O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)

Brandenburg C.C.
   Designed in 1916, initially for the Austrian Navy, the C.C. took its designation from the initials of Camilo Castiglioni, the financier behind the Brandenburg works. It was flown with great success by Lt. Banfield from the Austrian seaplane station at Pola. Some twenty-six machines were also supplied to the German Navy. These were fitted with 150 h.p. Benz engines, the Austrian machines having Hiero or Austro-Daimler power plants. The first machines were fitted with a single machine-gun; later twin guns were installed. Engine, 150 h.p. Benz Bz III. Span, 9.3 m. (30 ft. 6 1/8 in.). Length, 7.69 m. (25 ft. 2 3/4 in.). Height, 3.575 m. Area, 26.52 sq.m. (286 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 716 kg. (1,575 lb.). Loaded, 1,031 kg. (2,268 lb.). Speed, 175 km.hr. (109.375 m.p.h.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 5 min. Armament, one or two Spandau machine-guns.
   N.B. Data applies to batch "1137/1146".

W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

BRANDENBURG CC Germany

   Intended primarily for use by the Austro-Hungarian Navy, the CC single-seat fighter flying boat (the designation was derived from the initials of Camillo Castiglioni, the financier of the Hansa- und Brandenburgische Flugzeug-Werke) was a single-bay biplane of wooden construction which appeared in prototype form in mid-1916. Retaining the "star” interplane bracing strut arrangement introduced by the KD (D I), the CC was supplied to the Austro-Hungarian Navy with both the 160 hp Austro-Daimler and 180 hp Hiero six-cylinder water-cooled engines, armament consisting of a single 8-mm Schwarzlose machine gun projecting through the windscreen. A total of 37 fighter flying boats of this type was delivered to the service. The CC was also adopted by the German Navy, which received a total of 36, with deliveries commencing in February 1917. These were powered by the 150 hp Benz Bz III, the engines of some examples being semi-cowled. The CC initially carried an armament of one 7,92-mm LMG 08/15 machine gun, but late production examples had two such weapons fixed to fire forward in the upper decking of the hull nose, and the hull was lengthened to improve flying characteristics. In July 1917, the German Navy grounded the CC until all aircraft were provided with extra (Vee-type) interplane bracing struts to dampen severe wing vibration. The CC was employed extensively and with considerable success over the Adriatic by the Austro-Hungarian Navy. One example was completed experimentally as a triplane, the extra wing being placed at the intersection of the "star-struts”. It was delivered to the Austro-Hungarian Navy for evaluation on 11 May 1917, but was written-off in a landing accident on the following 19 September. One CC was modified and tested in the summer of 1918 as the W 22, with broad sponsons replacing the outrigger stabilising floats. This experimental model, which crashed during testing, was intended solely to evaluate the sponson concept as part of the Staaken Rs IV development programme.

Max speed, 109 mph (175 km/h).
Time to 3,280 ft (1 000 m), 4.8 min.
Range, 310 mis (500 km).
Empty weight, 1,764 lb (800 kg).
Loaded weight, 2,381 lb (1080 kg).
Span, 30 ft 6 1/8 in (9,30 m).
Length, 25 ft 2 3/4 in (7,69 m).
Height, 11 ft 8 1/2 in (3,57 m).
Wing area, 285.46 sqft (26,52 m2).

J.Herris German Seaplane Fighters of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 2)

