up through his chain of command . From their it became a black program . The weapons designed for other programs were scoured for suitability . The dimensions needed to carry the electronics and weapons needed for either mission were tallied and put into a requirement . as the size of the hull and lifting capacity of the Airship was realized modifications were made to the program . Right from the outset in order to minimize risk components from other reliable aircraft were used.




As a result of this what emerged was an Airship larger then anything else ever to take to the air . with a length of 200 metres Standing 60 metres high and a width of 80 metres not including the wings The Airship was huge . Mounted on 4 rotating stub wings were 8 Allison T-56-A-14 turboprops . with 4 forwards and 4 aft driving 8 metre diameter 4 bladed propellers lifting and manoeuvring power was assured . up to 6 engines could be feathered for longer endurance following take-off. Inside the Giant Airship were a further 3 engines , High power diesel generators capable of powering all combat systems when only 2 were in use. And the Combat System was the most extensive ever to take to the sky . On top of the giant Airship was the radar system of an E-3 Sentry . this provided surveillance and queuing for the attack radars out to 240 miles. Mounted in 2 pairs forward and aft with 220 degree traverse are 4 AWG-9 radars . operating on discretely different frequencies these provide self defence target designation and the use of the AIM-54 and AIM-7 missile systems. mounted under these radars are a single an/aps-116 sea search radar . The weapons load was disappointingly small when first viewed but considering it was a lighter then air ship and not a cruiser it was not too bad. Internal magazines allowed for a total of 40 tons of offensive Weapons . and 24 tons of defensive weapons . The magazine was designed to take 40 AIM-54 and 20 AIM-7 Sparrow missiles . with only 4 launch adapters for the Aim-54 and 4 for the Sparrow it was not wise to get involved in a dogfight . The Magazines for the offensive missiles were much more generous . Various numbers of missiles could be carried mounted on one of the 4 retractable launch pylons and fired. typical missiles carried included. AGM-86 ( 1.5 ton . maximum of 26 carried ) / AGM-69 SRAM ( up to 40 missiles) / AGM-78 ARM ( up to 70 ) / AGM-84 ( up to 54 missiles ) obviously various load outs were preferred . Interestingly due to the large electronics outfit the Airship could change SRAM launch coordinates up to 10 seconds before launch making them suitable as Anti-ship missiles Also included in her on-board computers was the Data needed to reconfigure ALCM to attack SA-5 Batteries that appeared. . On Her First voyage She was going to be undertaking a Deterrence mission over the North Pole . Loaded with a Full air to air magazine and a combination of 12 AGM-86 with 200 KT warheads , 12 AGM-69 with 170 kt warheads , 6 AGM-78 ARM and 8 AGM-84 Harpoon . Her intended role in the event of SIOP was to launch half her cruise missiles at radar and missile sites blocking the ingress of B-52 bombers and then to use Her Missile armament to shoot down bombers heading for the united States . In a pinch the SRAM could also be used in this role however it would be tricky targeting . Their was also several compartments that for this initial mission were not in use . These compartments were the on board aircraft hangar and associated magazines. also not inflated was %25 of the helium bags . They were not needed for this first trial mission .




On Board the 100 Crew members were living a fairly comfortable life. Living space was weight limited not space limited therefor large hammock style beds were the norm . An indoor Tennis Court appeared near the Chiefs quarters and the on board movies were on a 40 ft screen . The Chef had a large Galley and decent food storage room , Their was even talk of putting a weights room in . A running track was established on the maintenance runs . all of this before she had even taken off . The crew were however very heavily worked . Their was a comprehensive command deck to enable full situational awareness. The crew were evenly split between star wars and star trek fans and so half the crew regarded her as a Star Destroyer and the remainder called her the USS Enterprise . Their voyage would last for nearly a month before returning to Edwards Air Force Base . The success of the mission would result in a further 11 craft being built to the same design . It would also result in the formation of a Lighter then Air Carrier Squadron of Highly modified AV-8B Harriers. With These the mission would change to Maritime strike and protection .




Captain Johnstone Was hovering over the command deck wishing he could do more then maintain his stoic pose , here he was commanding the proving flight of a vessel larger then anything except and Aircraft Carrier . a Top Secret program at that . His Orders were to avoid visual contact with all shipping and take up a patrol orbit that complemented the DEW line off Canada. His mission report would form the parameters of future missions. Their was however already talk about convoy protection in the event of conventional war. With this in mind he set a course to avoid major metropolitan areas and get off shore as fast as possible . Once the USS Akron reached 5000 ft Speed was increased to 120 kt's and a steady 500 ft a min rate of climb was achieved this being close to the maximum expected performance. With all Crew members on Oxygen The Majestic Airship reached a cruising height of 20 ,000 ft 40 minutes later . Although their was still a positive climb rate They were at an altitude were low cross winds were predicted . Following the course laid out he expected to be on station in his patrol Zone within 30 hours . As long as fuel consumption stayed within expected levels he expected to recover to Edwards in 3 weeks . with a further weeks supplies remaining . In light of the Secret Nature of the flight the main radar was used intermittently to ensure a clear path . Twice Challenges from military radar sites were received . Both were rebuffed and received visits to explain the fact that no radar tracks were made .




