Editing Zeppelin (section)

====Technological progress====
Zeppelin technology improved considerably as a result of the increasing demands of warfare. The company came under government control, and new personnel were recruited to cope with the increased demand, including the aerodynamicist [[Paul Jaray]] and the stress engineer [[Karl Arnstein]]. Many of these technological advances originated from Zeppelin's only serious competitor, the [[Mannheim]]-based [[Schütte-Lanz]] company. While their dirigibles were never as successful, Professor Schütte's more scientific approach to airship design led to important innovations including the streamlined hull shape, the simpler cruciform fins (replacing the more complicated box-like arrangements of older Zeppelins), individual direct-drive engine cars, anti-aircraft machine-gun positions,<ref>University of Constance. [http://www.uni-konstanz.de/FuF/Philo/Geschichte/MMAG/MMAG_Zeppelin/Gefahren/gefahren1.htm Gefahren und Strapazen der Luftschiffeinsätze] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604013824/http://www.uni-konstanz.de/FuF/Philo/Geschichte/MMAG/MMAG_Zeppelin/Gefahren/gefahren1.htm |date=4 June 2008 }}, upper platforms with machine-gun positions</ref> and gas ventilation shafts which transferred vented hydrogen to the top of the airship. New production facilities were set up to assemble Zeppelins from components fabricated in Friedrichshafen.<ref>Robinson 1973, pp. 89-90</ref>

The pre-war M-class designs were quickly enlarged, to produce the {{convert|536|ft|m|order=flip}} long duralumin P-class, which increased gas capacity from {{convert|794500|to|1126000|cuft|m3|order=flip|abbr=on}}, introduced a fully enclosed gondola and had an extra engine. These modifications added {{convert|2000|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on}} to the maximum ceiling, around {{convert|9|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} to the top speed, and greatly increased crew comfort and hence endurance. Twenty-two P-class airships were built; the first, LZ&nbsp;38, was delivered to the Army on 3 April 1915.<ref>Robinson 1973, pp. 95-100</ref> The P class was followed by a lengthened version, the Q class.

In July 1916 Luftschiffbau Zeppelin introduced the R-class, {{convert|199.49|m|ftin|abbr=off}} long, and with a volume of {{convert|1949600|ft3|m3|order=flip|abbr=on}}. These could carry loads of three to four tons of bombs and reach speeds of up to {{convert|64|mph|kph|order=flip|abbr=on}}, powered by six {{convert|240|hp|kW|abbr=on}} [[Maybach]] engines.<ref>Robinson 1973, pp335–6</ref>

In 1917, following losses to the air defences over Britain, new designs were produced which were capable of flying at much higher altitudes, typically operating at around {{convert|20000|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on}}. This was achieved by reducing the weight of the airship by reducing the weight of the structure, halving the bomb load, removing the defensive armament and by reducing the number of engines to five.<ref>Robinson 1973, pp.127–8</ref> However these were not successful as bombers: the greater height at which they operated greatly hindered navigation, and their reduced power made them vulnerable to unfavorable weather conditions.

[[File:IWMzeppelinspybasket.JPG|thumb|right|The [[spy basket|observation car]] preserved at the [[Imperial War Museum]] ]]

At the beginning of the war Captain [[Ernst A. Lehmann]] and Baron Gemmingen, Count Zeppelin's nephew, developed an [[Spy basket|observation car]] for use by dirigibles.<ref>Robinson 1973, pp. 93-4</ref> While the zeppelin flew invisibly within or above the clouds, the car's observer would hang from a cable below the clouds, and relay navigation and bomb dropping orders.<ref name=Lehmann>[[#Lehmann3|Lehmann, The Zeppelins]]</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|de Syon|2001|p=104.}}</ref> It was equipped with a wicker chair, chart table, electric lamp and compass, with telephone line and lightning conductor part of the suspension cable. Although used by Army airships, they were not used by the Navy, since Strasser considered that their weight meant an unacceptable reduction in bomb load.<ref>Robinson 1971, pp. 68-9 (fn)</ref>