Harpy-class airship
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Harpy-class airship |
| Builders: | Sky Titans |
| Operators: |
 Navy of the Syaran Republic |
| Preceded by: | None |
| Succeeded by: | Angel-class airship |
| In commission: | 1903-1911 |
| Planned: | 5 |
| Completed: | 5 |
| Lost: | 3 |
| Retired: | 2 |
| Preserved: | 0 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Semi-rigid airship |
| Length: | 120 meters |
| Propulsion: | 2 piston engines |
| Speed: | 12 knots |
| Range: | 1,200 kilometers |
| Complement: | 5 |
The Harpy-class airships were the first airships built by the Republic of Syara.
Airships had become an international sensation following their rapid development in the Cacertian Empire, prompting the Syaran government to form exploratory committees to develop designs for airships. The Navy of the Syaran Republic took particular interest in airships, seeing potential value as a form of new aerial reconnaissance. This culminated in the Harpy-class of airships, first fielded in 1903. At 120 meters long and capable of 12 knots, the Harpies had a crew of five and a range of over 1,000 kilometers. Simply named Harpy 1-5, the Harpy-class first saw usage in the Third Chryse War. Because of their potential for intelligence gathering and observation, the Syaran navy oversaw the addition of a signal lamp that could be used to communicate with allies at surface level.
The usage of the Harpy-class for reconnaissance proved fortuitous; on 15 June Harpy 3 spotted the vanguard of the Górskan fleet off the Grelen Bay, and after communicating this information the Syaran fleet was able to engage and defeat the Górskans. The Harpy-class continued to be used for intelligence gathering throughout the war. A total of three were lost, all due to either accidents or in storms. The class was retired after the end of the Syaran-Ruvelkan War and followed by the Angel-class airship.