Zeppelin LZ 52
| LZ 52 (L 18) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Zeppelin P Class |
| Manufacturer | Luftschiffbau Zeppelin |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 6 November 1915[1] |
LZ 52 was a German airship built by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin for the German Imperial German Navy and made its first flight on 3 April 1915. It was the 52nd Zeppelin constructed and the 18th operated by the Imperial German Navy under the tactical designation L 18. It belonged to the German P-class series of military airships. L 18 had the shortest service life of any Navy Zeppelin.[2]
History
[edit]The airship was built at the Löwental Zeppelin facility, along with five other P-class Zeppelins.[3] It made its first flight on 3 November 1915 and was commissioned three days later.[2] It was commanded by naval reserve Captain Lieutenant Max Dietrich. During its short operational life, L 18 completed only four flights.[4] One of these was a transfer flight from Löwental on Lake Constance to Tønder, covering over 1,000 kilometers. Due to poor weather conditions, a stopover was made on 4 November 1915 at an army airship hangar in Hanover. The journey to Tønder continued on 16 November 1915.[2]
Fate
[edit]On 17 November 1915, while refilling its hydrogen gas at the "Toska" hangar in the Tønder airship base, a leaking pipe caused a fire to break out. The fire spread to L 18, which was completely destroyed.[4][5] One crew member and six workers were killed in the accident,[6] and seven others were injured. L 18 was the first of five Zeppelins to be destroyed by fire in the "Toska" twin hangar.[2]
Specifications
[edit]- Lifting gas volume: 31,900 m³ hydrogen
- Length: 163.5 m
- Diameter: 18.7 m
- Payload: 15.4 tonnes
- Engines: Four six-cylinder Maybach HSLu engines, each 240 PS (177 kW)
- Maximum speed: 26.7 m/s
- Range: 2,150 km
- Service ceiling: 3,900 m
- Armament: At least 3 × 8 mm Maxim machine guns[5]
- Crew: 19 men[3]
References
[edit]- ^ D. H. Robinson: Deutsche Marine-Luftschiffe 1912–1918. Mittler, Hamburg/Berlin/Bonn 2005, p. 400.
- ^ a b c d D. H. Robinson: Deutsche Marine-Luftschiffe 1912–1918. Mittler, Hamburg/Berlin/Bonn 2005, p. 139.
- ^ a b M. Griehl: Deutsche Luftschiffe seit 1871. Motorbuch, Stuttgart 2010, p. 78.
- ^ a b P. Meyer: Luftschiffe – Die Geschichte der deutschen Zeppeline. Bernard & Graefe, Bonn 1996, p. 60.
- ^ a b M. Griehl: Deutsche Luftschiffe seit 1871. Motorbuch, Stuttgart 2010, p. 79.
- ^ "Accident Zeppelin LZ.52 L.18". Aviation Safety Network. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
Further reading
[edit]- Manfred Griehl: Deutsche Luftschiffe seit 1871. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2010, ISBN 978-3-613-03226-2, pp. 78–79.
- Peter Meyer: Luftschiffe – Die Geschichte der deutschen Zeppeline. Bernard & Graefe,*