List of Zeppelins

For other uses of "Zeppelin", see Zeppelin (disambiguation).

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, craft used for civilian purposes usually got a name, while military airships, on the other hand, were given "tactical numbering":

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

Zeppelins finished before World War I

Production number Name / tactical numbering Usage First flight Remarks Image
LZ1   prototype 2 July 1900 (L) three flights, beat speed record set by La France, dismantled 1901 after lack of shareholder interest[1]
LZ2   experimental 17 January 1906 In 30 November 1905 never lifted off from lake; second attempt took flight but damaged beyond repair after emergency landing[1]
LZ3 Z I experimental; military 9 October 1906[1] flew for 2 hours in 9 October 1906 and in 10 October 1906, flew for 8 hours in 1907;[1] as part of LZ4's contract sold to the German Army in 1908 after refitting; used as a school ship; decommissioned in 1913 (D)
LZ4   military (intended) 20 June 1908 part of contract including LZ3; 12 hour flight on 1 July 1908; attempted contractual 24 hour endurance flight on 4 August 1908, landed near Echterdingen after 12 hours to repair an engine but destroyed when wind broke its moorings;[1] see Zeppelin#The first generations
LZ5 Z II experimental; military 26 May 1909 stranded near Weilburg in 1910 during a storm (D)
LZ6   experimental; civilian (DELAG) 25 August 1909 (L) first experiments with wireless communication; first DELAG craft; accidentally destroyed in its hangar in Baden-Oos in 1910 (D)
LZ7
 "Deutschland" civilian (DELAG) 19 June 1910 damaged beyond repair in an accident above the Teutoburg Forest on 28 June 1910 (D)
LZ8
 Ersatz "Deutschland II" civilian (DELAG) 30 March 1911 pushed to the wall of its hangar by strong wind and damaged beyond repair on 16 May 1911 (D)
LZ9
 Ersatz Z II military 2 October 1911 (L) decommissioned 1 August 1914 (D)
"Schwaben" civilian (DELAG) 26 June 1911 (D) Sources differ as to passenger totals: 4354 passengers in 218 commercial flights, traveling 27,321 km;[2] others claim 6045 passengers in 363 flights.[3] Sources differ regarding injuries suffered on 28 June 1912 when the Schwaben caught fire after a strong gust over-stressed the airship at its mooring near Düsseldorf: the New York Times reported "34 soldiers were injured";[4] others claimed 40 injured.[5]
LZ11
 "Viktoria Luise" civilian (DELAG); later military 19 February 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 1 October 1915[6] (D)
LZ12
 Z III military 25 April 1912 decommissioned 1 August 1914 (D)
LZ13
 "Hansa" civilian (DELAG); later military 30 July 1912 traveled 44,437 km in 399 flights; first regular flight outside Germany (commanded by Count Zeppelin on first visit to Denmark and Sweden in 19 September 1912);[7] taken over by German military upon outbreak of World War I; decommissioned in summer 1916 (D)
LZ14
 L 1 military 7 October 1912 (L) Helgoland Island Air Disaster: 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 16 January 1913 destroyed in a forced landing on 19 March 1913 (D)
LZ16
 Z IV military 14 March 1913 accidentally crossed French border on 3 April 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) (Z IV crew showing their Iron Crosses)
LZ17
 "Sachsen" civilian; later military 3 May 1913 transported 9837 passengers in 419 flights, traveling 39,919 km; taken over by German military upon outbreak of World War I in 1914; this was Captain Lehmann's first command; it had bomb racks and bomb drop station fitted, together with an improved radio room, machine guns in the cars below and a gunners nest on top of the tail;[8] In its first attack on Antwerp it carried 1,800 pounds (820 kg) of bombs and spent 12 hours in the air.[9] Decommissioned in autumn of 1916 (D)
LZ18
 L 2 military 9 September 1913 Johannisthal Air Disaster: destroyed by an exploding engine on 17 October 1913 during a test flight; the entire crew was killed. (D)
LZ19
 Second Ersatz Z I military 6 June 1913 damaged beyond repair in a thunderstorm on 13 June 1914 (D)
LZ20
 Z V military 8 July 1913 used in World War I for reconnaissance missions in western Poland; forced landing after an attack on Mława during the Battle of Tannenberg; crew captured by enemy cavalry while trying to burn down the ship. (D)
LZ21
 Z VI military 10 November 1913 In World War I mainly used in Belgium as a bomber; during a bombing raid of Liège dropping artillery shells instead of bombs, the ship's overweightness kept it at low altitude so that the bullets and shrapnel from defending fire penetrated the hull. The ship limped back to Cologne but had to be set down near Bonn in a forest, completely wrecking it, on 6 August 1914.[8]
LZ22
 Z VII military 8 January 1914 Limited to a flight ceiling around one mile. On 21 August 1914 sent to find the retreating French Army around the Vosges mountains in Alsace, and dropped bombs on the camps. After passing through clouds found itself low, right above the main army whose infantry fire penetrated many gas cells. The ship leaking heavily, the crew forced it down near St. Quirin, Lorraine[8]
LZ23
 Z VIII military 11 May 1914 same orders as Z VII on 21 August 1914; engaged French army while a few hundred feet up and according to Lehmann received "thousands of bullets and shell splinters"; this forced it to drift and a forced landing in no man's land near Bandonvillers; the crew destroyed all documents and tried to burn the wreck but so little gas remained it would not burn; French Cavalry arrive and a gunfight ensues, the German crew retreating;[8] captured and plundered by French army
LZ24
 L 3 military 11 May 1914 24 reconnaissance missions over the North Sea; participated in the first raid of England on 19 January 1915; released by its crew after a forced landing (due to engine failure compounded with strong headwind and insufficient fuel to reach Germany) in Denmark on February 17, 1915. The wind was so strong it blew the now unmanned but still running airship out across the sea.[10]
LZ25
 Z IX military 13 July 1914 used for reconnaissance missions and bombings in northern France; destroyed by English bomber aeroplane which dropped a bomb through the hangar roof in Düsseldorf on 8 October 1914.[9] 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.[11]

