Gotha G.II
| Gotha G.II | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | bomber |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
March 1916 |
| Commissioning: |
Autumn 1916 |
| Production time: |
1916 |
| Number of pieces: |
14th |
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The Gotha G.II was a long-range bomber of the German air force in the First World War .
development
The Gotha Coach Factory had with the Gotha GI first produced a corresponding one of the new G-specification two-engine large aircraft in a small series already 1915th This draft was completely revised by the new designer Hans Burkhard coming from the Halberstädter Flugzeugwerke and designed in the version G.II as a two-handle biplane with two push-propeller motors. The fuselage, in which the GI was connected to the upper wing, was now conventionally placed on the lower wing, and accordingly the two motors were mounted laterally on the lower wings. After the predecessor GI had already had a fatal accident, in order to prevent the aircraft from overturning, the engines were now placed on two-axle landing gear each.
The aircraft should meet the military requirements of a long-range bomber, which should have sufficient load capacity and range to reach England with a bomb load of 300 kg. In addition to the observer and pilot, a second machine-gun stand was provided for an air gunner as a third crew member; an open corridor connected the three cockpits. The fuselage consisted of a canvas-covered oak frame that was stabilized crosswise with wire bracing; the bow was lined with plywood. The engines were supplied with fuel by means of a fall gasoline system via the tank mounted centrally above the upper wing. The bombs were hung under the fuselage and on its sides.
After the prototype had completed its maiden flight in March 1916, further modifications were made: the landing gear was reduced to one axle, the wings were supported by a further pair of three-legged struts and the vertical stabilizer was redesigned. A small series of ten aircraft (G.200 / 16 to G.209 / 16) were launched in this form, the first of which was delivered on April 25, 1916 and subjected to the prescribed type test by Idflieg. Further tests with the second machine followed in the summer, and so the first G.II did not reach the front until the beginning of autumn 1916.
commitment
The machines were used by the Combat Squadron of Supreme Army Command 1 (Kagohl 1) in Macedonia on the Balkan front . The reputation of the G.II suffered from the unreliability of the eight-cylinder in - line engines of the Mercedes D IV type , which tended to break the crankshaft. It also showed that the engine was too weak.
However, the area of operation made particularly tough demands on the aircraft: Large temperature differences, severe winters, rugged mountain ranges and poor infrastructure with long supply routes made deployment difficult.
A total of 14 type G.II aircraft were delivered. In October 1916 there were four aircraft at the front, but their number had dropped to three by December and one by April 1917. Then the aircraft disappeared from the operational inventory.
Further developments
The G.II was followed in 1917 by the Gotha G.III with improved motorization and finally the more successful G.IV and GV .
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 3 (pilot, observer, machine gunner) |
| span | 23.70 m (top) / 21.90 m (bottom) |
| length | 12.40 m |
| height | 4.30 m |
| Wing area | 89.5 m² |
| Empty weight | 2,182 kg |
| Takeoff weight | 3,192 kg |
| Engines | 2 × eight-cylinder in - line engines Mercedes D IV , each 220 hp |
| Top speed | 148 km / h in NN |
| Ascent time to 3,000 m | 28 min |
| Climbing time to 4,000 m | 41 min |
| Service ceiling | 5,000 m |
| Range | 700 km |
| Flight duration | 4 h |
| Armament | 450 kg bombs, 2 MG |
See also
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 ).
- Peter M. Grosz: The Gotha GI-GV Profile Publications, Leatherhead 1966, ( Profile Publications 115).
- Günter Kroschel, Helmut Stützer: The German military aircraft 1910-1918 . Lohse-Eissing, Wilhelmshaven 1977, ISBN 3-920602-18-8 .
- Kenneth Munson: Bomber. Surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. 1914-1919 . Füssli, Zurich 1968, ( Airplanes of the World ).
- Heinz Nowarra: The Development of Aircraft 1914-1918 . Lehmanns, Munich 1959.
