TheZeppelinLZ 13 Hansa(or simplyHansa) was a German civilianrigid airshipfirst flown in 1912. It was built forDELAGto carry passengers andpostand flew the first international passenger flight, visiting Denmark and Sweden in September 1912.[1]In 1913 it was hired to theImperial German Navyas a training craft, and at the outbreak ofWorld War Iit was requisitioned by the German military who used it for bombing, reconnaissance, and finally as a training airship.
| LZ 13Hansa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Passenger airship |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Luftschiffbau Zeppelin |
| First flight | 30 July 1912 |
| Retired | 1916 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary users | DELAG German military |
| Number built | 1 |
Design
editTheHansawas the sister ship of LZ 11Viktoria Luise,the first of the two G Class Zeppelins built. The design was an enlargement ofLZ 10Schwaben,lengthened by 7.9 m (26 ft) to accommodate an extra gasbag and fitted with slightly more powerful engines.
Civilian flights
editThe closed passenger cabin was attached to the hull behind the open control cabin and had room for 24 passengers. From 1912 to 1914 theHansawas operating mostly fromHamburgandPotsdam,and based inDresdenat the outbreak of the war.[2] Count Zeppelincommanded theHansaon the first commercial airship flight from toDenmarkandSwedenon 19 September 1912.[1]
This was the first time a commercial Zeppelin flew outside Germany. Click on the blue globes to see the route taken:[1]
- 03:5553°33′N9°59′E/ 53.550°N 9.983°Eearly morning launch fromHamburg,Germany
- 07:1554°35′N11°31′E/ 54.583°N 11.517°Eover the HyllekrogspitonLollandisland
- 07:2054°34′N11°56′E/ 54.567°N 11.933°EoverGedser
- 08:0054°46.5′N11°30.5′E/ 54.7750°N 11.5083°EoverMaribo
- 08:2555°0′30″N11°54′37″E/ 55.00833°N 11.91028°EoverVordingborg
- 08:4055°15′N12°08′E/ 55.250°N 12.133°EoverFaxe
- 09:1055°25′N12°09′E/ 55.417°N 12.150°EoverHerfølge
- 09:3055°27′N12°11′E/ 55.450°N 12.183°EoverKøge
- 10:0055°39′N12°18′E/ 55.650°N 12.300°EoverTaastrup
- 10:2055°41′N12°34′E/ 55.683°N 12.567°Elanded atCopenhagen,where people wrote postcards to family in Germany
- 11:5555°35′N13°2′E/ 55.583°N 13.033°Elaunched from Copenhagen and flew overMalmö
- 13:3054°46′N11°53′E/ 54.767°N 11.883°EoverNykøbing Falster
- 15:3053°52′N10°41′E/ 53.867°N 10.683°EoverLübeck
- 16:4053°33′N9°59′E/ 53.550°N 9.983°Elanded back in Hamburg
During two years of commercial DELAG service it carried 6,217 passengers on 399 flights, covering 44,437 kilometres.
Military use
edit
- The military added a platform to the top of the hull and installed twomachine guns
- Attack missions on France and reconnaissance missions over theBaltic Sea(involved in the taking ofLibau)
- From early 1915 used as a training airship, making over 500 flights over Berlin
- Dismantled in August 1916
See also
editSpecifications
editData fromRobinson, H.Giants in the Sky,p.330
General characteristics
- Capacity:20
Performance
Notes
edit- ^abcPost & Tele Museum"Copenhagen - Count Zeppelin oversees everything from the gondola."
- ^"DELAG: The World's First Airline".airships.net. 2017.Retrieved2017-02-14.
References
edit- Robinson, Douglas (1973).Giants in the Sky.London: Foulis.ISBN0-85429-145-8.
- "Luftskibet Kommer!".[permanent dead link]
External links
edit
- silhoeuttes of important Zeppelins from 1900 to 1919,Lueger 1904-1920, shows LZ: 1,3,5,6,8,10,13,14,18,21,23,25,26,36,40,59,62,91,94,95,100,104,113,120
- photograph of Hansa landed at Copenhagen[permanent dead link]1912-09-19
- photograph of Count Zeppelin talking from Hansa's gondola at Copenhagen[permanent dead link]1912-09-19
- photograph of Count Zeppelin shaking hands from Hansa at Copenhagen[permanent dead link]1912-09-19
- photograph of Hansa leaving Copenhagen[permanent dead link]1912-09-19
