List of Zeppelins

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a complete list of Zeppelins constructed by the original German Zeppelin companies from 1900 until 1938. Other types of rigid airships that are also sometimes referred to as zeppelins are not included.

The Zeppelin companies based in Friedrichshafen, Germany, numbered their aircraft LZ1/2/..., with LZ standing for "Luftschiff [airship] Zeppelin". Additionally, crafts used for civilian purposes usually got a name, while military airships, on the other hand, were given "tactical numbering":

  • The German Army called its first Zeppelins Z I/II/.../XI/XII. During World War I they switched to using the LZ numbers, later adding 30 to obscure the total production.
  • The German Navy Zeppelins were labelled L 1/2/....

Since 1997, airships of the new type Zeppelin NT have been flying. They are not included here, as they are not Zeppelins in the traditional sense.

Contents

[edit] Zeppelins Finished Before World War I

Production number Name / tactical numbering Usage First flight Remarks Image
LZ1   prototype July 2, 1900 (L) three flights, beat speed record set by La France, dismantled due to lack of investors (D)
LZ2   experimental January 17, 1906 destroyed in accident after first flight; (D)
LZ3 Z I experimental; military October 9, 1906 (D) sold to the German Army in 1908 after refitting; used as a school ship; decommissioned in 1913 (D)
LZ4   military (intended) June 20, 1908 destroyed in Echterdingen disaster; see Zeppelin (D)
LZ5 Z II experimental; military May 26, 1909 stranded near Weilburg in 1910 during a storm (D)
LZ6   experimental; civilian (DELAG) August 25, 1909 (L) first experiments with wireless communication; first DELAG craft (see Zeppelin); accidentally destroyed in its hangar in Baden-Oos in 1910 (D)
LZ7 "Deutschland" civilian (DELAG) June 19, 1910 damaged beyond repair in an accident above the Teutoburg Forest on June 28, 1910 (D)
LZ8 Ersatz "Deutschland II" civilian (DELAG) March 30, 1911 pushed to the wall of its hangar by strong wind and damaged beyond repair on May 16, 1911 (D)
LZ9 Ersatz Z II military October 2, 1911 (L) decommissioned August 1, 1914 (D)
LZ10 "Schwaben" civilian (DELAG) June 26, 1911 (D) transported 4354 passengers in 224 flights, traveling 27,321 km; destroyed June 28, 1912 in accident on the airfield in Düsseldorf (D)
LZ11 "Viktoria Luise" civilian (DELAG); later military February 19, 1912 transported 9783 passengers in 489 flights, traveling 54,312 km; taken over as school ship by German military upon outbreak of World War I; broke apart while being hauled in (i.e. put into its hangar) on October 8, 1915 (D)
LZ12 Z III military April 25, 1912 decommissioned August 1, 1914 (D)
LZ13 "Hansa" civilian (DELAG); later military July 30, 1912 traveled 44,437 km in 399 flights; first regular flight outside Germany (to Denmark and Sweden); taken over by German military upon outbreak of World War I; decommissioned in summer 1916 (D)
LZ14 L 1 military October 7, 1912 (L) pushed down into the North Sea in a thunderstorm on September 9, 1913, drowning 14 crew members. This was the first Zeppelin incident in which fatalities occurred (D)
LZ15 Ersatz Z I military January 16, 1913 destroyed in a forced landing on March 19, 1913 (D)
LZ16 Z IV military March 14, 1913 accidentally crossed French border on April 3, 1913 in misty weather and was kept in Lunéville for one day. Performed some reconnaissance missions in World War I and attempted bombing of Warsaw and Lyck. Used as a school ship from 1915; decommissioned in autumn of 1916 (D)
LZ17 "Sachsen" civilian; later military May 3, 1913 transported 9837 passengers in 419 flights, traveling 39,919 km; taken over by German military upon outbreak of World War I; decommissioned in autumn of 1916 (D)
LZ18 L 2 military September 9, 1913 destroyed by an exploding engine on October 17, 1913 during a test flight; the entire crew was killed. (D)
LZ19 Second Ersatz Z I military June 6, 1913 damaged beyond repair in a thunderstorm on June 13, 1914 (D)
LZ20 Z V military July 8, 1913 used in World War I for reconnaissance missions in western Poland; forced landing after an attack on Mlawa during the Battle of Tannenberg; crew captured by enemy cavalry while trying to burn down the ship. (D)
LZ21 Z VI military November 10, 1913 in World War I mainly used in Belgium as a bomber; damaged beyond repair during a bombing of Liège on August 6, 1914.
LZ22 Z VII military January 8, 1914 hit by infantry fire during reconnaissance mission in Alsace on August 21, 1914 and damaged beyond repair in subsequent forced landing in St. Quirin, Lorraine
LZ23 Z VIII military May 11, 1914 same orders as Z VII on August 21, 1914; forced landing behind enemy lines; captured and plundered by French army
LZ24 L 3 military May 11, 1914 24 reconnaissance missions over the North Sea; participated in the first raid of England on January 19, 1915; destroyed by its crew after a forced landing (due to engine failure) in Denmark on February 17, 1915
LZ25 Z IX military July 13, 1914 used for reconnaissance missions and bombings in northern France; destroyed by English bomber in its hangar in Düsseldorf on October 8, 1914.The bomber was a single-seat Sopwith Tabloid flown by Flt Lt Reginald Marix, RNAS (later Air Vice Marshal); he had flown from Antwerp and the raid was the first strategic bombing raid by an airplane.

