Zeppelin LZ 78

{{short description|R-class World War I zeppelin}}

{{Infobox aircraft begin |name = LZ 78 (L 34) |image = L 34 in flames over Hartlepool.jpg |caption = Imperial German Army Zeppelin LZ 78 (L 34) over Hartlepool |alt = }}{{Infobox aircraft type |type = R-class reconnaissance-bomber rigid airship |national origin = German Empire |manufacturer = Luftschiffbau Zeppelin |design group = |designer = Ludwig Dürr |builder = |first flight = 22 September 1916 |introduction = |introduced = |retired = Shot down on 27 November 1916 |status = |primary user = Imperial German Army |more users = |produced = |number built =1 |program cost = |unit cost = |developed from = |variants with their own articles = |developed into = }}

The Imperial German Army Zeppelin LZ 78 (L-34) was a R-class World War I zeppelin.

==Operational history==

The airship took part in three reconnaissance missions and two attacks on England dropping {{cvt|3890|kg}} of bombs. It also took part in the Zeppelin raid involving three other Imperial German Airships: the LZ 72 (L 31), L 32 and Zeppelin LZ 76 (L 33) on the evening of 23 September 1916. Of the four Airships, LZ 78 was the only Zeppelin that returned to base after the raid. Together all four Zepellins succeeded in dropping {{Convert|3200|kg|lbs}} of bombs on London and surrounding counties.

==Last mission==

File:Le Petit Journal - December 21, 1916 - Cropped.jpeg

On 27 November 1916, Zeppelin LZ 78 was intercepted and destroyed by British fighter pilot Second Lieutenant Ian Pyott in Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c (Serial no. 2738) off Hartlepool.{{sfn|Guttman|2018|p=71}} His bullets ignited the hydrogen, "like a massive fiery torch which lit up the night for miles around, she plunged into the sea."{{sfn|Jones|2016|p=94}} The commander of the Airship was Kapitanleutnant Max Dietrich the uncle of famous actress Marlene Dietrich.{{sfn|Marks|2017|p=}}

==Specifications (LZ 78 / Type R zeppelin)==

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Zeppelin : rigid airships, 1893–1940{{cite book |last1=Brooks |first1=Peter W. |title=Zeppelin : rigid airships, 1893–1940 |url=https://archive.org/details/zeppelinrigidair00broo_303 |url-access=limited |date=1992 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=1560982284 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/zeppelinrigidair00broo_303/page/n94 95]-99}}

|prime units?=met

|crew=17-19

|capacity={{cvt|32400|kg|0}} typical disposable load

|length m=198

|length note=

|dia m=23.9

|dia note=maximum

• Fineness ratio: 8.24

|volume m3=55200

|volume note=in 19 gas cells

|empty weight kg=31400

|empty weight lb=

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=32908

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight kg=

|max takeoff weight lb=

|max takeoff weight note=

|fuel capacity={{cvt|6250|kg|0}}

|lift kg=63800

|lift note=

|more general=

|eng1 number=5

|eng1 name=Maybach HS Lu

|eng1 type=6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engines

|eng1 hp=240

|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=4

|prop name=Lorenzen fixed-pitch propellers

|prop dia m=

|prop dia ft=

|prop dia in=

|prop dia note=

|max speed kmh=103

|max speed note=

|cruise speed kmh=81

|cruise speed note=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed mph=

|never exceed speed kts=

|never exceed speed note=

|range km=7400

|range note=at {{cvt|81|km/h|mph kn}}

|combat range km=

|combat range miles=

|combat range nmi=

|combat range note=

|ferry range km=

|ferry range miles=

|ferry range nmi=

|ferry range note=

|endurance=

|ceiling m=3900

|ceiling note=static

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|glide ratio=

|climb rate ms=10

|climb rate note=maximum permitted (r-class)

|time to altitude=

|fuel consumption kg/km=

|fuel consumption lb/mi=

|more performance=

|guns= machine-guns in hull-top positions and gondolas

|bombs=up to 60 bombs to a total of {{cvt|5000|kg|0}}

}}

{{LZ shot down over UK}}