Zeppelin LZ 44

{{short description|Zeppelin used by the German Army in World War I}}

#REDIRECT [[Zeppelin P Class]]

[[File:Zeppelin LZ 44 (LZ 74).jpg|thumb|Germany army airship Zeppelin LZ 44 (LZ 74)]]

'''LZ 44''', designated by the military as '''LZ 74''', was the 44th [[Zeppelin]] built by [[Ferdinand von Zeppelin]] and the 21st operated by the [[Imperial German Army]] during [[World War I]].

== History ==

LZ 44 made its maiden flight on 8 July 1915. Upon delivery to the German Army, it was designated LZ 74. The airship was primarily used for bombing raids over England during the First World War.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LZ 74 (Zeppelin) |url=https://www.luftschiff.de/zeppelin-lz-74 |website=luftschiff.de |language=de |access-date=2025-07-04}}</ref><ref>Peter Meyer: ''Luftschiffe – Die Geschichte der deutschen Zeppeline.'' Wehr & Wissen, Koblenz/Bonn 1980</ref>

On 8 October 1915, during a mission, the airship encountered dense fog and collided with a mountain in the [[Schnee Eifel]] region, near Orthe, France. The impact tore off both gondolas, and the resulting loss of weight caused the airship to ascend rapidly to 4,000 meters. Despite the damage, the airship was able to descend and land. There were no fatalities, though most of the crew were injured. LZ 44 was subsequently dismantled.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accident Zeppelin LZ.44 |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/856 |website=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=2025-07-04}}</ref><ref>Robinson, Douglas H. Giants in the Sky. page 333 Henley-on-Thames: Foulis, 1973. ISBN 0-85429-145-8</ref>

== Specifications ==

* Volume of lifting gas: 31,900 m³ (hydrogen)

* Length: 163.00 m

* Diameter: 18.70 m

* Payload: 16.2 t

* Powerplant: Four [[Maybach-Motorenbau|Maybach]] engines, each producing 210 PS (154 kW)

* Top speed: 26.7 m/s (approx. 96 km/h)

== See also ==

* [[List of Zeppelins]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

{{LZ Navbox}}

[[Category:Airships of Germany]]

[[Category:Hydrogen airships]]

[[Category:Zeppelins]]

[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1915]]

[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1915]]

[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving balloons and airships]]

[[Category:Military airships of World War I]]

[[Category:Rigid airships]]