Key:

[edit] Zeppelins Constructed During World War I

Usage: military

Production number Tactical numbering First flight Remarks
LZ26 Z XII December 14, 1914 11 attacks in northern France and at the eastern front, dropping 20,000 kg bombs; decommissioned on August 8, 1917.
LZ27 L 4 August 18, 1914 11 reconnaissance missions over the North Sea; participated in the first raid of England on January 20, 1915. Forced landing in Blavandshuk on February 17, 1915 due to a storm; the crew was taken captive, with four members reported missing in action.
LZ28 L 5 September 22, 1914 47 reconnaissance missions over North and Baltic Sea; proved especially useful in discovering enemy mines; two attack missions, dropping 700 kg bombs; damaged beyond repair by Russian air defense on August 7, 1915
LZ29 Z X October 13, 1914 two attacks on Calais and Paris, dropping 1800 kg bombs; on way back damaged by enemy fire and dismantled after forced landing in St. Quirin
LZ30 Z XI November 15, 1914 used for raids on Warsaw, Grodno and other targets near the eastern front. Destroyed in an accident on May 20, 1915
LZ31 L 6 November 3, 1914 prominent role in repelling a British Navy attack on German coast on December 25, 1914; 36 reconnaissance missions around North Sea, including marking of mine fields; one successful raid on England, dropping 700 kg bombs. Took fire during refilling of gas in its hall at Fuhlsbüttel and burnt down together with L 9 on September 16, 1916.
LZ32 L 7 November 20, 1914 77 reconnaissance missions over the North Sea; several unsuccessful attempts to attack English coast. Brought down by British cruiser fire from HMS Phaeton and Galatea and destroyed by the submarine HMS E31 on May 4, 1916
LZ33 L 8 December 17, 1914 used for reconnaissance missions along the western front; damaged by enemy fire during a patrol mission, it stranded south of Ostend on March 5, 1915
LZ34   January 6, 1915 two raids at the eastern front, dropping 1110 kg bombs; heavily damaged by enemy fire on June 21, 1915, burnt down following forced landing near Insterburg.
LZ35   January 11, 1915 two raids on Paris and Poperinghe (Belgium), dropping 2420 kg bombs; forced landing near Aeltre (Belgium) due to heavy damage by enemy fire, then destroyed by a storm.
LZ36 L 9 March 8, 1915 74 reconnaissance missions in the North Sea; four raids on England dropping 5683 kg bombs; several attacks on British submarines. Burnt out in its hangar on September 16, 1916 together with L 6.
LZ37   March 4, 1915 brought down by Flt Sub-Lt R Warneford, 1 Sqdn RNAS, flying a Morane-Saulnier Type L, during its first raid on Calais on June 7, 1915. Warneford was awarded a Victoria Cross for his actions.
LZ38   April 3, 1915 Achieved first bombing raid on London on May 31, 1915 killing 7 and injuring 35 people (with material damage assessed at £18,596), five successful raids on Harwich, Ramsgate, Southend (twice) and London, dropping 8360 kg bombs. Destroyed by British bombing in its hangar in Brussels.
LZ39   April 24, 1915 three raids at the western, later two at the eastern front, dropping 4184 kg bombs in total. Heavily damaged by enemy fire on December 17, 1915 and decommissioned upon forced landing
LZ40 L 10 May 13, 1915 8 reconnaissance missions around the North Sea; 5 attacks on England dropping 9900 kg bombs, including the first raid on London on August 17-18 1915 during which Leyton was bombed causing ten deaths and injuring 48 people. Destroyed in a thunderstorm on September 3, 1915 near Cuxhaven
LZ41 L 11 June 7, 1915 31 reconnaissance missions, notably during the Battle of Jutland; 12 raids on England dropping 15,543 kg bombs. Several of the L11 crew transferred to the ill-fated L48 (LZ95).[3] Decommissioned on April 25, 1916
