Gotha GV
| Gotha GV | |
|---|---|
.jpg)
|
|
| Type: | bomber |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
1917 |
| Commissioning: |
August 1917 |
| Production time: |
1917/1918 |
| Number of pieces: |
325, of which
|
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The Gotha GV 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.
development
The Gotha GV was the development of the Gotha G.IV . Designer Hans Burkhard now used more powerful engines and thus improved the payload and range of the bombers. Burkhard relocated the fuel tanks in the fuselage - the mounting of the tanks on the engines, which was practiced in the earlier types, meant that in the event of an overheated engine or a damaged tank, there was an extreme risk of fire. There were three suspension points for P&W bombs under the fuselage , and two more under each inner wing.
variants
From March 1918 the variants Gotha G.Va and Gotha G.Vb appeared . Compared to the general assembly, these had a shorter bow and a double-decker tail unit with double rudders, which improved the field of fire of the aviator to the rear. In addition, it was now possible to continue flight even if an engine failed, but only if the rudder was exactly in the airflow of the propeller during rigid straight flight. The G.Va also had a nose wheel under the fore fuselage for better landing. Both were produced in parallel and reached the front in the summer of 1918.
Further developments of the GV were the Gotha G.VI , the world's first aircraft with an asymmetrical fuselage arrangement, and the high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft and bombers Gotha G.VII and Gotha G.VIII with 260 hp Maybach engines, developed by the designer Rösner , the latter was also used by LVG as Gotha G.IX commissioned. Engineer Burkhard also designed such an aircraft type with the Gotha GX with 160 hp Mercedes engines: armored and heavily armed all-metal aircraft that were to be used again to fly day missions as far as England. Another variant was the Gotha GL.VII , a lighter version of the G.VII. These aircraft were no longer used at the front; After the war, Germany had to scrap its Gotha bombers due to the provisions of the Versailles Treaty .
commitment
The Gotha GV came to the bomb squadron of the Supreme Army Command in autumn 1917 . Like the G.IV, they were used for strategic bombing flights on long-range targets such as southern England, but with the start of the German spring offensive in 1918 mainly to support ground operations.
In April 1918 the GV reached its greatest front strength with 36 aircraft, after which it was gradually replaced by the G.Va and G.Vb, which were delivered for the first time that month.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | GV | G.Va | G.Vb |
|---|---|---|---|
| crew | 3-4 | ||
| length | 12.35 m | ||
| span | 23.70 m | ||
| height | 3.90 m | ||
| Wing area | 89.50 m² | ||
| payload | 1405 kg | 1205 kg | 600 kg |
| Empty mass | 2570 kg | 2740 kg | 2950 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 3975 kg | 3975 kg | 4550 kg |
| Top speed | 140 km / h | 135 km / h | |
| Rate of climb | 28 min at 3000 m altitude | ||
| Service ceiling | 6500 m | ||
| Range | 840 km | 810 km | |
| Flight duration | 6 h | ||
| Engines | two water-cooled six - cylinder in - line engines Mercedes D IVa each 260 PS (approx. 190 kW ) | ||
| Armament | 2-3 x 7.92 mm Parabellum MG , 350 kg bombs |
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See also
literature
- Piero Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi: The airplanes from the beginning to the First World War , Falken-Verlag, Wiesbaden 1976, ISBN 3-8068-0391-9 .
- Peter M. Grosz: The Gotha GI-GV Profile Publications, Leatherhead 1966.
- Karlheinz Kenns, Hanns Müller: The aircraft of the First World War 1914-1918 , Heyne-Verlag Munich 1973, ISBN 3-453-00404-3 .
- Günter Kroschel, Helmut Stützer: The German military aircraft 1910-18 , Wilhelmshaven 1977.
- Kenneth Munson: Bomber 1914-19 , Zurich 1968.
- Heinz Nowarra: The Development of Aircraft 1914-18 , Munich 1959.
Web links
- Description, photo and color profile on aviastar.org (Engl.)
- Gravesite of the fallen crew of a Gotha GV (979/16) in Staffordshire, Great Britain on denkmalprojekt.org
- Description and aircraft model on roden.eu (Engl.)