LZ 37

In today's world, LZ 37 is a topic of great relevance and interest to a wide audience. Over time, LZ 37 has captured the attention of people of all ages and professions, becoming a recurring topic of conversation in society. Whether due to its impact on everyday life, its historical relevance or its influence in the professional field, LZ 37 has managed to transcend barriers and capture the interest of a wide audience. In this article, we will further explore the impact and importance of LZ 37, analyzing its different facets and its relevance in the current context.

LZ 37
Artist's impression of the destruction of German Zeppelin LZ 37 by Sub-Lieutenant Reginald Warneford on 7 June 1915.
General information
TypeM-Class Zeppelin
National origin German Empire
ManufacturerLuftschiffbau Zeppelin at Friedrichshafen
Owners Imperial German Navy
Number built77
Construction numberLZ 37
Flights14
History
First flight4 March 1915
In service4 March 1915 – 7 June 1915
FateShot down, 7 June 1915

The airship LZ 37 was a World War I Zeppelin of the German Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy). It was the first Zeppelin to be brought down during the war by an enemy plane, on the night of 6 to 7 June 1915, near Sint-Amandsberg, Belgium.[1]

History

In 1915 Zeppelins were first used by Germany for strategic bombing.[2]

LZ 37 was part of a raid with Zeppelins LZ 38 and LZ 39. While returning, she was intercepted in the air by Reginald Warneford in his Morane Parasol during its first raid on Calais, on 7 June 1915.[3][4] Warneford dropped six 20-pound (9 kg) Hales bombs on the zeppelin, which caught fire and crashed into the convent school of Sint-Amandsberg, next to Ghent, Belgium (51°3′43.2″N 3°44′54.7″E / 51.062000°N 3.748528°E / 51.062000; 3.748528), killing two nuns. The commander of LZ 37, Oberleutnant Otto van der Haegen, and seven members of the crew were killed. One crew member, Steuermann Alfred Mühler, survived with only superficial burns and bruises when he was precipitated from the forward gondola, landing in a bed.[5] It was the first victory of a heavier-than-air aircraft over a lighter-than-air dirigible.[1] Warneford was awarded the Victoria Cross for his achievement.

LZ 37 was based in Gontrode, Belgium (airport location: 50°58′54.6″N 3°47′17.1″E / 50.981833°N 3.788083°E / 50.981833; 3.788083), where also other heavy bombers Gotha G IV were based.[6][7]

Specifications

Data from "The Zeppelin Airships - Part Two: Zeppelins of the Great War 1914–1918". Puget sound airship society. Retrieved 28 January 2011.

General characteristics

  • Crew: 28
  • Length: 163.37 m (536 ft 0 in)
  • Diameter: 18.7 m (61 ft 4 in)
  • Volume: 33,780 m3 (1,126,000 cu ft)
  • Empty weight: 17,588 kg (38,775 lb)
  • Useful lift: 8,520 kg (18,780 lb)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Maybach MC-X , 155 kW (210 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 96 km/h (60 mph, 52 kn)

Armament

  • Four machine-guns

Citations

  1. ^ a b Stephenson 2004, p. 16.
  2. ^ "The National Archives - Homepage". The National Archives. The National Archives UK. Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  3. ^ Piet, Dhanens (12 April 2013). "Zeppelin LZ 37 te Sint-Amandsberg". Luchtvaartgeschiedenis.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2019-12-29. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  4. ^ Dhanens, Piet (2008). Een eeuw luchtvaart boven Gent (in Dutch). Vol. 1. Erembodegem (Aalst): Flying Pencil. ISBN 978-90-78878-04-9. OCLC 1074669308.
  5. ^ History of the First World War, vol. 3, pp. 986.
  6. ^ Ghent, Thomas (2012). "KG III Der Englandflieger". thomasgenth.de (in German). Archived from the original on 2013-09-14. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  7. ^ White, C. M. (1986). The Gotha summer: the German daytime air raids on England, May to August 1917. London: Hale. ISBN 978-0-7090-2791-1.

References