Caudron G.IV

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Caudron G.IV
PSM V88 D062 Caudron G.4 twin-engined aircraft 1916.png
Type: bomber
Design country:

FranceFrance France

Manufacturer:

Airplanes Caudron

First flight:

March 1915

Commissioning:

November 1915

Production time:

1915-1916

Number of pieces:

1,421

The Caudron G.IV was a French military plane in the First World War .

development

The twin-engine, one- and -a- half - decker Caudron G.IV was based on the single-engine G.III . The observer and pilot sat one behind the other in the open cockpit of a short fuselage gondola, while the two engines were suspended in separate gondolas on the right and left. Quadruple rudders were mounted on the tail unit, the landing gear consisted of two runners, on each of which two pairs of wheels were attached.

commitment

The Caudron G.IVs reached the front in late autumn 1915 and were ultimately in service with 38 squadrons of the French Aéronautique Militaire . The propulsion by two reliable engines, which ensured good climbing performance and range, had a good reputation with the pilots. In addition, the free gondola improved visibility for the observer. However, because of the large motorized pods on the right and left, the observer only had a limited field of fire for his MG ; he was able to defend himself against pursuers with a second machine-gun that worked backwards over the wing. This cumbersome handling limited the ability to fight in the air, which is why the bombers secured each other preferably in close formation.

Despite only a low bomb load, the G.IVs were used in particular for long-range bombing missions ( e.g. against the German Zeppelin halls in Belgium or industrial targets on the Rhine ).

In addition to the two-seater G.IVB.2 bomber version, the G.IVA.2 version of the Caudron was also used as a reconnaissance aircraft; an armored version G.4IB ("blindage" = armor) served as an attack aircraft for direct air support to the ground troops.

In 1916 the G.IV was gradually replaced by the improved Caudron G.VI at the Aéronautique Militaire . Increasing losses forced them to be used as night bombers, and finally the remaining aircraft were converted into training aircraft of the G.IVE.2 (E = "Enseignement") version with double controls.

In addition to the French Army, the British Naval Aviation Force (RNAS) and the Italian Aviation Corps introduced the G.IV, the latter had 51 aircraft manufactured by the Italian licensee AER, the former purchased twelve aircraft from the British Caudron Company at short notice until they were thrown by heavy handley -Page-O / 100 bombers. Other Caudron G.IVs went to the Romanian Air Corps , the Belgian Military Aviation , the Imperial Russian Air Fleet , the Finnish Air Force , the United States Army Air Service , the Portuguese Serviço Aeronáutico Militar and the Venezuelan and Colombian air forces .

Technical specifications

Parameter Data
crew 2
length 7.20 m
span 17.20 m
height 2.60 m
Wing area 38.00 m²
Empty mass 760 kg
Takeoff mass 1330 kg
Standard engine two air-cooled rotary motors Gnôme-Rhône or Anzani
Starting power 2 × 80 hp / 100 hp
Top speed 132 km / h in NN
Summit height 4300 m
Flight duration 3:30 h
Armament 1-2 MG 7.7 mm, approx. 100 kg bombs

See also

photos

  • Sketch of the Caudron G.IV

  • Recon G.IVA.2

  • G.IVA.2 during the reconnaissance flight

  • Student pilot in front of his G.IVE.2

  • Preparation for long-haul flight

  • Despite being hit by flak in the engine, this G.IV made it back to the French lines

  • Prey aircraft of the Turkish Air Force

  • AER-built Caudron G.IV at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Museum at Washington Airport

  • Observer cockpit with Lewis machine gun

  • Here the enormous wingspan of the G.IV in relation to the fuselage becomes clear

  • View of the wings and struts

literature

  • Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi: The planes. From the beginning to the First World War. Falken-Verlag, Wiesbaden 1976, ISBN 3-8068-0391-9 , ( Falken manual in color. )
  • Kenneth Munson: Bomber 1914–1918 , Orell, Füssli Verlag, Zurich
  • Karlheinz Kens / Hanns Müller: The aircraft of the First World War 1914-1918 , Heyne-Verlag, Munich 1980, ISBN 3-453-00404-3
  • Heinz Nowarra: The Development of Aircraft 1914–1918 , Munich 1959

Web links

Commons : Caudron G.4  - collection of images, videos and audio files