Zeppelin LZ 102 (designated L 57) was an airship of the German Imperial Navy. It was planned that it would attempt a mission to Africa but it was destroyed and its sister ship

LZ 104 (L 59) Zeppelin LZ 104 (construction number, designated L 59 by the German Imperial Navy) and nicknamed ''Das Afrika-Schiff'' ("The Africa Ship"), was a World War I German airship, dirigible. It is famous for having attempted a long-distance resu ...

, nicknamed ''Das Afrika-Schiff'' ("The Africa Ship"), made a famous attempt at a long-distance resupply mission to the beleaguered garrison of Germany's East Africa colony.

Modifications

The Imperial German Naval office in hopes of outfitting a ship that could fly to Africa had LZ 102 cut in half and added two more segments - in length. The gas in these extra two segments increased the Airship's gas volume by . This additional volume was more than then entire volume of early

Zeppelin LZ 3 The Zeppelin ''LZ 3'' was a German experimental airship constructed in Friedrichshafen under the direction of Ferdinand von Zeppelin. It was first flown on 9 October 1906 and was later purchased by the German Army and operated as ''Z ...

. It was designed to reach an altitude of about .

History

The first flight of the new airship took place on 26 September 1917 at the Friedrichshafen base.

Destruction

The flight to Africa would only be in one direction; the airship would not be able to return to Germany due to losses of the hydrogen lifting gas during the flight. The Imperial German Naval command selected the relatively inexperienced ''

Korvettenkapitän (; ) is the lowest ranking Field officer, senior officer in the German navy. Germany Korvettenkapitän, short: KKpt/in lists: KK, () is the lowest senior officer military rank, rank () in the German Navy. Address The official manner, in li ...

'' ("lieutenant-commander") Ludwig Bockholt as they did not want to lose an experienced commander. According to Bockholt, LZ 102 (L 57) was difficult to control and had insufficient engine power but it was decided that despite this it would be sent on the Africa mission. After two additional test flights, the L.57 flew to the base in

Jüterbog Jüterbog () is a historic town in north-eastern Germany, in the Teltow-Fläming district of Brandenburg. It is on the Nuthe river at the northern slope of the Fläming hill range, about southwest of Berlin. History The Polabian Slavs, Slavic se ...

where cargo intended for Africa was loaded on its deck, including 85 boxes with various types of medical supplies. Loading was completed at noon on 6 October. During previous flights, no tests had been carried out with full engine power and it was only after loading the cargo that Bockholt decided to carry out tests the same evening. Despite the rising wind, Bockholt ordered the airship to be removed from the hangar, which almost always ended in disaster due to strong gusts of wind. Bockholt decided to wait out the impending storm in the air, but he delayed the start waiting for food and warm clothes to be delivered aboard the airship. Just before midnight, a strong gust of wind hit the airship, damaging it. About 40 minutes after midnight, the wind decreased sufficiently that it was decided that it would be possible to place the airship back into the hangar. However, just in front of the hangar door, the airship suddenly rose into the air and a strong gust of wind began to pull it across the field despite efforts of the ground handlers. Bockholt released gas from the airship's gas chambers and ordered the soldiers to shoot holes in some of the chambers to speed up the dumping of the gas. Despite all efforts, the wind took again the damaged blimp, which caught fire about two o'clock. Loaded with fuel and ammunition, the fire burned until the morning and the valuable medical supplies burned on board the aircraft.

Specifications (LZ 102 / Type W zeppelin)

Notes

References