The faults requiring
remedy were, firstly, the upper cross stays, which buckled in
flight owing to insufficient strength for the length of the hull;
secondly, the gasbags were not sufficiently gastight and,
thirdly, the power of the engines were not sufficient for such a
heavy ship.
This airship was broken up in 1902.
In 1905 the second ship of the series was completed. She was of
nearly the same size as the previous ship, but the workmanship
was much superior. Increased engine-power was also supplied, as
in this instance two 85 horse-power Mercedes engines were fitted.
This ship was destroyed by a storm while landing during the next
year.
The third ship, which was completed in 1906, was the first
Zeppelin airship acquired by the Government, and lasted for a
considerable time, being rebuilt twice, first in 1908 and again
in 1911. She was slightly larger than the previous two.
The building was continued, and up to the outbreak of war no
fewer than twenty-five had been completed. It is impossible, in
the space at our disposal, to trace the career of all of them.
Several came to an untimely end, but as the years went by each
succeeding ship proved more efficient, and the first ship which
was delivered to the Navy performed the notable flight of
thirty-one hours.
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