Zeppelin L.52 (LZ-98)

History

The zeppelin was the main weapon of the German Army and Navy during the First World War (1914-1918). Dozens were produced and proved to be solid reconnaissance platforms and eventually evolved into bomb systems because of their extraordinary range for this period. Allied fighter jets and ground anti-aircraft fire could be removed, and chasing zeppelins in dark hours proved a challenge.

Although operations were launched against France and Russia, the United Kingdom assumed most of the zeppelin threat. In reality, airships are less precise as bomb platforms and more as psychological tools against civilians. The hydrogen filling inside them also makes them very easy to explode when hit by incendiary ammunition.

The airship is called "rigid" because of its duralumin interior.

L. 52 was such a German development. It is powered by 5 Maybach HSLu engines with 240 hp each. It reached a top speed of 106 km/h and reached a service cap of 6,000 meters. The range is 12,230 km. Dimensions include a length of 196.5 meters, a diameter of 24 meters and a height of 28 meters.

It has 20 employees.

The L. 52 served with the German Army in the First World War (1914-1918) as a reconnaissance and bombing zeppelin. Beginning on July 14, 1917, the aircraft made a total of 20 reconnaissance flights during its short operational career. She is known for her air raids on Britain, including a storm that misled her into London airspace, where her crew dropped a 4,450-pound bomb load on the capital. L. 52 survived the war and was destroyed by her own crew on June 23, 1919, to prevent her from falling into enemy hands.

The L. 52 received the production designation "LZ. 98", belonging to the U-class of the Zeppelin.

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