Zeppelin LZ 72

LZ 72 (navy designation L 31) was an R Class super-zeppelin belonging to the Imperial German Navy. It was commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Mathy, an experienced commander, and took part in several raids over London during World War I.[1] It also participated in a reconnaissance role during the Sunderland raid of 19 August 1916. Its last flight was launched late at night on 1 October 1916. Several miles north of London, it was caught in searchlights and anti-aircraft fire. During this engagement, 2nd Lt. Wulstan J. Tempest was on patrol and spotted the zeppelin. He proceeded to engage the airship with incendiary rounds, causing the ship to burst into flames and crash in a field near Potter's Bar.[2][3] The entire crew died, and were originally buried there but were reinterred at Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery in the 1960s. After this disastrous crash, the Imperial German Navy began reducing the number of zeppelin raids.[1]

LZ 72
L 31 (LZ 72) in flight
Type Zeppelin R Class
Construction number LZ 72
Serial L31
First flight 12 July 1916
Owners and operators Imperial German Navy
Last flight 2 October 1916
Fate Destroyed

Operators
 German Empire
L31 (LZ 72) being manoeuvred on the ground with Peter Strasser pacing in the foreground

Oakmere Park

In September 2019 it was announced that Hertsmere Borough Council agreed planning permission for a Super Zeppelin Tower in the junior play area within Oakmere Park.[4]

Specifications (LZ 72 / Type R zeppelin)

Data from Zeppelin : rigid airships, 1893-1940[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 17-19
  • Capacity: 32,400 kg (71,430 lb) typical disposable load
  • Length: 198 m (649 ft 7 in)
  • Diameter: 23.9 m (78 ft 5 in) maximum
  • Fineness ratio: 8.24
  • Volume: 55,200 m3 (1,950,000 cu ft) in 19 gas cells
  • Empty weight: 31,400 kg (69,225 lb)
  • Gross weight: 32,908 kg (72,550 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 6,250 kg (13,779 lb)
  • Useful lift: 63,800 kg (140,700 lb)
  • Powerplant: 5 × Maybach HS Lu 6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engines, 180 kW (240 hp) each
  • Propellers: 4-bladed Lorenzen fixed-pitch propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 103 km/h (64 mph, 56 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 81 km/h (50 mph, 44 kn)
  • Range: 7,400 km (4,600 mi, 4,000 nmi) at 81 km/h (50 mph; 44 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 3,900 m (12,800 ft) static
  • Rate of climb: 10 m/s (2,000 ft/min) maximum permitted (r-class)

Armament

  • Guns: machine-guns in hull-top positions and gondolas
  • Bombs: up to 60 bombs to a total of 5,000 kg (11,023 lb)


Dirigibles shot down over the UK

Airships made about 51 bombing raids on Britain during the war. These killed 557 and injured another 1,358 people. More than 5,000 bombs were dropped (largely on towns and cities) across Britain, causing £1.5 million (equivalent to £108,200,000 in 2021) in damage. 84 airships took part, of which 30 were shot down or lost in accidents.[6]

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:LZ 72 / L 31.

References
  1. "Mathy, Kapitanleutnant Heinrich (1883-1916". www.gwpda.org. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  2. Morgan, Tom (April 2004). "Decisions at Potters Bar". Tom Morgan's HELLFIRE CORNER GREAT WAR WEB-PAGES. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  3. "Death of A Zeppelin – The L-31 is shot down - History Channel on Foxtel". historychannel.com.au. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  4. "A Zeppelin is coming to Oakmere Park - again! - Hertsmere Borough Council". www.hertsmere.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  5. Brooks, Peter W. (1992). Zeppelin : rigid airships, 1893-1940. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 95-99. ISBN 1560982284.
  6. Liddell Hart 1934, p. 76.

Further reading
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