y is fitted as is the case with all airships. In the
Coastal a gun is mounted on the top of the envelope, which is reached
by a climbing shaft passing through the envelope, another mounting
being provided on the car itself.

Bombs are also carried on frames attached to the car. Sunbeam engines
originally supplied the motive power, but at a later date a 220
horse-power Renault was fitted aft and a 100 horse-power, Berliet
forward. With the greater engine power the ship's capabilities were
considerably increased.

Exceedingly long flights were achieved by this type of ship, and those
exceeding ten hours are far too numerous to mention. The most noteworthy
of all gave a total of 24 1/4 hours, which, at the time, had only once
been surpassed by any British airship.

Towards the end of 1917, these ships, having been in commission for
over two years, were in many cases in need of a complete refit.
Several were put in order, but it was decided that this policy should
not be continued, and that as each ship was no longer fit for flying it
should be replaced by the more modern Coastal known as the C Star.

The record of one of these ships so deleted is surely worthy of special
mention. She was in commission for 2 years 75 days, and averaged for
each day of this period 3 hours 6 minutes flying. During this time she
covered upwards of 66,000 miles. From this it will be seen that she
did not pass her life by any means in idleness.

"C STAR" AIRSHIP

After considerable experience had been gained with the Coastal, it
became obvious that a ship was required of greater capabilities to
maintain the long hours of escort duty and also anti-submarine patrols.
To meet these requirements it was felt that a ship could be
constructed, not departing to any extent from the Coastal, with which
many pilots were now quite familiar, but which would show appreciable
improvement over its predecessor.

The design which was ultimately adopted was known as the C Star, and
provided an envelope of 210,000 cubic feet, which secured an extra ton
and a quarter in lifting capacity. This envelope, although of the
Astra-Torres type, was of streamline form, and in that respect was a
great advance on the early shape as used in the Coastal. It is to all
intents and purposes the same envelope as is used on the North Sea
ships, but on a smaller scale. An entirely new type of fabric was
employed for this purpose. The same model of car was employed, b