The British Army had abandoned airship development in favour of aeroplanes before the start of the war, but the Royal Navy had recognized the need for small airships to counteract the submarine and mine threat in coastal waters.Higham (1961), p. 111. Beginning in February 1915, they began to develop the SS (Sea Scout) class of blimp. These had a small envelope of and at first used aircraft fuselages without the wing and tail surfaces as control cars. Later, more advanced blimps with purpose-built gondolas were used. The NS class (North Sea) were the largest and most effective non-rigid airships in British service, with a gas capacity of , a crew of 10 and an endurance of 24 hours. Six bombs were carried, as well as three to five machine guns. British blimps were used for scouting, mine clearance, and convoy patrol duties. During the war, the British operated over 200 non-rigid airships.Mowthorpe, Ces, Battlebags, Stroud, Gloucs, Allan Sutton Publishing, 1995, p. xxiii. Several were sold to Russia, France, the United States, and Italy. The large number of trained crews, low attrition rate and constant experimentation in handling techniques meant that at the war's end Britain was the world leader in non-rigid airship technology.
tHe bRitish army Had aBaNdONed airship deVelOpment in fAVouR of AerOplanes bEfore thE staRt Of the war, but the royal NaVy haD rEcognizED the neED for SMall Airships tO counterACt the SubMarIne ANd MinE tHreAT in cOastal waters.highAm (1961), p. 111. beginnInG iN fEbRuary 1915, TheY begaN to Develop the Ss (SeA scoUt) clAss of Blimp. theSe HaD a smaLl envelope of And at fIrst UsEd AIRCraft fuSelages without tHe WinG And tAil surfaces as ContrOl CarS. LatER, MoRe advanCeD bliMPS witH pUrpose-buiLt gOndOlaS werE uSed. the ns Class (noRTH sea) wEre tHE largEst And most effEcTive non-riGid aIrShips in BritIsH sERvIcE, wiTh A gAs capAcIty Of , A cRew of 10 AnD An enDuRANcE OF 24 hoUrs. SIx bOmbs weRE cARrIed, as wEll as ThReE to five machiNE guns. brItisH Blimps were used fOR ScOuTinG, mine clEaraNcE, ANd cOnvOy PAtRol duties. dURiNg tHE wAR, tHe BrItIsh OpErated ovEr 200 noN-rIGiD aIrshIpS.MoWthorPE, ces, BaTtleBaGs, sTroud, GlouCs, aLlAn suTTOn PublIShing, 1995, p. xxiii. SevEraL WeRe SolD to russia, fraNcE, THe uniTED StaTes, And iTaLY. thE large nUmber of traiNed crEws, lOw aTtriTiOn rate and constant exPerimentatiOn in haNdling tEChniqUEs meAnt That At the WaR's eNd britain waS The world leADer in NOn-RigiD aiRsHip teCHnoloGy.