Brandenburg CC

   The Brandenburg CC shared the star-strut wing design of the Brandenburg KDW. The star-strut design was stronger but slightly heavier than conventional bracing and eliminated the need for external bracing wires. The prototype and German production CC aircraft were powered by a 150 hp Benz Bz.III. The prototype had a single fixed gun for the pilot; production aircraft mounted two fixed guns and a frontal radiator. Like later KDW fighters that shared the star-strut bracing, additional interplane struts to stiffen the wingtips for improved aileron response were added to some CC fighters.
Although it was placed in production, with 35 built in addition to the prototype, German pilots did not consider the Type CC suitable for flying in Northern Europe, perhaps because as a flying boat it did not keep the pilot as far out of the cold water as floatplanes did. The Type CC did not serve very long in the German Navy and the aircraft were soon placed in storage.
   However, Camillo Castiglione, head of the Austro-Hungarian branch of Brandenburg and for whom the Type CC was named, was aware that the Austro-Hungarian Navy needed a fighter, and Castiglione gave them a Type CC powered by a 185 hp Austro-Daimler engine that was assigned serial number A.12. This aircraft was presented to naval ace Gottfried Banfield, CO of the Trieste Naval Air Station, who stated that it was the best single-seat naval fighter so far. The Austro-Hungarian Navy then purchased a dozen more Type CC aircraft, serials A.13 - A.24. These aircraft were supposed to be powered by 185 hp Hiero engines, although engine shortages meant the first four used the 160 hp Hiero.
   A second batch of two dozen aircraft, A.25 - A.48, to be powered by the 200 Hiero, was soon ordered. From A.31 on the aircraft featured a number of improvements, most notably mounting two fixed Schwarzlose machine guns and using an airfoil radiator instead of the previous car-type radiator. During production the fuselage was also lengthened for better directional stability. During the triplane craze one aircraft, A.45, was tested with a third wing mounted between the existing wings; climb was slightly improved but the additional weight and drag made it noticeably slower. The CC served successfully in the warmer waters of the Adriatic until replaced by the improved W.18.

Brandenburg CC Production
Marine Numbers Qty Notes
946 1 Prototype, 1 gun, frontal radiator
1137 - 1146 10 Two guns, airfoil radiator
1327 - 1351 25 Two guns, airfoil radiator

Specifications For Flying Boat Fighters
Type Brandenburg CC (German) Brandenburg CC (Austro-Hungarian) Brandenburg CC (Austro-Hungarian) Brandenburg W18 (Austro-Hungarian)
Engine 150 hp Benz Bz.III 185 hp Austro-Daimler 200 hp Hiero 230 hp Hiero
Span 9.50 m 9.3 m 9.3 m 10.7 m
Length 8.50 m 7.65 m 7.65 m 8.64 m
Wt. Empty 709 kg 716 kg 800 kg 812 kg
Wt. Loaded 989 kg 1,030 kg 1,030 kg 1,092 kg
Max. Speed 155 km/h 170 km/h 180 km/h 180 km/h
Climb to 1,000 m 5.5 min. 5 min. 4 min. 5 min.
Climb to 2,000 m 8.5 min. 11.2 min. - 11.2 min.
Climb to 3,000 m 23 min. - 16 min. 23.4 min.
Armament 1-2 guns 1 gun 1-2 guns 2 guns

C.Owers Hansa-Brandenburg Aircraft of WWI Vol.2: Biplane Seaplanes (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 18)

