The Imperial German Navy Zeppelin LZ 48 (L 15) was a P-class World War I zeppelin.
LZ 48 (L 15) | |
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Zeppelin LZ 48 (L 15) in the water | |
Role | P-class reconnaissance-bomber rigid airship |
National origin | German Empire |
Manufacturer | Luftschiffbau Zeppelin |
Designer | Ludwig Dürr |
First flight | 9 September 1915 |
Status | Shot down by AA fire on 1 April 1916 |
Primary user | Imperial German Navy |
Number built | 1 |
The Airship took part in eight reconnaissance missions with three attacks on England dropping 5,780 kg (12,740 lb) of bombs.
The Zeppelin was damaged by ground fire from Dartford AA battery[1] during a raid on London on 1 April 1916. The airship came down at Kentish Knock Deep in the Thames estuary. One crew member was killed; the other 17 were taken prisoner of war after being picked up by ships.[2] The gunners at Purfleet attempted to claim a prize of £500 offered by the Mayor of London for shooting down the Zeppelin, but the War Office declared them ineligible.[3] Instead the gunners received a gold medal.
Data from ,[4] Giants in the Sky: A History of the Rigid Airship[2]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
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 £108,200,000 in 2021) in damage. 84 airships took part, of which 30 were shot down or lost in accidents.[5]
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