Editing Zeppelin (section)

=====1917=====
[[File:Maschinengondel eines Zeppelin-Luftschiffes - Felix Schwormstädt 1917.jpg|thumb|right|1917 watercolour by [[Felix Schwormstädt]] – translated title: "In the rear engine gondola of a Zeppelin airship during the flight through enemy airspace after a successful attack on England"]]
[[File:Zeppelin memorial, Camberwell Old Cemetery, June 2018.jpg|thumb|right|Memorial in [[Camberwell Cemeteries#Camberwell Old Cemetery|Camberwell Old Cemetery]], London, to 21 civilians killed by Zeppelin bombings in 1917]]
To counter the increasingly effective defences new Zeppelins were introduced which had an increased operating altitude of {{convert|16500|ft|m}} and a ceiling of {{convert|21000|ft|m}}. The first of these S-class Zeppelins, LZ&nbsp;91 (L&nbsp;42) entered service in February 1917.<ref>Robinson 1971, p. 389</ref> They were basically a modification of the R-class, sacrificing strength and power for improved altitude. The surviving R-class Zeppelins were adapted by removing one of the engines.<ref>Robinson 1971, p.208</ref> The improved safety was offset by the extra strain on the airship crews caused by altitude sickness and exposure to extreme cold and operating difficulties caused by cold and unpredictable high winds encountered at altitude.

The first raid of 1917 did not occur until 16–17 March: the five Zeppelins encountered very strong winds and none reached their targets.<ref>Cole and Cheesman 1984, p. 198.</ref> This experience was repeated on 23–24 May. Two days later 21 [[Gotha G.IV|Gotha bomber]]s attempted a daylight raid on London. They were frustrated by heavy clouds but the effort led the Kaiser to announce that airship raids on London were to stop; under pressure he later relented to allow the Zeppelins to attack under "favorable circumstances".

On 16–17 June, another raid was attempted. Six Zeppelins were to take part, but two were kept in their shed by high winds and another two were forced to return by engine failure. L&nbsp;42 bombed Ramsgate, hitting a munitions store. The month-old L&nbsp;48, the first U&nbsp;class Zeppelin, was forced to drop to {{convert|13000|ft|m}} where it was caught by four aircraft and destroyed, crashing near [[Theberton]], Suffolk.<ref>Cole and Cheesman, pp 250-4</ref>

After ineffective raids on the Midlands and the north of England on 21–22 August and 24–25 September, the last major Zeppelin raid of the war was launched on 19–20 October, with 13 airships heading for [[Sheffield]], Manchester and [[Liverpool]]. All were hindered by an unexpected strong headwind at altitude. L&nbsp;45 was trying to reach Sheffield, but instead it dropped bombs on Northampton and London: most fell in the north-west suburbs but three {{convert|300|kg|lb|abbr=on}} bombs fell in [[Piccadilly]], [[Camberwell]] and [[Hither Green]], causing most of the casualties that night. L&nbsp;45 then reduced altitude to try to escape the winds but was forced back into the higher air currents by a B.E.2e. The airship then had mechanical failure in three engines and was blown over [[French Third Republic|France]], eventually coming down near [[Sisteron]]; it was set on fire and the crew surrendered. L&nbsp;44 was brought down by ground fire over France: L&nbsp;49 and L&nbsp;50 were also lost to engine failure and the weather over France. L&nbsp;55 was badly damaged on landing and later scrapped.<ref>Cole and Cheesman 1984, pp. 345-6</ref>

There were no more raids in 1917, although the airships were not abandoned but refitted with new, more powerful, engines.