Zeppelin p-class

Description of design features

and differences between the ships
Thorsten Brand
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This document is the result of the research for a model of the p-class
airship LZ 45 (L 1!" #t summari$es the geometrical properties of the
%ehicle as well as the differences between the indi%idual ships of this
class" &riginal drawings were the ma'or source material to the e(tent that
the) were a%ailable* photos and te(ts as listed on the last page" +o
secondar) sources were used to create the drawings as seen on the
following pages" The amount of information a%ailable strongl) %aries from
ship to ship* so the information ma) not be regarded as complete"
#f errors in either the descriptions or the drawings are found or additional
information is a%ailable* please contact me at thorstenbrand,gm("net"
To print this document with the drawings at the correct scale* the -fit to
page--function has to be deacti%ated"
Thorsten Brand* 2.12
/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
--
0eneral #nformation
The Zeppelins of the p-class were intended to fl) in militar) ser%ice for 0erman) during 1orld 1ar # for the arm)
and na%)" Therefore* the) recei%ed a new designation which must not be confused with the builder2s number"
3rm) Zeppelins 4ept the prefi( -LZ-* but the number changed on man) airships" +a%) Zeppelins got the prefi( -L-
and an all-new number" To a%oid confusion* the names of the indi%idual units in this document are the builder2s
number* optionall) followed b) the ser%ice number in brac4ets (e(ample5 LZ 45 (L 1!!" 3 list of all p-class Zeppelins
with both names are included in the table at the end"
Technical data (LZ 45!
1
5
Length 5 16"5 m
7eight 5 21"862 m
1idth 5 25"9:8 m
;olume 5 2... m<
=ngines 5 4 ( >a)bach ?"@*
21. hp*
12.. rpm
>ass 5 2149. 4g
?rew 5 1:
The p-class was succeeded b) the A-class which was 15m longer" Bome p-class ships were altered to the latter
t)pe b) inserting three 5m-sections to the bod)" The rebuilt ships are not part of this document"
1 Bchiffs4unde LZ 45
/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
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3irship bod)
The bod) of Zeppelins of class p is formed b) longitudinals which are attached to rings* 14 of them are main
rings"
The longitudinal coordinate has its $ero point at the rearmost ring* where the rudder a(es are mounted* :"5m in
front of the rear end" The distance between most of the main rings is 1.m" #n the middle (59"5m-1.9"5m!* the rings
ha%e the ma(imum radius of 865mm* here the bod) is -c)lindical-"

The rings ha%e 18 edges for most of the length* with one longitudinal at each edge" The angle between the 4eel
longitudinals is 16C4:2* between all others 18C42"
Below is a cross section of the central section"
&n pages 5 and 6* general arrangement drawings of LZ 45 (L 1! in 15144 scale are shown"
3 cross section of the Zeppelin at its largest diameter" The remote dri%e shafts and the supporting struts are also
shown" 3ll measurements are in mm (15144 scale!"
/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
16 48'
194'
19

