Here are some particulars; The basic balloon unit was a Feld-Luftschiffer Abteilung. Innitionally, it consisted of 270 EM, plus 10 Officers. Motive power was exclusive to horses; 190 of them. They tended some 35 vehicles. Primary was the M95 feldwagen. It was supplemented with the S.Feldwagen M05. Of course the column had a Ballonwinde ,or Kabelwinde wagen; there were a number of variants supplied. There were also a pair Gepaäckwagen for crew personal items (packs), and a Feldküche. The detachment carried one balloon, with a second added by the winter of 1915. Perhaps the most important vehicle was the Telefonwagen. This vehicle provided direct telephone contact with the tethered balloon, and Korp artillerie; allowing the abeilung to provide critical observations quickly.
By mid 1915 BAK sections were added. They were either Rev K, or Masch K; both 37mm. Each batterie Abschnitt added another 4 vehicles and 8 horses. These units were organic to the Abeilung and were further supplemented by 7,7cm BAK within the year.
The Ae type balloon was introduced in March 1917, bringing further reorganization to include motor transport .
I noted this omission a week ago, but... I thought this tread long forgotten by all...
Briefly, there were two gas filling options available for the FLA. Bottled gas( wasserstoff ) was carried in field wagons and carefully laid out near the launching area. ( These bottles were not dissimilar to gas cylinders used today.) Bleeder hoses were then attached to a cluster of bottles via a steel tube and fed to the balloon via a fireman's-like hose for inflation. Various FLA units used Fahrbarer Gasserzueger (wheeled gas mixing vehicles ) wherein the gas was pumped directly to the balloon. I've made a couple drawings of both methods should there be interest in the subject.
Some years ago I did a number fo sketches pertaining to the German balloon service, and recently I added a couple more for another member here. I can furnish copies to those interested; you need only provide a mailing address. You may contact me off forum if you're interested.