Type CC

   The German Navy displayed interest in a single seat flying boat that Brandenburg had designed for the "star-strut" interplane strut system and placed an order for a single example in May 1916, MN 946. The machine was given the designation Type CC,(11) after Camillo Castiglione the proprietor of the Brandenburg works. The 150-hp Benz Bz.III engine was mounted in pusher configuration high up under the top wing by steel tube struts that replaced the flying and landing wires. These struts were given wooden aerodynamic fairings. The radiator was mounted directly in front of the engine. The wings resembled those of the KD landplane, square cut with ailerons incorporating washout only on the upper wing. The wooden hull featured a single step and tapered to a vertical knife edge where was mounted the balanced rudder. The rectangular tailplane was mounted high above the fuselage by two metal struts on each side. A curved ply covered fin completed the tailplane. Small floats were suspended under the lower wing near the strut attachment points. Armament of the prototype was a single machine gun that protruded through the windscreen. Production machines had two machine guns mounted each side of the windscreen.
   Testing must have proved adequate as two batches for a total of 35 aircraft were ordered. Boats in the second production run had a longer and wider hull than the prototype. Later aircraft had an additional pair of struts to brace the upper wing overhand, thus negating any benefit of the star strut arrangement. It is assumed that his modification was retro-fitted to the surviving earlier CC boats, the same as was applied to the KDW fighters. Some later machines had the engine enclosed in an egg shaped cowling. German pilots did not like the type; the CC was tricky and even dangerous to fly and unsuited to North Sea conditions. They considered it unsuitable for northern waters and, like the KDW, the day of the "star-strutter" was over and the survivors of the 36 ordered were relegated to storage at the Hage navy depot.
   Castiglione now saw the opportunity of supplying the CC flying boat to the kuk Kriegsmarine, and made a gift of a special CC to Linienschiffsleutnant Gottfried Banfield.(12) This machine differed from the German model in that it was powered by a 185-hp Austro-Daimler rather than the 160-hp Benz. This machine was initially marked CC on the hull and was allocated the serial A12.(13) Banfield reportedly shot down an Italian Farman over the Sdobba Estuary only a week after he received the CC but this was not officially credited to the ace. He was credited with one victory while flying A12, a Caproni Ca.I on 3 December 1916, for his eighth official victory. Banfield recorded that two Caproni bombers, escorted by two Nieuports, approached Dottugliano and Sesana, northeast of Trieste, and he took off to engage.
   "I immediately took off in my new Brandenburg A12 seaplane fighter, the best single-seat naval fighter so far constructed, with a speed of about 200 kilometres per hour.
   "I attacked the first Caproni, which turned westward. I closed from 300 metres distance and began firing at 30 metres. Immediately injured by my fire, the rear machine gunner left his post. The enemy continued to fire, however, hitting my aircraft twice. Then the Caproni went into a dive and a half roll in the direction of Duino. The wreckage of the crashed airplane was later brought back to Trieste."
   The crew of four were all injured, two severely. The Caproni bore the serial 1233. All crew were injured, the gunner, caporale Oreste Castoldi, was killed in the encounter. The survivors were made POWs.(14)
   Known as KDW (Kampf Doppeldecker Wasser - Fighting Biplane Water) in Austro-Hungarian service (not to be confused with the German Brandenburg KDW floatplane fighter). Two batches of CC fighters were then ordered from Brandenburg by the kuk Kriegsmarine: A13-A24 on 21 October 1916, and A25-A48 on 1 November.
   Improvements were made to meet the requirements of the German and Austro-Hungarian Navies. An aerofoil type radiator replaced the car-type used on the early aircraft, the fuselage was slightly increased in length to improve directional stability, and the slight stagger was eliminated.
   The type was in action during the summer of 1917 in the North Adriatic. It proved capable of meeting the Italian Nieuport 11 biplanes and although not as manoeuvrable, was faster than its opponent. However by the end of the year their place was taken by the Brandenburg W.18, a machine with more kindly flying characteristics. One CC, A21, was still in service as late as October 1918 when the type was definitely withdrawn from service. A total of 19 CC biplanes was lost to accidents and only two to enemy action, statistics that point to the tricky flight characteristics of the little flying boat fighter.(15)
   Caught up in the triplane craze, Brandenburg produced a triplane version of the CC in 1918. The bottom wing was reduced in span and the new middle wing was even shorter in span and mounted from the junction of the "star struts" to the engine bearers. It carried the radiator in the upper wing, indicating it was based on a late model CC. The wing span is stated to be 9 m as against the 9.3 m of the biplane.(16) One source states that the hull was lengthened, but the dimension quoted is the standard 7.6 m. The motor was the 200-hp Hiero.(17) Given the serial A.45 it would have been received in May 1918 but was not a success and was abandoned by September. Statements that the triplane was a modification of an existing kuk Kriegsmarine boat rather than a new machine have not been confirmed; however, The Typenschau lists the triplane as the Phonix Dr.I..

(11) For some reason the CC was noted as an Ago aircraft in the Allied press, the Italians apparently calling the Austro- Hungarian fighter seaplane an Ago well before 1918. An article in L'Aerophile for 1-15 November 1918,contained an article with a drawing of the CC but termed an Ago flying boat. (See "Austrian Naval Aircraft", Cross & Cockade Journal, US,Vol.7 No.2, P.116.)
(12) In his autobiography Heinkel states that he designed the CC specifically for Banfield at Castiglioni's request.
(13) The A Class was developed as the K Class could not defend itself from the rear. It was realized that a single-seat fighter was required as escort. The last year of the war saw the fighter seaplanes replaced by landplane fighers, the Phonix D.I and D.II.
(14) Banfield, G. "Air War in the Adriatic - A Memoir of Gottfried von Banfield," translated by P. Kilduff. Cross & Cockade Journal, USA, Vol.14 No.1,1973. P.49.
(15) Ciglic, B. Seaplanes of Bocche, Jeroplanae Books, Serbia, 2014. P.64.
(16) Schupita, P. Diek.u.k. Seeflieger, Bernard & Graefe Verag, Austria, 1983. P.77.
(17) The Typenschau lists the triplane as having a 185-hp Austro-Daimler.