4
'
1
9

4
'
1
9

4
'
194'
19

4
'
1
9

4
'
1
9

4
'
5

2
0
'
9365 m
m
1
3

4
4
'
3
0
0
0

m
m
2
8
5
0
.
6

m
m
-5-
/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
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/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
-9-
Differences between the tails" LZ :* LZ 45 and LZ :6 are shown* representing all main options
(155..!"
3t the tail* the four longitudinals near the hori$ontal center of the bod) run together" 7ere* two %ersions can be
seen" 3t LZ : and LZ 42* the transition is 4ept between a single 5m-section" &n all other ships* the longitudinals
need a full main ring distance of 1.m to come together" The longitudinals at the 4eel do the same but behind ring
19"5" The stabili$ing hori$ontal fins start at the ring 29"5" Because of the geometrical properties* the) are not full)
hori$ontal but ha%e a positi%e pitch" This helps to correct the off-center propulsion forces of the propellers"
Behind the fins* rudders are placed for aerod)namic control" Two %ersions were built5 the earlier %ersion follows the
shape of the hull while some of the later ones were rectangular" &n LZ :* the space between the fins and the
rudders was different than on an) other ship as seen abo%e"
3t the aft end of the lower %ertical stabili$er* a s4id is built in" Three %ariants e(isted" &n most ships the s4id is
s4inned" These could be long as at LZ 45 or shorter as at LZ :" Bome %ehicles had an open s4id* as had LZ :6"
/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
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The different bomb ba) door %ersions" (155..!
3t the rearmost end of the ship* a flagpole was mounted"
The bombs were carried in the 4eel of the ship between the gondolas" Bomb ba) doors closed the openings and
could be folded to the outside"
3t least two t)pes of bomb ba) door arrangements were emplo)ed" 3ll a%ailable photos support the theor) that
arm) airships* capable of fl)ing greater distances* had a lighter bomb load and* therefore* fewer bomb ba)s"
#n the 4eel* water ballast was carrieed in bags" &penings through which this ballast could be e'ected had to be
present at these areas" +o photos could be found which show them* so the) were omitted in the drawings"
3ccess to the gondolas was pro%ided b) hatches in the 4eel abo%e the cars"
3t the 4eel* in front of the commander2s car* hatches for ropes were placed" The) ma) ha%e %aried in si$e* number
and placement* but no sufficient data is a%ailable to determine this feature in detail"
/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
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The >0 platform on top of the ship2s bow with three tripods" (15144 scale!
&n top of the ships2 bows* platforms with machine guns for defence were mounted" These featured three tripods*
but apparentl) onl) two >0s" ?ircular pedestals surrounded the tripods to allow the gunners to depress the >0s in
order to fire at enem) aircraft coming up from below the Zeppelin" 3 handrail encased the platform and a
windshield was placed in front of it" 3 hatch behind the platform allowed the crew to access the platform %ia a
funnel from the gangwa) at the 4eel"
/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
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The two main t)pes of the front gondola" (15144 scale!
Dront gondola
The front gondola was* in fact* a unit comprised of two seperate cars"
The foremost section was the commander2s car which featured a glasshouse-li4e bow complete with control
instrumentation and eAuipment and a separate room for the radio operator on the left side of the gondola" Behind
the radio room* two large windows could be seen* with mounts for >0s"
The rear section contained one engine which dro%e a propeller at the end of the gondola" To protect the hull of the
ship* the fabric directl) abo%e the propeller was strengthened b) a second la)er"
Bumpers were mounted at the floor of the gondolas to cushion the landings"
The front gondola %aried considerabl) on the indi%idual ships" Two main t)pes can be distinguished* with the most
noticeable difference on the engine section" &n some earl) p-class ships* the roof fell down straighter than on the
other ships" &n these units* the transition between the commander2s car and the front engine car was also different"
The windows* especiall) of the radio compartment* %aried from ship to ship* in number and placement" Bome ships
had no windows in that area at all* some had two"
#n the a%ailable photos it seems that LZ 44 (LZ 94! had a %er) special front engine gondola with a round floor under
the engine" LZ 6. (LZ 8.! had e(perimental* streamlined gondolas at least temporaril)"
/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
