Zeppelin LZ 54

Zeppelin LZ 54, given the military tactical designation L 19, was a P-class Zeppelin of the Imperial German Navy, one of 22 P-class Zeppelins built by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin for the Army and Navy as improved versions of the pre-war M-class, with a larger gas volume and four engines instead of three. The engines were at first 180 horsepower Maybach C-X units, later replaced by 240 horsepower Maybach HSLu engines, in a forward control cabin and a rear gondola. While returning from its first bombing raid on the United Kingdom in early 1916, it came down in the North Sea. Its crew survived the crash but drowned after the crew of the British fishing trawler King Stephen refused to rescue them, citing fears that the Germans would overpower them. The incident received worldwide publicity, divided British public opinion and was used in German propaganda.