Key:

Zeppelins constructed during World War I

Usage: military

Production number Tactical numbering First flight Remarks
LZ26
 Z XII (Z 12) 14 December 1914 11 attacks in northern France and at the eastern front, dropping 20,000 kg of bombs; By the summer of 1915 the LZ 12 had dropped around 9 tons of bombs on the trunk railway line between Warsaw and Petrograd and the stations at Malkin and Bialystok; one flight carried a load of 3 tons.[14] Decommissioned on 8 August 1917.
LZ27
 L 4 18 August 1914 11 reconnaissance missions over the North Sea; participated in the first raid of England on 20 January 1915. Forced landing in Blavandshuk on 17 February 1915 due to a storm; the crew was taken captive, with four members reported missing in action. Flight Magazine 1916 reports that it was probably L 3 that was stranded at Ebsjerg on that day, with the crew of 16 being interned.[15]
LZ28
 L 5 22 September 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 7 August 1915
LZ29
 Z X 13 October 1914 Two attacks on Calais and Paris, dropping 1,800 kg of bombs; on way back damaged by enemy fire and dismantled after forced landing in St. Quirin
LZ30
 Z XI 15 November 1914 Used for raids on Warsaw, Grodno and other targets near the eastern front. Destroyed in an accident on 20 May 1915
LZ31
 L 6 3 November 1914 Prominent role in repelling a British Navy attack on German coast on 25 December 1914; 36 reconnaissance missions around North Sea, including marking of mine fields; one successful raid on England, dropping 700 kg of bombs. Took fire during refilling of gas in its hall at Fuhlsbüttel and burnt down together with L 9/LZ36 on 16 September 1916.
LZ32 L 7 20 November 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 4 May 1916
LZ33 L 8 17 December 1914 Used for reconnaissance missions along the western front. Flight Magazine 1916 lists it as "Damaged by British aviator", it wrecked south of Ostend at Tirlemont on 4 March 1915 with the crew of 21 killed.[15]
LZ34   6 January 1915 Two raids at the eastern front, dropping 1110 kg bombs; heavily damaged by enemy fire on 21 June 1915, burnt down following forced landing near Insterburg.
LZ35   11 January 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 8 March 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 16 September 1916 together with L 6/LZ31.
LZ37   4 March 1915 Flight Magazine 1916 lists LZ 37 as "Destroyed in shed by British aviators" on 7 June 1915 at Evere.[15] Brought down by Flt Sub-Lt R Warneford, 1 Sqdn RNAS, flying a Morane-Saulnier Type L, during its first raid on Calais on 7 June 1915. Crashed in Sint-Amandsberg, next to Ghent (). The LZ 37 was based in Gontrode (airport location: ). Warneford was awarded a Victoria Cross for his actions.[16]
LZ38   3 April 1915 Achieved first bombing raid on London on 31 May 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. Flight Magazine 1916 listed LZ 38 as "destroyed in mid-air by British aviator" at Ghent on 7 June 1915.[15]
LZ39
 LZ39 24 April 1915 Three raids at the western, later two at the eastern front, dropping 4184 kg bombs in total. On 17 December 1915, captained by Dr. Lempertz, during an attack on Rovno LZ-39 was hit several times by artillery shrapnel. All rear gas cells were punctured and the front engine car was hit and later fell off. The crew abandoned the now-stressed control cabin, dropped ballast and shifted loads to rebalance the ship and used an emergency control station in the rear to limp back to Germany. Upon forced landing the ship collapsed because material and a supply of gas needed to refill the cells was not available.[17]
LZ40 L 10 13 May 1915 8 reconnaissance missions around the North Sea; 5 attacks on England dropping 9900 kg bombs, including the first raid on London on 17–18 August 1915 during which Leyton was bombed causing ten deaths and injuring 48 people. Destroyed in a thunderstorm on 3 September 1915 near Cuxhaven
LZ41
 L 11 7 June 1915 31 reconnaissance missions, notably during the Battle of Jutland; 12 raids on England dropping 15,543 kg bombs. Significant raid on Sunderland on 1 April 1916, when 22 people died.[18] Several of the L11 crew transferred to the ill-fated L48 (LZ95).[19] Decommissioned on 25 April 1916
LZ42 LZ72 15 June 1915 Only used as a school ship, as skeleton metal was of poor quality; decommissioned in February 1917
