Zeppelin LZ 32

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LZ 32
L 7 Tonder.JPG
RoleM2-class Zeppelin - reconnaissance bomber rigid airship
National origin Imperial Germany
Manufacturer Luftschiffbau Zeppelin at Friedrichshafen
Designer Ludwig Dürr
First flight20 November 1914
Retired4 May 1916
Statusdestroyed / scrapped
Primary userWar Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg  Imperial German Navy
Number built1

M2-class zeppelin LZ 32, given tactical number L 7, was a rigid airship operated by the Kaiserliche Marine, which flew 164 times, including 77 reconnaissance missions over the North Sea, with several unsuccessful attempts to attack English coastal towns. Brought down on 4 May 1916 by anti-aircraft fire from HMS Phaeton and HMS Galatea, she was destroyed by Royal Navy submarine HMS E31 off Horns Reef.

Contents

Loss

While on a mission, LZ 32 was spotted by light cruisers HMS Galatea and HMS Phaeton who opened fire on the airship. Just as they were doing this HMS E31 was operating with the sea plane carrier Engadine in the North Sea in an air raid on the Zeppelin sheds at Tondern on 4 May 1916. E31 surfaced and spotted the airship, but being vulnerable on the surface, the sub dived to avoid attack. When the submarine put its periscope up, it observed that the Zeppelin was losing altitude after being hit by shells from Galatea and Phaeton. E31 then surfaced just in time to get in the fatal shot and brought the Zeppelin down. HMS E31 then proceeded to rescue seven survivors from the crew of LZ 32. [1] [2] [3]

Specifications (LZ 37 / M2-class zeppelin)

Data from Zeppelin : rigid airships, 1893-1940, [4] The Zeppelin Airships - Part Two: Zeppelins of the Great War 1914–1918 [5]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

References

  1. Wilson 1988.
  2. Hobbs 2017.
  3. Foley 2013.
  4. Brooks, Peter W. (1992). Zeppelin : rigid airships, 1893-1940. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 72–77. ISBN   1560982284.
  5. "The Zeppelin Airships - Part Two: Zeppelins of the Great War 1914–1918". Puget sound airship society. Retrieved 28 January 2011.

Bibliography