winds of from 33.5 to 40 miles per hour (15 to 18
meters per second).

To meet these conditions the L-30 was built (Plate 9). It had a gas
capacity of 1,942,000 cubic feet (55,000 cubic meters) and was nearly
twice as large as the original 1,129,920 cubic feet (32,000 cubic
meters) four motored ships. The L-30 was ready in May, 1916. It was
almost perfectly streamlined. The long cylindrical hull, so convenient
from a production standpoint, had been abandoned. The L-30's stern
tapered gracefully to a fine point. It was driven by six 240 horsepower
Maybach motors, arranged practically as before. One was located in the
forward gondola with a direct drive propeller, another three motors in
the rear gondola, one with a direct drive and two others each in a
separate gondola located opposite each other on the sides of the hull
amidships, so as not to interfere with the efficiency of the propeller
in the rear gondola. The L-30 carried 63,933 pounds (29,000 kilograms),
about 45% of its total lift. Other Zeppelins of her class had a useful
lift of 50% due to better design and superior materials. This
represented a marked advance, as the preceding types lifted only 37% of
their weight. The ceiling had been increased, too, by more than 3,280
feet (1,000 meters). They could now ascend from 11,800 to 14,750 feet
(3,600 to 4,500 meters), depending on the load and weather conditions.
They made a speed of 63 miles per hour (28 meters per second).

[PLATE 20: Maybach Airship Motor Type HSLu of 240 Horsepower,
1915.

Maybach Airship and Aeroplane Motor Type Mb4a of 260 Horsepower
at an Altitude of 10,000 Feet, 1918.]

Faster Zeppelins for Scouting

These Zeppelins proved exceedingly valuable for scouting. They were
flown in all kinds of wind and weather. So great was their capacity for
fuel that there was no task too great for them to undertake. But then,
airplanes were constantly being improved, and they could rise quickly to
high altitudes. The planes carried machine guns firing phosphorous
incendiary bullets fatal to the hydrogen filled hull of the Zeppelins if
overtaken. Airplanes, naturally, could out-distance airships, and there
was no escaping them. The Zeppelins were compelled to fly still higher
than the L-30 type. There shortly appeared other Zeppelins carrying
loads of more than 39 tons or 60% of the total lift of the ship; and
they could fly at an altitude of 19,684 feet (6,000 meters) with 13,228
or 1