Zeppelin LZ 24

The Imperial German Navy Zeppelin LZ 24 (L 3) was a M-class World War I zeppelin.

LZ 24 (L 3)
LZ 24 (L 3)
Role	M-class reconnaissance-bomber rigid airship
National origin	German Empire
Manufacturer	Luftschiffbau Zeppelin
Designer	Ludwig Dürr
First flight	11 May 1914
Retired	Last seen over North Sea on 17 February 1915
Primary user	Imperial German Navy
Number built	1

Operational history

After 24 reconnaissance missions over the North Sea, L 3 participated in the first raid on England on 19 January 1915. On 17 February 1915 it was abandoned after a forced landing in Denmark, caused by engine failure compounded by strong headwinds and insufficient fuel. The wind was so strong it blew the airship, now unmanned but with engines still running, out to sea.^[1]

Specifications (LZ 24 / M2-class zeppelin)

Data from Zeppelin : rigid airships, 1893-1940,^[2] The Zeppelin Airships - Part Two: Zeppelins of the Great War 1914–1918^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: 16
• Capacity: 9,200 kg (20,283 lb) typical disposable load
• Length: 158 m (518 ft 4 in)
• Diameter: 14.9 m (48 ft 11 in) maximum
• Fineness ratio: 10.61
• Volume: 22,470 m³ (794,000 cu ft) in 18 gas cells
• Empty weight: 16,900 kg (37,258 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 4,000 kg (8,818 lb) maximum
• Useful lift: 26,100 kg (57,500 lb)
• Powerplant: 3 × Maybach C-X 6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engines, 130 kW (180 hp) each
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propellers

Performance

• Maximum speed: 84 km/h (52 mph, 45 kn)
• Cruise speed: 80.5 km/h (50.0 mph, 43.5 kn)
• Range: 2,200 km (1,400 mi, 1,200 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 2,800 m (9,200 ft) static

Armament

• Guns: 4x machine-guns

See also

• List of Zeppelins
• Zeppelin LZ 3