Zeppelin LZ 72

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

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]

Operators

German Empire

Imperial German Navy

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 £128,500,000 in 2023) in damage. 84 airships took part, of which 30 were shot down or lost in accidents.^[6]

Zeppelins shot down over the UK

Shot down	Tactical No	Production No	Shot down by	Aircraft	Squadron	Serial Number	Crash location
1 April 1916	L 15	LZ 48			Dartford AA battery		Kentish Knock, Thames estuary
3 September 1916	SL 11		Lt Leefe Robinson	B.E.2c	No. 39 Home Defence Squadron	2693	Cuffley, Hertfordshire
24 September 1916	L 32	LZ 74	2nd Lt Frederick Sowrey	B.E.2c	No. 39 Home Defence Squadron	4112	Great Burstead, Essex
24 September 1916	L 33	LZ 76	Alfred Brandon	B.E.2e fighter	No. 39 Home Defence Squadron	4112	Little Wigborough, Essex
2 October 1916	L 31	LZ 72	2nd Lt Wulfstan J. Tempest	B.E.2c	No. 39 Home Defence Squadron	4557	Potter's Bar, Hertfordshire
27 November 1916	L 34	LZ 78	2nd Lt Ian Pyot	B.E.2c	No. 36 Home Defence Squadron	2738	Hartlepool, County Durham
28 November 1916	L 21	LZ 61	Flt Lt Egbert 'Bertie' Cadbury	B.E.2c	RNAS Great Yarmouth	8265	Sea
17 June 1917	L 48	LZ 95	2nd Lt Loudon Pierce Watkins	B.E.12	No. 37 Home Defence Squadron	6110	Theberton, East Suffolk