Bomb New York ??

[willycoppens]

Hello,
Were Capt. Strasser's plans for bombing New York City, using huge zeppelins, like the L-70, ever taken seriously, or were they simply rejected as being too fantastic ?
Thanks, willy

Why not? After all the Americans had no air defence at the time had they? And i guess if nothing else it would have been one hell of a show of defiance. I wonder what the reaction would have been??

[Dan_San_Abbott]

willycoppens:
* *The German naval airship L59 made a round trip flight *in November 1917 from Jamboli, Bulgaria to German West Africa and back to Jamboli, a distance of 6757 km with 32000 lbs of cargo on board which they brought back. That would be one hell of a bomb load. The flight lasted 95 hours. When the L.59 landed back at Jamboli it still had on board sufficient fuel for another 64 hours a distance 6000 kilometers, that is a total of 12757 km which is 7909 miles or a range of 3954 miles. New York to Paris is 3300 miles as Lindbergh flew. *They could have flown *the Kreigsmarine Airship bases at Ahlhorn or Nordholz. The L59 had a endurance of 10000 miles at full speed. Useful lift of 115,000 lbs. On the Africa Flight it was carrying, 30332 lbs of cargo, 48000 lbs of fuel, 3365 lbs of oil, 20200 lbs of ballast and 58775 lbs of crew and supplies. The Zeppelin "v" types L53 class had a range of 8400 miles at full speed, The "w"were the L57 and L59, the "x" type L70 and L71 after lengthening had a useful lift of 112700 lbs. Her endurance range at full spped 81.5 mph was 7460 miles.
The L.70 and the L.71 *would certainly been capable of bombing New York and return to Ahlhorn.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *Blue skies,
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Dan-San

[Vigilant]

I wonder what the reaction would have been??

If I know anything at all about Americans, they would have been shot down in droves.

Vig.

Assume two ships of the L70 class,i believe more than that were built but i stand to be corrected,successfully crossed the ocean to bomb New York.Where was the nearest airfield? Were the planes fighters or trainers??Were they armmed?? Sorry folks but it is my belief that the Americans of that time would have thought themselves invioble.That is not a criticism tho.After all there is one helluva lot of sea between the new world and the old.And evem airship technology of the times was barely in its teens.It would seem barely believable that a fully armed airship would dare to make the crossing.But if one or two did?Please bear in mind that even now the American Mainland has yet to feel the direct effects of a legitimate war. Terrorism yes.But Nation versus Nation along the lines of modern warfare?I wonder what would have been the reaction in the White House of the times??

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Gentlemen:
* *First of all, we did not have any aircraft in the U.S. of intercepting these airships. There operational altitude was in excess of 20,000 feet.
The Type 'v' ships had 8400 mile endurance at full speed of 67 mph. Theses were 644.7 ft.long, 78.8 ft in diameter with a useful lift 88,200 lbs. They were planning the lengthening the 'v' ships by adding two gas cells to the L56, L61, L63, L64 and L65 *and one cell to the L70 would have brought these ships to the L71 specification *of 743'2" with a gas volume of 2,418,700 cu.ft. ceiling of 26200 ft *and a speed of 68.3 mph, a useful lift of 112700 lbs. *The endurance would have been extended to 10000 miles at full speed. *Had the war lasted into 1919 the naval airship force would been, L.56, L61, L63, L64, L65, L.71 and L.72. All of these airships would have had the capability of bombing the USA and return to German bases.
* *Idflieg had in planning giant bombing aircraft for the purpose of bombing the USA. These are astounding aircraft with winspans rangeing from 59 to 140 meters (165.2' to 459.2') 2000 PS to 10000PS. *these were to take the place of the airships.
* * * * * * * * * * *Food for thought!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dan-San

[Barrett]

While it's fascinating to contemplate a Zep bombing of the US, and there's no doubt we'd have offered zero-zip-nada defense, it wouldn't have effected the outcome of the war. If anything, it only would have (ahem) further awakened a sleeping giant.
But imagine Zeps based in Mexico! Hoo-eee!
Break-break
The Luftwaffe had the capability of bombing New York in WW II with the huge Ju-390, which was intended to employ The German Nuke. One of 'em flew within about 50 miles of the US coast in June '44 (IIRC) and returned to Norway.

[Rick]

One of 'em flew within about 50 miles of the US coast in June '44 (IIRC) and returned to Norway.

Chicken *;D * * * *R.

[Barrett]

Interesting to contemplate the sort of damage that Zeps might have inflicted on NYC or DC, in view of their results in London. Dan (or others) what type of ordnance likely would have been employed in 1919? Any different from 1917?

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Barrett:
I don't think the Germans had developed anything new beyond the 12.5kg thermite bombs,50,(110lbs.) 100,(220 lbs.) 300(660lbs) and 1000 kg (2200 lbs) bombs. Think of what they could have done with a squadron raid on Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Wash.D.C. "Silent Raid No 2." We would not have known they were here until the bombs exploded!
Imagine if each airship had 25000 lbs of bombs with a mix of 12.5 Thermite, 100, 300 and 1000 kg bombs.
Not so blue skies,
Dan-San