LZ43 L 12 21 June 1915 5 reconnaissance missions; towed back to Ostend after taking heavy damage in a raid on London, Harwich and the Humber region on 10 August 1915 but burned out during subsequent disassembly.
LZ44 LZ74 8 July 1915 Two attacks on England dropping 3500 kg bombs; dismantled after it crashed into a mountain in misty weather on 8 October 1915.
LZ45 L 13 23 July 1915 45 reconnaissance missions; 15 attacks on England dropping 20,667 kg bombs; decommissioned on 25 April 1917
LZ46 L 14 9 August 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 23 June 1919.
LZ47 LZ77 24 August 1915 6 attacks on England and France dropping 12,610 kg bombs. Destroyed by enemy fire on 21 February 1916 in the Battle of Verdun, killing the crew of 15.[15] Reports at the time indicated LZ 77 had searchlights, eight machine guns, two so-called 'revolver' guns in the top lookout post, was accompanied by fixed-wing aircraft and at least one other Zeppelin and had orders to bomb the nearby railway lines.[20][21]
LZ48 L 15 9 September 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 1 April 1916, it was stranded at Kentish Knock Deep in the Thames estuary, the crew of 18 surrendered before the craft sank.[15]
LZ49 LZ79 2 August 1915 Dropped 4440 kg in two attacks on Brest-Litovsk and Kovel and one attack on Paris on 30 January 1916; thereby hit by French fire and damaged beyond repair in forced landing near Ath.
LZ50 L 16 23 September 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 19 October 1917.
LZ51 LZ81 7 October 1915 Used at the South-Eastern and the Western Front; transported a diplomatic commission over enemy Serbia on 9 November 1915; one attack on Étaples (France) and two attacks on Bucharest, dropping 4513 kg bombs in total; stranded near Turnovo (Bulgaria) on 27 September 1916. (Luftschifferalltag Christmas celebration table under the Z 81 in its hangar)
LZ52 L 18 3 November 1915 Destroyed in shed fire at Tondern during refueling on 17 November 1915[15]
LZ53
 L 17 20 October 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 27 November 1915 It raided England on 31 January 1916, dropping 1600 kg bombs. On 2 February 1916 after a raid on England[15] with three engines failing, it came under Dutch fire[22] and sank in the North Sea, drowning all crew members as nearby English fishing trawler "King Stephen" refused any help to them.[23] In the last hours Kapitan-Leutnant Loewe and his crew dropped into the sea their last messages, which washed up six months later in Sweden.[22] On 23 April 1916 Torpedo boat G41 attacked and sank the King Stephen, taking its crew prisoner.[22]
LZ55 LZ85 12 September 1915 6 attacks dropping 14,200 kg on Dünaburg (Latvia), Minsk, the railroads of Riga,[17] and Saloniki (three times); damaged by fire from Battleship HMS Agamemnon on 5 May 1916, it was stranded in the Wardar marshes
LZ56 LZ86 10 October 1915 7 attacks dropping 14,800 kg bombs along the Eastern and South-Eastern front; crashed on 3 September 1916 when the fore and aft nacelle broke away from the ship's hull after a raid.
LZ57 LZ87 6 December 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 14 November 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 21 November 1915 6 reconnaissance missions; 2 attacks on England dropping 2864 kg bombs; ran out of fuel after raiding Scotland on 3 May 1916, drifted and stranded near Stavanger (Norway). The crew destroyed the airship. 16 were captured, 3 died.[15] Kapitänleutnant Stabbert escaped six months later.
LZ60
 LZ90 1 January 1916 4 attacks on Bar-le-Duc, Norwich, London and Etaples, dropping 8860 kg bombs; on 7 November 1916 broke loose in the direction of the North Sea in a storm and never seen again.
LZ61
 L 21 10 January 1916 17 reconnaissance missions; 10 attacks on England dropping 14,442 kg bombs; intercepted and destroyed by English fighter pilots Flight–Lieutenant Egbert Cadbury,[24] flying RAF BE 2C, No. 8265 , Flight Sub–Lieutenant Gerard William Reginald Fane, flying RAF BE 2C No. 8421 and Flight Sub–Lieutenant Edward Laston Pulling, flying RAF BE 2C, No. 8626, firing phosphor rounds. L21 fell into the sea about eight miles east of Lowestoft on 28 November 1916. There were no survivors.
LZ62
 L 30 28 May 1916 First of the Type R "Super-Zeppelin" Class, it had a volume of 55,200m3. 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 17 November 1917 and laided up at Seerappen. 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 23 February 1916 Three attacks on Dunkirk, Mardick and Harwich, dropping 3240 kg bombs. Decommissioned in 1917.