LZ42 LZ72 June 15, 1915 only used as a school ship, as skeleton metal was of poor quality; decommissioned in February 1917
LZ43 L 12 June 21, 1915 5 reconnaissance missions; towed back to Ostend after taking heavy damage in a raid on London, Harwich and the Humber region on August 10, 1915 but burned out during subsequent disassembly.
LZ44 LZ74 July 8, 1915 two attacks on England dropping 3500 kg bombs; dismantled after it crashed into a mountain in misty weather on October 8, 1915.
LZ45 L 13 July 23, 1915 45 reconnaissance missions; 15 attacks on England dropping 20,667 kg bombs; decommissioned on April 25, 1917
LZ46 L 14 August 9, 1915 most successful German Navy airship; 42 reconnaissance missions; 17 attacks on England dropping 22,045 kg bombs; taken out of service during 1917 and 1918. Destroyed by its crew on June 23, 1919.
LZ47 LZ77 August 24, 1915 6 attacks on England and France dropping 12,610 kg bombs. Destroyed by enemy fire on February 21, 1916 in the Battle of Verdun.
LZ48 L 15 September 9, 1915 8 reconnaissance missions; 3 attacks on England dropping 5780 kg bombs. Damaged by ground fire from Dartford AA battery during a raid on London on April 1, 1916, it was stranded at Knock Deep in the Thames estuary and 17 members of the crew were captured, one having died.
LZ49 LZ79 August 2, 1915 dropped 4440 kg in two attacks on Brest-Litovsk and Kovel and one attack on Paris on January 30, 1916; thereby hit by French fire and damaged beyond repair in forced landing near Ath.
LZ50 L 16 September 23, 1915 44 reconnaissance missions; 12 attacks on England dropping 18,048 kg bombs; delivered supplies to German isles in winter 1916. Damaged beyond repair in a forced landing near Brunsbüttel on October 19, 1917.
LZ51 LZ81 October 7, 1915 used at the South-Eastern and the Western Front; transported a diplomatic commission over enemy Serbia on November 9, 1915; one attack on Étaples (France) and two attacks on Bucharest, dropping 4513 kg bombs in total; stranded near Turnovo (Bulgaria) on September 27, 1916
LZ52 L 18 November 3, 1915 destroyed in shed fire at Tondem during refilling on November 17, 1915
LZ53 L 17 October 20, 1915 27 reconnaissance missions; 9 attacks on England dropping 10,724 kg bombs. Destroyed in its hangar on December 28, 1916 when LZ69 "L 24" broke its back and took fire across the hall's entrance.
LZ54 L 19 November 27, 1915 One raid on England on January 31, 1916, dropping 1600 kg bombs; with three engines failing, it afterwards came under Dutch fire and sank in the North Sea, drowning all crew members as nearby English fishing trawler "King Stephen" refused any help to them.[citation needed] [Kapitan-Leutnant Loewe]
LZ55 LZ85 September 12, 1915 6 attacks dropping 14,200 kg on Dünaburg (Latvia), Minsk, the railroads of Riga, and Saloniki (three times); damaged by fire from Battleship HMS Agamemnon on May 5, 1916, it was stranded in the Wardar marshes
LZ56 LZ86 October 10, 1915 7 attacks dropping 14,800 kg bombs along the Eastern and South-Eastern front; crashed on September 3, 1916 when the fore and aft nacelle broke away from the ships hull after a raid.
LZ57 LZ87 December 6, 1915 2 attacks on Ramsgate and Margate dropping 3000 kg bombs; in July 1916 handed to the German Navy; 16 reconnaissance missions around the Baltic Sea; later used as a school ship. Decommissioned in July 1917.
LZ58 LZ88/L 25 November 14, 1915 14 reconnaissance missions; 3 attacks dropping 4249 kg bombs along the Western Front; in January 1917 handed to the German Navy who used it for experimenting. Decommissioned in September 1917.
LZ59 L 20 November 21, 1915

