Part 3 (1/2)

One day when the true details of the Skagerrak Naval Battle are given to the world, it will realize the vital part which the Zeppelins played.

They consistently hampered the enemy's mine laying operations and rendered timely and valuable support to the counteractions of the fleet.

In discovering mines they were particularly effective; and this work alone, about which the world was uninformed, justified fully the time and labor put into their construction.

[PLATE 18: The Maybach Motor Works, 1916.

Practically all of the Airs.h.i.+p motors were made in this plant.

Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, G.M.B.H., 1915. (The Cog-wheel and Gear Works).

Part of Friedrichshafen and Lake Constance in the background.]

Ten Zeppelins of the L-38 type were delivered to the navy in 1915, numbered from L-10 to L-19 inclusively. Approximately as many were turned over to the army during the year, each one being slightly improved. Zeppelin and his staff of experts were always able to profit by the practical experience which the s.h.i.+ps were undergoing almost daily.

Zeppelins Become Lighter and Stronger

The hulls were strengthened and made more rigid, yet lighter, machine guns were mounted at proper points of vantage and bomb dropping apparatus so perfected that heavy loads of explosives could be carried in absolute safety, yet instantly released and with remarkable accuracy.

An observation car was added to each new s.h.i.+p.

The Zeppelin Observation Car

This car was one of the most unique inventions developed during the war.

It could be lowered with an observer aboard, fully one kilometer (3,280 feet) below the Zeppelin. Here the observer could get his bearings while his s.h.i.+p lay far above hidden in the clouds. The s.h.i.+p could fly or drift above the clouds to a point directly over the spot to be bombed, then by lowering the car with the observer through and just below the clouds, he was able to direct both the operations of the s.h.i.+p and the bombing. A telephone connection ran up through the supporting cable. He was able to signal for bomb releases and navigate so efficiently that any objective could be attacked without danger of the enemy seeing the Zeppelin lurking behind the clouds.

Another Zeppelin, the L-20 was delivered to the navy early in 1916. It had hydrogen capacity of 1,271,160 cubic feet (36,000 cubic meters) though the diameter was the same as the others. The L-20 carried a useful load of 37,478 pounds (17,000 kilograms), and an increase of 1,312 feet (400 meters) over their ceiling and made the same speed with the same horsepower.

During the year Zeppelin delivered seven more s.h.i.+ps of this type, but possessing greater efficiency. The navy received five of them and the army two.

[PLATE 19: Maybach Airs.h.i.+p Motor of 145 Horsepower, 1911.

Maybach Airs.h.i.+p Motor of 180 Horsepower, 1913.]

Anti-Aircraft Defenses Compel Zeppelins to Fly Higher

The Allies meanwhile had developed anti-aircraft defenses and their airplanes possessed greater climbing ability. To meet these new conditions the airs.h.i.+ps were continuously compelled to fly higher. They also required speed greater than the average of 54 miles per hour (25 meters per second) because while navigating over the North Sea they frequently encountered winds of from 33.5 to 40 miles per hour (15 to 18 meters per second).

To meet these conditions the L-30 was built (Plate 9). It had a gas capacity of 1,942,000 cubic feet (55,000 cubic meters) and was nearly twice as large as the original 1,129,920 cubic feet (32,000 cubic meters) four motored s.h.i.+ps. The L-30 was ready in May, 1916. It was almost perfectly streamlined. The long cylindrical hull, so convenient from a production standpoint, had been abandoned. The L-30's stern tapered gracefully to a fine point. It was driven by six 240 horsepower Maybach motors, arranged practically as before. One was located in the forward gondola with a direct drive propeller, another three motors in the rear gondola, one with a direct drive and two others each in a separate gondola located opposite each other on the sides of the hull amids.h.i.+ps, so as not to interfere with the efficiency of the propeller in the rear gondola. The L-30 carried 63,933 pounds (29,000 kilograms), about 45% of its total lift. Other Zeppelins of her cla.s.s had a useful lift of 50% due to better design and superior materials. This represented a marked advance, as the preceding types lifted only 37% of their weight. The ceiling had been increased, too, by more than 3,280 feet (1,000 meters). They could now ascend from 11,800 to 14,750 feet (3,600 to 4,500 meters), depending on the load and weather conditions.

They made a speed of 63 miles per hour (28 meters per second).

[PLATE 20: Maybach Airs.h.i.+p Motor Type HSLu of 240 Horsepower, 1915.

Maybach Airs.h.i.+p and Aeroplane Motor Type Mb4a of 260 Horsepower at an Alt.i.tude of 10,000 Feet, 1918.]

Faster Zeppelins for Scouting