LZ64
 L 22 3 March 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 14 May 1917 during a reconnaissance mission.[25] (Leckie was also credited in the downing on LZ112/L70)
LZ65
 LZ95 1 February 1916 Destroyed by French anti-aircraft fire on 21 February 1915 during an attempted attack on Vitry-le-François.
LZ66
 L 23 8 April 1916 51 reconnaissance missions; 3 attacks on England dropping a total of 5,254 kg bombs; destroyed on 21 August 1917 by 2/Lt Bernard A Smart flying a Sopwith Pup launched from a platform on the cruiser HMS Yarmouth.[26] Smart later led the Tondern raid which destroyed L54 & L60.
LZ67
 LZ97 4 April 1916 4 attacks on London (twice), Boulogne and, later, Bucharest, dropping 5760 kg bombs, plus several unsuccessful flights in bad weather. Decommissioned on 5 July 1917.
LZ68
 LZ98 28 April 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 20 May 1916 19 reconnaissance missions around the North Sea; 4 raids on England dropping 8510 kg bombs; crashed into a wall while being "stabled" on 28 December 1916[27] and burned out together with LZ53 "L 17".
LZ70 Not realized
LZ71
 LZ101 29 June 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 12 July 1916 One important reconnaissance mission in fleet operation against Sunderland; 6 attacks on England dropping 19,411 kg bombs; with L 32, L 33 and L 34 part of Zeppelin raid on night of 1916-09-23;[28] 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, after jumping from the flaming Zeppelin and perishing some time after impact with the ground.
LZ73
 LZ103 23 August 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 4 August 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 L 31, L 33 and L 34 part of Zeppelin raid on night of 1916-09-23; intercepted and destroyed by 39 Squadron British fighter pilot 2/Lt Frederick Sowrey in a BE2c on September 24, 1916 near Great Burstead, Essex, all the crew dying.[28] The crew's bodies were buried at Great Burstead, then in 1966 exhumed and reburied at Cannock Chase.[28]
LZ75
 L 37 9 November 1916 17 reconnaissance missions around the North and Baltic Sea and England; 4 raids dropping 6450 kg bombs; retired on 24 December 1917; transferred to Japan in 1920 (disassembled)
LZ76
 L 33 30 August 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, after an anti-aircraft shell seriously damaged it, commander Kapitan-Leutnant Alois Bocker turned over Essex and was attacked by 39 Home Defence Squadron night fighters from Hainault Farm and hit several times (credit for disabling given to B.E.2c No. 4544), but even after dropping guns and equipment Bocker decided it would not make it back across the North Sea, forced landing in Little Wigborough, Essex 24 September 1916 with no fatalities,[28] 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 16 October 1916 One attack on Boulogne, France, dropping 1440 kg bombs (several other raids being cancelled or aborted). Decommissioned in July 1917.
LZ78
 L 34 22 September 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 28 November 1916.Pyott was so close that his face was scorched
LZ79
 L 41 15 January 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 23 June 1919.
LZ80
 L 35 20 October 1916 13 reconnaissance missions around the North and Baltic Sea; three attacks on England dropping 4284 kg bombs; decommissioned in September 1918.
LZ81 LZ111 20 December 1916 Not used in the German Army and transferred to Navy in May 1917; 7 reconnaissance missions around the Baltic Sea. Decommissioned on 10 August 1917.
LZ82 L 36 1 November 1916 20 flights around the North Sea and England, including four reconnaissance missions; damaged during landing in fog at Rehben-an-der-Aller on 7 February 1917 and decommissioned.
LZ83
 LZ113 22 February 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 22 November 1916 Damaged beyond repair in a forced landing (due to heavy snowfall) during an attempted raid on Reval and Saint Petersburg on 29 December 1916
LZ85 L 45 12 April 1917 12 reconnaissance missions around the North Sea; 3 attacks on England dropping 4700 kg bombs. Ran out of fuel on 20 October 1917; destroyed in forced landing near Sisteron, France, the crew being taken captive.
LZ86 L 39 11 December 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 17 March 1917.
LZ87