6 reconnaissance missions; 2 attacks on England dropping 2864 kg bombs; ran out of fuel after second attack on May 4, 1916 and stranded near Stavanger (Norway). The crew was taken into custody; Kapitänleutnant Stabbert escaped six months later.

LZ59
LZ60 LZ90 January 1, 1916 4 attacks on Bar-le-Duc, Norwich, London and Etaples, dropping 8860 kg bombs; on November 7, 1916 broke loose in the direction of the North Sea in a storm and never seen again.
LZ61 L 21 January 10, 1916 17 reconnaissance missions; 10 attacks on England dropping 14,442 kg bombs; intercepted and destroyed by English fighter pilot Flt-Lt Egbert Cadbury firing phosphor rounds off Lowestoft on November 28, 1916.
LZ62 L 30 May 28, 1916 First of the "Super-Zeppelin" Class. 10 raids on England dropping 23,305 kg bombs (however causing limited damage due to poor sight); 31 reconnaissance missions above the North and Baltic Sea and at the Eastern Front; retired on November 17, 1917. In 1920 ordered to be transferred to Belgium in the context of war reparations, where it was disassembled. Some components, including an engine car, are preserved at the Royal Army and Military History Museum, Brussels.
LZ63 LZ93 February 23, 1916 three attacks on Dunkirk, Mardick and Harwich, dropping 3240 kg bombs. Decommissioned in 1917.
LZ64 L 22 March 3, 1916 30 reconnaissance missions; 8 attacks on England, dropping 9215 kg bombs; destroyed by British Curtis H12 Flying Boat flown by RNAS Flight Commander Robert Leckie (later Air Vice Marshal) near Terschelling on May 14, 1917 during a reconnaissance mission. (Leckie was also credited in the downing on LZ112/L70)
LZ65 LZ95 February 1, 1916 Destroyed by French anti-aircraft fire on February 21, 1915 during an attempted attack on Vitry-le-François.
LZ66 L 23 April 8, 1916 51 reconnaissance missions; 3 attacks on England dropping 5254 kg bombs; destroyed on August 21, 1917 by 2/Lt B A Smart flying Sopwith Pup launched from the cruiser HMS Yarmouth. Smart later led Tondern raid which destroyed L54 & L60
LZ67 LZ97 April 4, 1916 4 attacks on London (twice), Boulogne and, later, Bucharest, dropping 5760 kg bombs, plus several unsuccessful flights in bad weather. Decommissioned on July 5, 1917.
LZ68 LZ98 April 28, 1916 one attack on London dropping 1513 kg bombs, plus several flights aborted due to bad weather; handed to the German Navy in November 1916; 15 reconnaissance missions around the Baltic Sea. Decommissioned in August 1917.
LZ69 L 24 May 20, 1916 19 reconnaissance missions around the North Sea; 4 raids on England dropping 8510 kg bombs; crashed into a wall while being "stabled" on December 28, 1916 and burned out together with LZ53 "L17".
LZ70 not realized
LZ71 LZ101 June 29, 1916 stationed in Yambol (Bulgaria); 7 attacks dropping 11,934 kg bombs on Bucharest, Ciulniţa, Feteşti, Galaţi, Odessa, Mytilene, Iaşi and Mudros. Disassembled in September 1917.
LZ72 L 31 July 12, 1916
one important reconnaissance mission in fleet operation against Sunderland; 6 attacks on England dropping 19,411 kg bombs; with L32, L33, and L34 part of Zeppelin raid on night of 1916-09-23;[4] intercepted and destroyed by British fighter pilot Lt V Tempest on October 2, 1916 near Potters Bar, North of London, while commanded by the leading airship commander of the time, Kapitän Leutnant Heinrich Mathy, who perished with his entire crew.
LZ72 or LZ74
LZ72 or LZ74
LZ73 LZ103 August 23, 1916 one successful attack on Calais dropping 1530 kg bombs (several other attacks being cancelled or aborted due to poor weather); decommissioned in August 1917