Not long after Reaching the Coast of Alaska the first of the planned exercises began . Alaskan based F-4E fighters of the Elmendorf based 18 TFW carried out a mock intercept . They were rather shocked to be declared dead while still 85 nm away from their supposed quarry . They were even more shocked when told their target had destroyed their home base as well . Figuring they were suckered in by a USN CVBG their were no hard feelings. a further 6 attempted intercepts took place and only a pair of terrain following F-4E fighters got within missile range before being figuratively intercepted. The 6 hours of continuous combat showed some personnel weaknesses with a close call amongst the magazine crews who had been loading and unloading training missiles all morning . As the USS Akron passed over the Artic Coast of Alaska She became a part of the NORAD system . for the next 20 days a Racetrack pattern was followed that allowed full surveillance of the Beaufort Sea. At one point a suspected TU-95 began to approach the Coast of Alaska . Two of the AWG-9 radars were trained onto the TU-95 at the same time as a warning to turn away . The Tu-95 was forced away . On day 17 a SIOP message was received. set exercise condition Fast Pace . Over the next 8 hours a series of 40 B-52 bombers simulating Soviet TU-95 aircraft attempted to attack Alaska . any aircraft tracks projected to approach within 20 nm of the USS Akron were engaged with the AIM-7 Sparrow and the remainder with AIM-54 Phoenix missiles. as the missile stocks began to run down permission was sought to allow air burst SRAM engagements. This was outside the exercise parameter's and was turned down however the intercept points and radar tracks were put into the patrol report. Not long after the last B-52 was engaged Captain Johnson received orders to return to Edwards Air Force Base by the quickest means possible . Setting course For home base he had mixed feelings . In his opinion the request to exercise with all the Weapons at his disposal was allowed however he was sure he was going to get in trouble for suggesting SRAM missile usage as a possible AAM .

21 Hours later the USS Akron had Arrived back at Edwards Air Force Base and been put inside her Hangar. As the crew made ready to Shut down the on-board systems the Chief of Boat Announced " All hands Prepare for Inspection " , Their was a sudden rush of feet trying to ready their quarters for an official no notice inspection . Captain Johnstone was as perplexed as everyone else however he remained at his post on the Command Deck and waited for His COB to bring him the Inspection party. All of a sudden two Secret Service members arrived on the command deck and took up positions near the Door . President Jimmy Carter came in accompanied by the Joint Chiefs. Motioning for the remainder of the deck crew to Leave , The Naval Chief spoke first . " Son do you know how bad you have made the United States Air force look " , without waiting for an answer he continued " you made the elite B-52 Squadron look like idiots . out of 40 inbound Bombers you killed 34 and requested shooting down the remainder with air to surface nuclear missiles. " " I know you had a hand designing this aerial Battleship however did you expect this performance. " Still in shock Captain Johnstone replied ." i designed this Airship to enter hostile waters and destroy Soviet Missile Submarines , i had to have a robust air defence system and the Phoenix was the only way of achieving this . " The on-board Radars had to find any and all targets out their because at 120 kt's we can not run away from a fight . " At this Point President Carter began to talk . " Just what weapons are you able to carry and use from this aerial Battleship . " . The reply was not what was expected. " we can carry and use every weapon in the USAF and USN inventory . our computer systems and radar targeting systems are the most advanced available . We have better electronic warfare capability then just about any warship in the fleet due to our ability to carry three receivers and triangulate instantly . " So what your saying sonny is that this is the best weapon we have right now ." This comment was delivered from a visibly angry USAF defence Chief. ." No Sir it is a force multiplier. on it's own it is easily overwhelmed but if used in conjunction with USAF or USN assets it will assist in long term force projection , when we get our on board fighter Aircraft we will be that little bit better at force projection and our own protection . " President Carter cut off the reply from the Air force Chief and simply asked " what fighters" , Captain Johnstone replied , we have viewed the Bae Sky hook proposal with interest and have been trying to get some of our marine AV-8A fighters modified to Sea Harrier standards with on board radar and medium range missiles. , we can carry 6 of them on board" The President Turned to the Navy chief and said " any objection to a joint program with the Air Force " NO " was the immediate reply . President Carter then turned to the Air Force chief , " Can you deliver the modified aircraft ASAP plus pilots . i want 2 of these aerial battleships operational ASAP . we may need then for Iran . " with that said he left leaving the 3 Chiefs behind . After he had left the Army Chief turned around and said . " what is the maximum load you could carry on a clandestine mission with a 200 mile ingress and egress at low altitude and a 2000 nm journey to reach this point . " With no on board weapons we can carry maybe 100 tons their and back . with weapons cut that to 76 tons " . a grunt was the only reply . then all three Chiefs left the Airship leaving Captain Johnson wondering just what was going on .
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