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3 6-side drawing of the gondola of LZ 45 (L 1! (15144 scale!"
The abo%e 6 sided drawing illustrates the front gondola of LZ 45 (L 1!* which is representati%e for most p-class
gondolas"
The oil cooler abo%e the front engine car was mounted to the ship2s hull* the pipes to the gondola did not carr) an)
loads" The position of the oil cooler %aried from ship to ship"
/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
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The two main t)pes of the rear gondola (15144 scale!"
Eear gondola
The rear gondola contains three engines" The rearmost engine dri%es a propeller directl) at the aft end of the car*
the two others power remote dri%e shafts which run propellers attacched to the outriggers" Bince the engines are
mounted in tandem* the dri%e shafts for the outrigger gears are not inline with each other when %iewed from the
side" The truss structures which hold the gearbo(es are mounted in different longitudinal positions as can be seen
on the drawings on page 5"
Li4e the front gondola* there were two main t)pes of rear engine cars" &n LZ : and LZ 42* the gondola missed the
prominent bend of the floor which can be seen on all other ships" 3lso* the roof falls straighter and deeper to the aft
end as on the earl) t)pe of the front engine car"
3t the later rear gondolas large windows were present with mounts for >0s"
The drawing of the earl)-t)pe rear engine car was made from a minimum of reference materialF it ma) be regarded
as a s4etch with most details missing or estimated"
The engine e(hausts were placed on the sides of the gondola but their e(act positions %aried"
/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
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3 6-side %iew of the rear gondola of LZ 45 (L 1! (15144 scale!"
The 6 sided %iew abo%e depicts the rear engine car of LZ 45 (L 1! which is representati%e for most ships"
3s on the front gondola* the oil coolers hung from the ship2s bod)* and their positions seemed to be constant"
/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
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The right outrigger with the remote dri%e gear from the rear gondola to the outboard propeller (15144 scale!
/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
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/ Thorsten Brand 2.12
This table lists the most important %isible differences between the airships of the p-class" 3 Auestion mar4 signifies
that no information could be found"
Builder's No. Service No. Front Car Rear Car Rudder Equator End Skid Form Skid length Special Features
LZ ! LZ 38 early early trapezoid short skinned short upper rudder with longer opening
LZ "# L 10 late late trapezoid long skinned short -
LZ "$ L 11 early late trapezoid long skinned short -
LZ "% LZ 72 early early trapezoid? short open - -
LZ " L 12 late late trapezoid long skinned short -
LZ "" LZ 74 early/speial late trapezoid long skinned short !ront engine ar with round underside
LZ "& L 13 late late trapezoid long skinned long -
LZ "' L 14 late late trapezoid long skinned long -
LZ "( LZ 77 late late trapezoid long skinned long -
LZ "! L 1" late late trapezoid long skinned long -
LZ ") LZ 7# late late retangular long ? ? -
LZ &# L 1$ late late trapezoid long skinned long -
LZ &$ LZ 81 late late ? long skinned long -
LZ &% L 18 late late trapezoid long ? ? -
LZ & L 17 late late trapezoid long skinned long -
LZ &" L 1# late late trapezoid long skinned ? -
LZ && LZ 8" late late retangular long open - -
LZ &' LZ 8$ late late retangular long open - -
LZ &( LZ 87 late late trapezoid long skinned short %kid disasse&'led on so&e photos
LZ &! LZ 88( L 2" late late retangular long open - -
LZ '# LZ #0 late/speial late/speial retangular long open - %py 'asket( e)peri&ental gondolas
LZ ' LZ #3 late late retangular long open - -
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Eeferences
3dmiralt) 1ar Btaff #ntelligence Di%ision* 0erman Eigid 3irships* The +a%al G >ilitar) Hress Ltd* 1819
(Eeprint 2..:!
Eimell* E" L"* 1indsoc4 Datafile Bpecial Zeppelin ;ol" 1* 3lbatros Hroductions Ltd* 2..6
Eobinson* D" 7"* Deutsche >arineluftschiffe 1812-181:* >ittler G Bohn 0mb7* 2..5
3uthor un4nown* Bchiffs4unde LZ 45* 3rchi% der Luftschiffbau Zeppelin 0mb7* 1815
3uthor un4nown* %arious detail drawings and photos of p-class Zeppelins* 3rchi% der Luftschiffbau
Zeppelin 0mb7* 1815-181:
http5IIwww"luftschiff"deI
3dditionall)* #2d li4e to than4 3ndreas 7orn and 7arr) Eedner for their competent and enthusiastic support of this
pro'ect* and >a'or ?harles Da%enport and Janina Lange for corrections of this te(t"
/ Thorsten Brand 2.12