Specifications
Year: 1914
Status: Retired, Out-of-Service
Manufacturer(s): German Empire
Production: 1
Capabilities: Ground Attack;
Status: Retired, Out-of-Service
Manufacturer(s): German Empire
Production: 1
Capabilities: Ground Attack;
Crew: 18
Power: Multiple engines in pusher configuration.
Operators: German Empire
LZ-26 took on the established shape of Zeppelins with tapered ends - the frontal section a nose cone and the aft section finned for stability control. These ends capped a tubular body consisting of a metal skeletal structure covered over in fabric. Lifting was accomplished through use of hydrogen-filled cells with the skin of the airship - hydrogen proving useful for the role though highly flammable in turn. When the Allies began wider spread use of incendiary ammunition, this became a very real and lethal problem for German airship crews. The crews were housed in under-slung gondolas containing armament stores and defensive weaponry while engines (providing the necessary forward propulsion) were held out and away from the fuselage by way of struts. Despite their climbing ability and valuable "over-the-horizon" qualities from a tactical sense, the more advanced Allied aircraft and improved ground-based anti-aircraft fire began to severely marginalized airships as useful battlefield weapons.
The airship concept was pioneered by German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin (hence its popular common name of "Zeppelin"). The concept first emerged in useful form as early as 1874 before being finalized in 1893 while a German patent proved forthcoming in 1895. First commercial use of Zeppelins in the airliner role began in 1910 - roughly four years before the war.
Armament
STANDARD:
Multiple 7.92mm machine guns in trainable mountings.
OPTIONAL:
Up to 2,720lb of conventional drop bombs.
Variants / Models
• Z.XII - Tactical Designation
• LZ-26 - Production Number