LZ74 L 32 August 4, 1916 one important reconnaissance mission in fleet operation against Sunderland; three attacks on England dropping 6860 kg bombs; commanded by Kapitan-Leutnant Werner Petersen, with L31, L33, and L34 part of Zeppelin raid on night of 1916-09-23; intercepted and destroyed by British fighter pilot 2/Lt Frederick Sowrey in a BE2c on September 24, 1916 near Great Burstead, Essex, all the crew dying.[4] The crew's bodies buried at Great Burstead, then in 1966 exhumed and reburied at Cannock Chase.[4]
LZ75 L 37 November 9, 1916 17 reconnaissance missions around the North and Baltic Sea and England; 4 raids dropping 6450 kg bombs; retired on December 24, 1917; transferred to Japan in 1920 (disassembled)
LZ76 L 33 August 30, 1916 part of the Zeppelin group that bombed London and surrounding counties (L31, L32, L33 and L34); during its first mission, in which 3200 kg bombs had been dropped,[citation needed] after an anti-aircraft shell seriously damaged it, commander Kapitan-Leutnant Alois Bocker turned over Essex and was attacked by a squadron of night fighters from Hainault Farm and hit several times, but even after dropping guns and equipment Bocker decided it would not make it back across the North Sea, forced landing near Brentwood, Essex September 24, 1916 with no fatalities,[4] the crew were only partly successful in burning the hull, and British engineers examined the skeleton and later used the plans as a basis for the construction of airships R33 and R34
LZ77 LZ107 October 16, 1916 one attack on Boulogne, France, dropping 1440 kg bombs (several other raids being cancelled or aborted). Decommissioned in July 1917.
LZ78 L 34 September 22, 1916 three reconnaissance missions; two attacks on England dropping 3890 kg bombs; intercepted and destroyed by British fighter pilot 2/Lt Ian Pyott in BE2c 2738 off Hartlepool on November 28, 1916.Pyott was so close that his face was scorched
LZ79 L 41 January 15, 1917 15 reconnaissance missions around the North Sea; four attacks on England dropping 6567 kg bombs; used as a school ship from December 11, 1917 on. Destroyed by its crew on June 23, 1919.
LZ80 L 35 October 20, 1916 13 reconnaissance missions around the North and Baltic Sea; three attacks on England dropping 4284 kg bombs; decommissioned in September 1918.
LZ81 LZ111 December 20, 1916 not used in the German Army and transferred to Navy in May 1917; 7 reconnaissance missions around the Baltic Sea. Decommissioned on August 10, 1917.
LZ82 L 36 November 1, 1916 20 flights around the North Sea and England, including four reconnaissance missions; damaged during landing in fog at Rehben-an-der-Aller on February 7, 1917 and decommissioned.
LZ83 LZ113 February 22, 1917 15 reconnaissance missions around the Eastern Front and the Baltic Sea; three attacks dropping 6000 kg bombs. In 1920 ordered to be transferred to France in the context of war reparations.
LZ84 L 38 November 22, 1916 damaged beyond repair in a forced landing (due to heavy snowfall) during an attempted raid on Reval and Saint Petersburg on December 29, 1916
LZ85 L 45 April 12, 1917 12 reconnaissance missions around the North Sea; 3 attacks on England dropping 4700 kg bombs. Ran out of fuel on October 20, 1917; destroyed in forced landing near Sisteron, France, the crew being taken captive.
LZ86 L 39 December 11, 1916 two reconnaissance missions around the North Sea; one attack on England dropping 300 kg bombs, and on return destroyed by French flak fire near Compiègne on March 17, 1917.