 L 47 11 May 1917 18 reconnaissance missions and three attacks dropping 3240 kg bombs around the North Sea and England. On 5 January 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 3 January 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 16 June 1917 in Nordholz.
LZ89 L 50 9 June 1917 5 reconnaissance missions around the North Sea; two attacks on England dropping 4135 kg bombs. Ran out of fuel on 20 October 1917 and was driven to the Mediterranean Sea after a forced landing near Dammartin, France.
LZ90
 LZ120 31 January 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 21 February 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 6 March 1917 6 reconnaissance missions; one attack on English docks, dropping 1850 kg bombs. Shot down by British fighter aircraft on 14 June 1917 during reconnaissance mission.
LZ93 L 44 1 April 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 20 October 1917.
LZ94 L 46 24 April 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 22 May 1917 Several of the L 11 crew transferred to the L 48;[19] 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.[29][30][31]
LZ96 L 49 13 June 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 20 October 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), also used for the design of the British R38.
LZ97 L 51 6 June 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 14 July 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 23 June 1919. This photograph on 19 March 1918 shows 32 crew with Kapitänleutnant Friemel. Selected L 52 crew photographs: [1], [2], [3], [4] and [5].
LZ99
 L 54 13 August 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 8 August 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 11 August 1918. LZ100 was the last zeppelin destroyed in the war.
LZ101 L 55 1 September 1917 Two attacks dropping 5450 kg bombs. Heavily damaged in the second one on 19 October 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 26 September 1917 Not used in combat; foreseen for engagement in Africa. Damaged beyond repair by heavy wind on 8 October 1917.
LZ103 L 56 24 September 1917 17 reconnaissance missions; participated in the last raid on England on 6 August 1918. Destroyed by its crew on 23 June 1919.
LZ104 L 59 30 October 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 7 April 1918 for unknown reasons.
LZ105
 L 58 29 October 1917 Two reconnaissance missions; destroyed in the Ahlhorn explosion (see LZ87 "L 47")
LZ106
 L 61 12 December 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 19 January 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 10 May 1918: shot down by Felixstowe F2A flying-boat N4291, Capt TC Pattinson and Capt TH Munday.[32]
LZ108
 L 60 18 December 1917 11 reconnaissance missions; one attack on England dropping 3,120 kg of bombs; destroyed together with L 54 when British Sopwith Camel fighters launched from the aircraft carrier HMS Furious bombed the halls.
LZ109
 L 64 11 March 1918 13 reconnaissance missions over the North Sea; with L60, L61, L62, and L63 raided north England dropping 2800 kg in bombs. In 1920 transferred to England as war reparations. Scrapped at short notice when hangar required for the damaged British R36.[33]
LZ110
 L 63 4 March 1918 Dropped 8915 kg bombs in three attacks on England, including participation in the last raid on England on 6 August 1918. Destroyed by its crew on 23 June 1919.
LZ111 L 65 17 April 1918 Participated in last raid on England on 6 August 1918. Destroyed by its crew on 23 June 1919.
LZ112
 L 70 1 July 1918 Directed last raid on England on 6 August 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.[34] Both these men shot down two Zeppelins: prior to L70, Cadbury had downed L21 and Leckie, L22.[24]
LZ113
 L 71 29 July 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" 9 February 1920 Not delivered because war ended; in 1920 ordered to be transferred to France in the context of war reparations and handed over on 9 July 1920 and renamed Dixmude.[35] Made then world record duration flight of 118 hours.[9] Vanished over Mediterranean in December 1923 killing all aboard.[35]
LZ115 Not constructed (construction forbidden by World War I Allied Powers)
LZ116 Not constructed (construction forbidden by World War I Allied Powers)
LZ117 Not constructed (construction forbidden by World War I Allied Powers)
LZ118 Not constructed (construction forbidden by World War I Allied Powers)
LZ119 Not constructed (construction forbidden by World War I Allied Powers)

