The Eithnaerankor

The Eithnaerankor was an airship designed, produced and deployed by the Conoilithian Empire during the Conoilithian-Mittelrijkian War (2913-2915). It was the most powerful military airship ever built, and the only one of its class.

DEVELOPMENT
The Imperial Conoilithian Air Corps had developed a great interest in airships by the middle of the Conoilithian-Mittelrijkian War, and there was an obsession among designers with creating a new type of airship that was armed like a warship, with turrets carrying cannons capable of bombarding both ground targets and other airships. The Naerankor-class airships were eventually developed as a result, each carrying 4 x 76mm guns mounted in sponsons, but even this didn't satisfy the fascination Conoilithian high command had with flying battleships.

As a result, the Eithnaerankor ('Great Sky-Fortress' in Old Conoilithian) was designed and built, partially to serve as the new pride of the Conoilithian military following the sinking of the battleship HIMS Dauntless by a Mittelrijkian submarine. It carried an immensely heavy armament, and originally it was intended to carry 4 x 152mm naval guns mounted in 2 twin turrets on its underside. However, engineers complained that this was impossible, as this would be far too much weight even for an airship of the Eithnaerankor 's size. Instead, the airship had to make do with 120mm naval guns instead of 152mm guns as its main armament, and with a severely reduced ammunition capacity, capable of carrying only 24 rounds for each of the turrets. The airship would struggle during trials, initially flying dangerously low to the ground and exhibiting a very slow climb.

Nevertheless, that an aircraft carrying such a heavy weight was even able to take off was a miracle, and after numerous trials the airship flew successfully.

OPERATIONAL HISTORY
The Eithnaerankor 's maiden flight was heavily publicised by the Conoilithian military; almost as soon as the airship completed trials, special postcards were issued with images of it on them, newspapers and magazines reported about it, and it was announced that an airshow would be held in its honour. The starring moment of the airshow of was the launch of the Eithnaerankor, as it began its first mission, which was to conduct an air raid over the Mittelrijkian capital, Karlerburg. It was reported that the military band playing as the airship took off could hardly be heard over the roar of the Eithnaerankor 's engines, and that the emperor himself had jumped up and given a standing ovation when he saw the airship start climbing into the air. The course the Eithnaerankor 's captain had plotted set it to fly over all major Conoilithian cities and towns southwards of the capital, so that its progress could be tracked, further adding to the press the airship's journey received.

Despite its glamorous beginning, however, and its formidable armament, the Eithnaerankor 's maiden voyage would also be its last. After crossing into Mittelrijkian airspace proper, alongside its escort consisting of 4 of the lighter Naerankor class, and 3 Imperial class airships, excited by their situation, and hoping to intimidate the Mittelrijkians, the crew fired shots from its guns far off into the distance. Although these caused severe damage to the village and artillery depot the shells hit, it alerted the Mittelrijkians of the Eithnaerankor 's presence far before a scout plane could have; Mittelrijkian officers on the ground correctly deduced that the shots could have only come from long-ranged naval guns, confirming the presence of the Eithnaerankor, whose progress they had been tracking the whole time by intercepting the radio reports meant to publicise the airship's trip. Almost immediately a large force of fighter planes were assembled to intercept, along with several heavy gun-carrying airships, as the downing of the Eithnaerankor was put on first priority.

The intercepting force made contact with the Eithnaerankor and its escorts at a point somewhere around halfway between the front line and the Mittelrijkian capital. Fighters attacked the Conoilithian airships, and succeeded in destroying 2 of the Imperial class airships, and 1 of the Naerankor class airships. The Eithnaerankor had been badly damaged, but was still able to continue on its mission. However, Mittelrijkian airships would deliver the final blow, as they had used cloud cover to climb above the Eithnaerankor, and began firing their guns at the airship. The Eithnaerankor 's armament, which were all mounted on its sides and bottom, were unable to retaliate, and its enormous weight severely impeded its ability to evade or fly higher to engage. In the end, 7 direct hits were scored on the Eithnaerankor, and the airship burst into flames far before it had even reached its target of the Mittelrijkian capital.