LZ87 L 47 May 11, 1917 18 reconnaissance missions and three attacks dropping 3240 kg bombs around the North Sea and England. On January 5, 1918, a giant explosion in the air base in Ahlhorn destroyed four Zeppelins (including L 47) and one non-Zeppelin-type airship, stabled in three adjacent hangars. This is supposed to have been an accident, though sabotage could not be ruled out.
LZ88 L 40 January 3, 1917 6 reconnaissance missions; 2 attacks on England, dropping 3105 kg bombs (large parts of which missed their targets). Damaged beyond repair in a failed landing on June 16, 1917 in Nordholz.
LZ89 L 50 June 9, 1917 5 reconnaissance missions around the North Sea; two attacks on England dropping 4135 kg bombs. Ran out of fuel on October 20, 1917 and was driven to the Mediterranean Sea after a forced landing near Dammartin, France.
LZ90 LZ120 January 31, 1917 17 reconnaissance missions and 3 attacks dropping 11,250 kg bombs around the Eastern Front and the Baltic Sea. Retired on October 8, 1917; in 1920 ordered to be transferred to Italy in the context of war reparations, where it broke apart one year later while gas was removed.
LZ91 L 42 February 21, 1917 First of the "Height-Climber" class, which had a lightened structure to improve altitude. The strength of the structure was therefore compromised, which proved disastrous when unwittingly copied, as with the British R38 (ZR-2), and USS Shenandoah. 20 reconnaissance missions; 4 attacks on England dropping 6030 kg bombs; used as a school ship from June 6, 1918 on. Destroyed by its crew on June 23, 1919.
LZ92 L 43 March 6, 1917 6 reconnaissance missions; one attack on English docks, dropping 1850 kg bombs. Shot down by British fighter aircraft on June 14, 1917 during reconnaissance mission.
LZ93 L 44 April 1, 1917 8 reconnaissance missions; 4 attacks on England and British Royal Navy units. Driven south to France by a heavy storm, it was shot down over Lunéville on October 20, 1917.
LZ94 L 46 April 24, 1917 19 reconnaissance missions around the North Sea; 3 raids on England dropping 5700 kg bombs. Destroyed in the Ahlhorn explosion (see LZ87 "L 47").
LZ95 L 48 May 22, 1917 Several of the L 11 crew transferred to the L 48;[3] one reconnaissance mission successful. As part of an attempted attack on London with 3 others became lost and was then intercepted and destroyed by British fighters over sea near Great Yarmouth on 17 June 1917 crashing near Leiston. Three survivors; crew buried at Theberton, Suffolk.[5][6][7]
LZ96 L 49 June 13, 1917 two reconnaissance missions around the North Sea; one raid on England dropping 2100 kg bombs; while returning, forced to land near Bourbonne-les-Bains on October 20, 1917 and captured almost undamaged by French forces. Plans derived from LZ96 were later used in the United States for construction of the first US "zeppelin", the USS Shenandoah (ZR-1).
LZ97 L 51 June 6, 1917 3 reconnaissance missions; one raid on the English coast, dropping 280 kg bombs. Destroyed in the Ahlhorn explosion (see LZ87 "L 47").
LZ98 L 52 July 14, 1917 20 reconnaissance missions; accidentally placed above London by an unexpected storm during a raid, it dropped 2020 kg bombs there. Destroyed by its crew on June 23, 1919.
LZ99 L 54 August 13, 1917 14 reconnaissance missions; two attacks on England dropping 5840 kg bombs; destroyed together with L 60 when seven British Sopwith Camel fighters from the first aircraft carrier, HMS Furious, bombed the halls in Tondern. (Only two fighters returned to the Furious, though three of the others landed in Denmark after running low on fuel.)