This September 1917 group photograph shows these Navy Zeppelin captains: Manger (L 41), von Freudenreich (L 47), Schwonder (L 50), Prölss (L 53), Bockholt (L 57), Peter Strasser (FdL - Führer der Luftschiffe), Gayer (L 49), Stabbert (L 44), Ehrlich (L 35), Dietrich (L 42), Hollender (L 46), Dose (L 51) and Friemel (L 52).

Zeppelins constructed after World War I

Production number Name Usage First flight Remarks Image
LZ120
 "Bodensee"; in Italy: "Esperia" civilian; in Italy: ? 20 August 1919 Included a first-class passenger section; used by DELAG until 1921, then ordered to be transferred renamed as Esperia (lower image) to Italy in the context of war reparations. Arrived in Rome from Staaken on 25 December 1921.
LZ121
 "Nordstern"; in France: "Méditerranée" civilian (intended); in France: ? 13 June 1921 Intended for regular flights to Stockholm; ordered to be transferred to France in the context of war reparations.
LZ122 not realized (construction forbidden by World War I Allied Powers)
LZ123 not realized (construction forbidden by World War I Allied Powers)
LZ124 not realized (construction forbidden by World War I Allied Powers)
LZ125 not realized (construction forbidden by World War I Allied Powers)
LZ126
 ZR-3, USS Los Angeles (in the United States) experimental, military 27 August 1924 Ordered by the United States; transferred from Friedrichshafen to Lakehurst in 81 hours and 2 minutes, arriving on 15 October 1924, 9:52. Most successful US airship, with just under 4,400 hours of successful flight in US Navy service. Dismantled in August 1940.
LZ127
 "Graf Zeppelin" civilian 18 September 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" (first Hindenburg class airship) civilian 4 March 1936 Intended for filling with helium gas instead of flammable hydrogen, which was, however, refused to be provided to Germany mainly by the US. Regular voyages to North and South America. Destroyed in Hindenburg disaster on 6 May 1937.
LZ130
 "Graf Zeppelin II" (second Hindenburg class airship) civilian 14 September 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 20 August 1939. Dismantled in 1940 upon order of Hermann Göring.
LZ131
 not finished

