Gotha G.IV
| Gotha G.IV | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | bomber |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
1916 |
| Commissioning: |
March 1917 |
| Production time: |
1916/1917 |
| Number of pieces: |
230 |
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The Gotha G.IV was a twin-engine long-range bomber from the Gothaer Waggonfabrik , which was used by the German air force in the First World War .
history
The Gothaer Waggonfabrik had been building large aircraft since 1915, which were mainly used for long-range attacks in the strategic bomb squadrons of the Supreme Army Command .
development
Designer Hans Burkhard developed the aircraft from the Gotha G.III . He had covered the hull with plywood; in the case of ditching, this should keep the machine afloat for a while. The hull was now provided with a tunnel-like shaft that allowed the gunner to fire downwards. On some aircraft, a fourth machine gun was installed between the pilot and the bombardier for an additional gunner. Burkhard countered the lack of lateral stability on landing, which the G.III complained about, by adding additional ailerons to the lower wings. However, the flight performance was hardly improved compared to the G.III.
In November 1916 Gotha received an order for an initial 35 aircraft, which was increased to 50 in February 1917. Another 100 ordered the inspection of air troops (IdFlieg) from LVG and another 80 machines from Siemens-Schuckert -Werke. With the license manufacturers, the IdFlieg caused the fuselage to be reinforced even further. As this made the aircraft heavier and more tail-heavy, LVG changed the wing staggering; Siemens-Schuckert tried to take this into account with a series of changes; In a number of aircraft, for example, engines with a pull propeller arrangement were manufactured instead of the pusher propellers. Siemens made a further modification with the push-type chassis , in which an additional pair of wheels was attached to the two chassis mounted under the engine pods .
When the last G.IVs were manufactured by LVG and Siemens-Schuckert, they were no longer suitable for front use. They were therefore equipped with less powerful Opel Argus As III or NAG C.III engines and, due to the lack of material, partly with wooden wheels and used as training aircraft. Siemens installed the fuel tanks in the fuselage of the later Gotha GV.
War effort
The first Gotha G.IV were initially delivered to the Combat Squadron of Supreme Army Command 1 (Kagohl 1) in March 1917 , which was soon renamed Bomb Squadron (Bogohl) 3 and became known as the "England Squadron". Its squadrons flew strategic daytime attacks on London and southern England from May 1917 as part of Operation "Turk's Cross" and from September 1917 night attacks on London and southern England, when day operations were no longer possible due to the increased defensive measures and increasing losses. Additional tanks were later installed for long-distance operations. As an experiment, a 20 mm Becker cannon was also attached to a machine used as an attack aircraft to combat ground targets.
From the Gotha G.IV series manufactured by LVG, 40 units were equipped with Austrian 230 HP Hiero engines and Schwarzlose machine guns and were delivered to the kuk aviation troops (Austro-Hungarian Air Force) as kuk type series 08 by April 1918 . They were used on the Piavefront in Italy from April 1918 (on the Flik 101G, 102G and 103G).
In October 1917 the G.IV reached its greatest front strength with 50 aircraft. It was gradually replaced by the more powerful Gotha GV from September 1917 , but it remained in use until at least August 1918.
Post-war deployment
After the war Germany had to scrap its Gotha bombers due to the provisions of the Versailles Treaty .
A G.IV that was forced to land near Groningen in the Netherlands on August 18, 1917 was repaired and tested in Soesterberg. The aircraft was retired in 1919.
Polish troops found a damaged G.IV that had remained in Poznan and, after repairing it, used it in the 21st Eskadra Niszczycielska in the Polish-Soviet War from April 1920 until the aircraft had to be shut down in the summer of 1920 due to a lack of spare parts.
Further developments
The Gotha GV followed the G.IV in 1917 .
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 3-4 |
| length | 12.40 m |
| span | 23.70 m |
| height | 3.85 m |
| Wing area | 89.50 m² |
| payload | 1235 kg |
| Empty mass | 2400 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 3635 kg |
| Top speed | 140 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 5000 m |
| Range | 490 km |
| Flight duration | 3:30 h |
| Engines | two water-cooled six-cylinder in- line engines Mercedes D IVa with 260 hp each |
| Armament | 3-4 Parabellum MG 14 (7.92 mm), 500 kg bombs |
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).
- Reinhard Keimel : Austria's aircraft. History of aviation from its beginnings to the end of 1918 . Weishaupt-Verlag, Graz 1981, ISBN 3-900310-03-3 .
- 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 Airplanes 1914–1918 . Lehmanns, Munich 1959.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi: The aircraft. From the beginning to the First World War . Falken-Verlag, Wiesbaden 1976, ISBN 3-8068-0391-9 , ( Falken-Handbuch in color ), p. 271
- ↑ Kenneth Munson: Bomber. Surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft. 1914-1919 . Füssli, Zurich 1968, ( Aircraft of the World ), S106
- ↑ Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi: The aircraft. From the beginning to the First World War . Falken-Verlag, Wiesbaden 1976, ISBN 3-8068-0391-9 , ( Falken-Handbuch in color ), p. 271