The Sea Scout Zero (SSZ) non-rigid airship was generally known as the 'Zero'. Airship searched the seas during World War I for mines and submarines, and acted as scouts for the ships of the surface fleets.

The Zero aircraft was carefully designed to incorporate improvements on its immediate predecessor, the Sea Scout Pusher (SSP).

The ash-frame car was aluminum covered and, apart from the three cockpit openings, watertight. Streamlined and boat-shaped, this meant that the airship could land on clam water.

The Zeros were three-man airships, with a Wireless/Telegraphist Operator in the front cockpit, the pilot in the centre seat and the engineer aft. The W/T Operator was armed with a machine gun, but this was principally used to destroy floating mines. There was the capability to carry an aerial camera, but this piece of surveillance kit was seldom fitted.

Powered by the 75hp Rolls Royce Hawk water-cooled engine, which was the only engine to be designed specifically for non-rigid airships, these craft had a maximum speed of 53mph.

Two 110lb bombs, or one 250lb bomb, were carried just forward of the engine.

The first prototype completed trials in September 1916 and by July the next year 16 Zeros had been delivered to the RNAS. In total, 66 of these airships served with the Royal Navy.

The envelope of the Zero encompassed 70,000 cu ft with its two ballonets, and air was supplied from an air-scoop.

The aircraft stretched 143ft with a diameter of 32ft. The cost of the aircraft is assessed at approximately £5,000.

(Featured in Navy News January 2003)