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Dooley A.197-A.200
  2. ^ postcard image courtesy of Jean-Pierre Lauwers
  3. ^ "Volume LXXXIII, Issue 154". The Evening Post (New Zealand): p. 7. 29 June 1912. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19120629.2.42&e=-------10--1----0-all. Retrieved 31 July 2010. "A squall at Dusseldorf wrecked an anchored airship. ... injured several people" 
  4. ^ "WILL NOT RETARD AVIATION.; American Experts Attribute Accident to Stress of Competition". New York Times. 1913-10-18. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9F0DEFDC133FE633A2575BC1A9669D946296D6CF. Retrieved 2010-08-02. "thirty-four soldiers were injured ... She was at anchor before her shed when a gust of wind tore her from her moorings." 
  5. ^ postcard image courtesy of Jean-Pierre Lauwers with caption: "28 Jun 1912, LZ 10 Schwaben met a fiery end on Golzheimer heide near Düsseldorf. ... forty persons were wounded. ... Eight passengers and crewmen, including Dürr were seriously injured ... soldiers ... suffered flash burns."
  6. ^ Janes's Pocket Book 7, Airship Development, p82
  7. ^ Post & Tele Museum "Copenhagen - Count Zeppelin oversees everything from the gondola."
  8. ^ a b c d Lehmann Chapter I
  9. ^ a b c Lehmann Chapter II
  10. ^ Lehmann Chapter V
  11. ^ Thetford 1978, p.286.
  12. ^ editors at de.wikipedia.org
  13. ^ Lueger, Otto. 1920
  14. ^ Lehmann Chapter IV
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i "1916 - 0744" (PDF). Flight Magazine: 740. 1916-08-31. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1916/1916%20-%200744.html. Retrieved 2009-09-25. "LZ 77 Révigny, France ...  ... 21.2.1916" 
  16. ^ Thetford 1978, p.258.
  17. ^ a b Lehmann Chapter V writes 12 tons total dropped in October 1915
  18. ^ http://hydrogencommerce.com/zepplins/zeppelins7.htm
  19. ^ a b Rimmel. 1916 L11 crew photo - first photo shows Viktor Schütze was Korvettenkäpitan; of the L 48 crew only Otto Meith (died 30 April 1956) and Heinrich Ellerkamm (died 4 August 1963) eventually survived; Wilhelm Uecker died later from complications and influenza on 11 November 1918. Second photo shows British military salvage team posing in front of the wrecked L 48, note erroneous writing.
  20. ^ "1916 - 0185" (PDF). Flight Magazine: 185. 1916-03-02. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1916/1916%20-%200185.html. Retrieved 2009-09-25. "shooting down of the "L 77"" 
  21. ^ "1916 - 0186" (PDF). Flight Magazine: 186. 1916-03-02. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1916/1916%20-%200186.html. Retrieved 2009-09-25. "8.30 p.m. that the airship was reported ... 6,000 ft. ... over Sommeille, using its searchlights for a brief moment. ... flew over Révigny ... The third shell, an incendiary one, found the target. ... came to earth slowly ... no explosion until the Zeppelin touched the ground ... seen by many ... from ... Révigny, ... village of Brabant-le-Roi ... Ten miles away, another Zeppelin, ... watched the fate of its companion and then turned and disappeared. At the same time a third Zeppelin flew over Lunéville and dropped bombs ... German source gives the following details ... carried over twenty of a crew, eight machine guns, and on the overhead platform two 'revolver' guns. Her orders were to bomb the railway junctions behind the front, especially, perhaps for its importance to Verdun (which is only some thirty miles away). ... three aeroplanes accompanied the Zeppelin." 
  22. ^ a b c "Das Tragödie von L19" (in German). Zeppelin-Museums Tondern. http://www.zeppelin-museum.dk/D/german/historie/l-19/l-19.html. Retrieved 10 June 2010. "Mit fünfzehn Mann auf der Plattform und dem First des in etwa 3°Ost schwimmenden Körpers des L19 versuche ich eine letzte Berichterstattung. Dreifache Motorhavarie, leichter Gegenwind auf der Rückfahrt verspäteten die Rückkehr und brachten mich in Nebel, dieser nach Holland, wo ich erhebliches Gewehrfeuer erhielt, es wurde schwer, gleichzeitig drei Motorpannen. Am 2. Februar 1916 nachmittags, etwa ein Uhr — ist wohl die letzte Stunde. Loewe" 
  23. ^ Inside Out investigates why air raid on Midlands led to British fisherman being accused of war crimes BBC. 15 February 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2008
  24. ^ a b Walter J. Boyne (2003). The influence of air power upon history. Pelican Publishing. p. 107. ISBN 1589800346. 
  25. ^ Thetford 1978, p.80
  26. ^ Bruce 1954, p.10.
  27. ^ Flieger und Luftschiffer - Quirin Gerstl. (In German) the platform observer recollects its first attack on England during which L 34 was lost in flames, and later the loss of L 24.
  28. ^ a b c d Martin Lockwood, Essex Police
  29. ^ redkitebooks.co.uk
  30. ^ redkitebooks.co.uk, post-excavation report
  31. ^ www.theberton.info
  32. ^ Thetford 1978, p.193-194.
  33. ^ Airship Heritage Trust - L64
  34. ^ Thetford 1978, p. 86.
  35. ^ a b Bennighof, Mike (March 2006). "France's Naval Airship". http://www.avalanchepress.com/FrenchAirship.php. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 

References

Further reading

Aircraft produced or designed by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin
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