Zeppelin Tales

Publisher: Avalanche Press
Series: Great War at Sea / Second World War at Sea
Type: Historical Study / Reference Book
Author: Mike Bennighof
Year: 2026
Format: Softcover book
Language: English

OVERVIEW

They were among the most extraordinary flying machines of the first decades of the twentieth century. Although the name of Ferdinand Graf Zeppelin became synonymous with these enormous aircraft, many other designers and manufacturers contributed to the development of lighter-than-air flight.

Zeppelin Tales traces the history of airships from the earliest experiments of the 1890s through the American flying carriers of the 1930s, covering the military airships of the First World War and the increasingly ambitious designs that followed.

The book includes the story of German airships operating over the North Sea, as well as the remarkable but fragile wooden-framed airships developed by Schütte-Lanz.

A COMPANION TO GREAT WAR AT SEA AND SECOND WORLD WAR AT SEA

Zeppelin Tales is designed as a companion volume to the Great War at Sea series, where airships feature in many games, and to Second World War at Sea, where they appear in some games.

It also complements Avalanche Press publications dealing with naval airships, particularly Golden Journal No. 55: Flying Carriers and Golden Journal No. 62: Naval Airships, which provide airship counters for the relevant games.

EDITORIAL CONTENT

The book covers topics including:

• The earliest airship experiments of the late nineteenth century;
• The development of large rigid airships;
• German airships and their operations over the North Sea;
• The wooden-framed Schütte-Lanz designs;
• The technological development of airships during the early twentieth century;
• American airship projects of the 1930s;
• The development of flying aircraft carriers;
• Plans for even larger airships conceived in the years leading up to the Second World War.

A STAND-ALONE BOOK

Unlike a conventional game supplement, Zeppelin Tales does not require any Great War at Sea or Second World War at Sea game.

It is a stand-alone historical work that can be enjoyed by wargamers as well as readers interested in military history, aviation and naval technology. Avalanche Press specifically describes it as a book that does not require any prior knowledge of its games.

FOR WARGAMERS AND HISTORY ENTHUSIASTS

For Great War at Sea players, Zeppelin Tales provides additional historical background on one of the more unusual elements of naval warfare during this period: airships and their role in reconnaissance and maritime operations.

It therefore works particularly well as a historical companion to Avalanche Press's naval and air warfare games and publications.

Please note: Zeppelin Tales is a historical reference book, not a stand-alone wargame. It does not provide the components required to play Great War at Sea or Second World War at Sea.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Publisher: Avalanche Press
• Series: Great War at Sea / Second World War at Sea
• Type: Historical Study
• Subject: History of airships and naval aviation
• Language: English
• Format: Softcover book
• Publication year: 2026
• Game required: No
• Playable on its own: Not applicable — stand-alone reference book