LZ100 L 53 August 8, 1917 19 reconnaissance missions; 4 attacks on England, dropping 11,930 kg bombs. Intercepted and destroyed by British Sopwith Camel N6812 flown by Lt Culley RAF, who took off from a lighter towed by the destroyer HMS Redoubt, on August 11, 1918
LZ101 L 55 September 1, 1917 Two attacks dropping 5450 kg bombs. Heavily damaged in the second one on October 19, 1917, it drifted behind western front and rose to Zeppelin all-time world record altitude of 7600 m to escape; then dismantled upon forced landing.
LZ102 L 57 September 26, 1917 not used in combat; foreseen for engagement in Africa. Damaged beyond repair by heavy wind on October 8, 1917.
LZ103 L 56 September 24, 1917 17 reconnaissance missions; participated in the last raid on England on August 6, 1918. Destroyed by its crew on June 23, 1919.
LZ104 L 59 October 30, 1917 known as das Afrika-Schiff, stationed in Yambol (Bulgaria); L 59 started out on a mission to resupply German troops in German East Africa, but turned back upon (false) reports of a German surrender; nevertheless, the ship broke a long-distance flight record (6757 km in 95 hours and 5 minutes). One attack on Naples, Italy dropped 6400 kg of bombs. Crashed during a raid on Malta on April 7, 1918 for unknown reasons.
LZ105 L 58 October 29, 1917 two reconnaissance missions; destroyed in the Ahlhorn explosion (see LZ87 "L 47")
LZ106 L 61 December 12, 1917 9 reconnaissance missions; two attacks on England dropping 4500 kg bombs; in 1920 ordered to be transferred to Italy in the context of war reparations.
LZ107 L 62 January 19, 1918 two reconnaissance missions; two attacks on England dropping 5923 kg bombs; on the raid on 12/13 April 1918 her gunners managed to damage and drive away an attacking airplane, the only known instance of this happening. Crashed north of Helgoland on May 10, 1918: shot down by Felixstowe F2A flying-boat N4291, Capt TC Pattinson and Capt TH Munday
LZ108 L 60 December 18, 1917 11 reconnaissance missions; one attack on England dropping 3120 kg bombs; destroyed together with L 54 when British fighters bombed the halls.
LZ109 L 64 March 11, 1918 13 reconnaissance missions over the North Sea; one attack on England dropping 2800 kg bombs. In 1920 transferred to England as war reparations. Scrapped at short notice when hangar required for the damaged British R36.
LZ110 L 63 March 4, 1918 dropped 8915 kg bombs in three attacks on England, including participation in the last raid on England on August 6, 1918. Destroyed by its crew on June 23, 1919.
LZ111 L 65 April 17, 1918 participated in last raid on England on August 6, 1918. Destroyed by its crew on June 23, 1919.
LZ112 L 70 July 1, 1918 directed last raid on England on August 6, 1918, with KK Peter Strasser, Commander of the Navy Airship Department on board; intercepted and destroyed over North Sea by British DeHavilland DH-4 flown by Major Egbert Cadbury with Captain Robert Leckie (later Air Vice-Marshal) as gunner. Both these men shot down two Zeppelins: prior to L70, Cadbury had downed L21 and Leckie, L22.
LZ113 L 71 July 29, 1918 not used in war; in 1920 ordered to be transferred to England in the context of war reparations. Scrapped at short notice when hangar required for the damaged British R36.
LZ114 L 72; in France: "Dixmude" February 9, 1920 not delivered because war ended; in 1920 ordered to be transferred to France in the context of war reparations. Vanished over Mediterranean, 1921.
LZ115 not constructed
LZ116 not constructed
LZ117 not constructed
LZ118 not constructed
LZ119 not constructed

