Expert: Mark Smith - 1/5/2008

Question
I can't get a clear line on this from either internet or from reference books. No response from the Zeppelin museum either. I need to know about the means of communication from control car to the various stations throughout the ship on later wartime Zeppelins. Was all communication necessarily routed from/to the control car, or were forward and aft gun positions able to communicate directly, for instance? Was it by voice radio, morse telegraph, or indicator instrument telegraph (as warship bridge to engine-room) or via speaking tube, or a mixture of communication methods (if mixed, which method to which station?). Also, was the rudderman/helmsman located in the control car with the ship's commander, or located in a discrete helmsman's location further aft. Thanks Mark - I know I'm asking a lot.

Answer
Hello Tony.
By far the best source of information on German rigid airships of WW I is "The Zeppelin in Combat" by Douglas H Robinson. It is a fantastic book packed with facts and incredible photographs, if my house was on fire I'd save it first then go back for the wife.
On page 176 there is an internal communications diagram of the L30 class of Zeppelins which were built from mid 1916 onwards. It shows engine telegraphs, similar to those on board a ship, and a similar system to the stern lookout where there were a set of controls if the main control car was disabled. There were also speaking tubes and bells to the top platform and midships bomb room.
The book also has internal photographs of the control car of the SL 15 showing the rudder wheel in the bow and the elevator wheel on the port side. This configuration was common to all German airships.
Mark