Zeppelin L 30



"This is the very first R-class zeppelin that the German Empire has ever used. It was the most successful airship of World War I with 31 reconnaissance flights and 10 bombing runs. They mostly target on England, but Livonia and Saaremaa are the last. With six engines, it also could be the fastest zeppelin of all time."

--Su Ji-Hoon, The Zeppelins

Zeppelin "L 30" (factory number "LZ 62") was the first R-class "Super Zeppelin" of the German Empire. It was the most successful airship of the First World War with 31 reconnaissance flights and 10 bombing runs carrying a total of 23,305 kg of bombs, with the first ones targeting England, and the four final raids targeting Livonia and Ösel (Saaremaa). It was at the time of construction the world's largest Zeppelin, and with its 6 engines, "L 30" could reach speeds higher than 100 km/h, making it also the fastest Zeppelin.

It was constructed at Luftschiffbau Zeppelin in Friedrichshafen, the first with gondolas on the sides. It remained in the service of the Imperial German Navy from 1916 to its decommissioning in 1917. "L 30" was decommissioned in 1917, and survived World War I. It was handed over to Belgium as part of the war reparations laid on Germany. Its gondolas are today on display at the Royal Military Historical Museum in Brussels,the only remaining gondolas of a war Zeppelin in the world.

A famous photo of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin aboard the "L 30" with Hauptmann Macher exists, allegedly taken sometime in April 1916 in Friedrichshafen, before its completion.

In When the Cold Breeze Blows Away,Werman Reich and New Central Powers restored this zeppelin instead of using Kirov Airships that it will be reused and remade for battle in USRAC War and during Werner Werman's Anschluss of Inkwell Isle.