[edit] Zeppelins Constructed After World War I

Production number Name Usage First flight Remarks
LZ120 "Bodensee"; in Italy: "Esperia" civilian; in Italy: ? August 20, 1919
Included a first-class passenger section; used by DELAG until 1921, then ordered to be transferred to Italy in the context of war reparations.
LZ121 "Nordstern"; in France: "Méditerranée" civilian (intended); in France: ? June 13, 1921
Intended for regular flights to Stockholm; ordered to be transferred to France in the context of war reparations.
LZ122 not realized
LZ123 not realized
LZ124 not realized (construction forbidden by World War I Allied Powers)
LZ125 not realized
LZ126 ZR-3, USS Los Angeles (in the United States) experimental, military August 27, 1924
Ordered by the United States; transferred from Friedrichshafen to Lakehurst in 81 hours and 2 minutes, arriving on October 15, 1924, 9:52. Most successful US airship. Dismantled in August 1940.
LZ127 "Graf Zeppelin" civilian September 18, 1928
Most successful airship in history; regular flights to North and South America; world tour in 1929, Arctic trip in 1931. Dismantled in 1940 upon order of Hermann Göring.
LZ128 Project abandoned in favor of LZ129
LZ129 "Hindenburg" civilian March 4, 1936
Intended for filling with helium gas instead of flammable hydrogen, which was, however, not made available. Regular voyages to North and South America. Destroyed in Hindenburg disaster on May 6, 1937.
LZ130 "Graf Zeppelin II" civilian September 14, 1938
Total 30 flights (36,550 km, 409 hrs), mainly flight testing but also electronic warfare and radio interception over English coast and Polish/German border. Modified for helium, but none provided by US. Last flight August 20, 1939. Dismantled in 1940 upon order of Hermann Göring.
LZ131 not finished

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ editors at de.wikipedia.org, [1]
  2. ^ Lueger, Otto: Lexikon der gesamten Technik und ihrer Hilfswissenschaften, Bd. 1 Stuttgart, Leipzig 1920., S. 404-412. Luftschiff
  3. ^ a b R. L. Rimell, 1916 L11 crew photo (Word document), from The Last Flight of the L48, linked from Theberton and Eastbridge Parish Council History - first photo shows Viktor Schütze was Korvettenkäpitan; of the L 48 crew only Otto Meith (died 1956-04-30) and Heinrich Ellerkamm (died 1963-08-04) eventually survived; Wilhelm Uecker died later from complications and influenza on 1918-11-11. Second photo shows British military salvage team posing in front of the wrecked L 48, note erroneous writing.
  4. ^ a b c d Martin Lockwood, Essex Police
  5. ^ redkitebooks.co.uk, Aviation Archaeology, Zeppelin L48 excavation carried out for BBC television
  6. ^ redkitebooks.co.uk, The excavation of L48 the “Theberton Zeppelin”, post-excavation report
  7. ^ www.theberton.info/timewatch.htm, Zeppelin, German zeppelin pictures, L48, LZ95, zeppelin crash ...

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] External links