Gigant Airship

Gigant was an ambitious semi-rigid airship built for Imperial Russia before and during the opening phase of the First World War. Its name reflected its exceptional size within Russia’s early airship program. Testing in 1915 ended disastrously when structural failure caused the hull to buckle, preventing the intended operational career. Gigant consequently represents the engineering risks of early large airships rather than a successful strategic bombing force. It should be distinguished from later Soviet airships and from German rigid Zeppelins. Semi-rigid construction combined a gas envelope with a supporting structural member, occupying a middle ground between non-rigid blimps and fully rigid airships. Gigant’s troubled trials occurred while military aviation was developing rapidly, and its failure prevented Russia from obtaining the large reconnaissance platform its designers had envisaged.

Finish and color

Supplied unpainted and printed in the selected color. Choose from the available product color options.

Tabletop use

Suitable for period-appropriate custom scenarios in Global War 1914, Global Empires, and compatible Axis & Allies games. Use suitable scenario or house rules for unit statistics and any technology upgrades. This piece does not supply additional game rules.

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