Type CC Orders for the German Navy
Marine No. Class Delivered Notes
946 E Feb 1916 Prototype.
1137 - 1146 E2MG April-May 1917
1327 - 1351 E2MG May-Aug. 1917 Extra interplane struts.


Brandenburg CC Specifications
Source Typenschau Brandenburg Typenschau Phonix KDW Gray & Thetford MN 1137 - 1146 SVK MN 946 SVK MN 1341 Brandenburg 3-View George Haddow Data
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 9.30 9.30 9.3 9.300 9.300 9.300 9.3
Span, Lower 8.74 8.74 - 8.740 8.740 8.740 8.74
Chord, Upper 1.650 - - 1.650 1.650 1.650 1.65
Chord, Lower 1.650 - - - 1.500 1.500 1.5
Gap - - - - - 2.000 2
Length 9.15 9.15 7.69 7.650 9.100 7.690 7.65
Hull Length 7.14 - - 7.140 8.450 7.14 -
Hull Width 1.00 - - - 1.000 - -
Height, m - - - - - - 3.2
Areas in m2
Wings 26.50 26.50 26.52 - - 26.52 26.5
Ailerons 1.80 - - - - 1.76 -
Elevators 1.15 - - - - 1.15 -
Rudder 0.54 - - - - - -
Weights in kg
Empty 801 801 716 - - 716 716
Loaded 1,081 1,081 1,031 - - 1,031 1,030
Performance
Speed in km/hr 160 160 175 - - - 170
Time to 800 m 4 minutes 4 minutes - - - -
Time to 1000 m 5 minutes - 5 minutes - - - 5 minutes
Time to 1500 m 8.5 minutes - - - - -
Time to 2000 m 13 minutes - - - - - 11.2 min.
Motor 160-hp Austro-Daimler 185-hp Austro Daimler - - - 150-hp Benz 185-hp Austro Daimler


Type CC Orders for the kuk Kriegsmarine
Serials Notes
A12 185-hp Austro-Daimler
A13 - A24 160-hp Hiero/180-hp Hiero/200-hp Hiero. A14 - A17 were fitted with 160-hp Hiero engines due to shortage of the 180-hp Hieros.
A25 - A48 200-hp Hiero/200-hp Austro-Daimler. From A31 on twin guns & improvements similar to German Navy requirements were added.
  


Type W.21 & W.22
  
   It is thought that this was an experimental machine to test the new hull but no data are available.These were projected flying boats with the 80-hp Oberursel rotary engine. Their tie in to Marine Numbers is unknown; however the use of the 80-hp rotary engine would indicate that these were in the Class Bu. A printed list "Hansa-Brandenburg, 1914-1919", source unknown, lists the W.21 as a reconnaissance aircraft, and the W.22 as a fighter flying boat with a 200-hp Hiero engine.


Type W.22
  
   It is thought that this was an experimental machine to test the new hull but no data are available.A Brandenburg flying boat identified as the W.22 was a single-seat pusher flying boat with the "star-strut" layout of the later CC boats with the additional V-struts supporting the wing overhang. What is unusual about this boat is the hull had oval-shaped sponsons each side. It is thought that the machine was an experiment to see what benefit the addition of sponsons would have to the flying boat. The machine may have been a modified CC but further details, including its Marine Number if it had one, are lacking. The following specifications have not been confirmed.(21) The W.22 has also been identified as a projected flying boat with the 80-hp Oberursel rotary engine and is discussed below.

(21) Specifications from Gutschow, F, Die Deutsch Flugboote, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuggart, 1978.

Type W.22 Specifications
Span upper/lower 9.30/8.75 m
Length 9.15 m
Weight 1170 kg
Speed 200 kph
Engine 200-hp Mercedes


Type W.31

   This is listed in Brandenburg records as a "Windtunnel Model" of a flying boat. Why this designation was applied to a model is not known. Brandenburg was developing a piloted model of a giant (R-Type) flying boat and this may have been the W.31.

M.Dusing German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 84)

Hansa und Brandenburgische Flugzeugwerke AG (Brand)

Aircraft Development:

<...>
  Heinkel‘s next aircraft was a single seat flying boat and as a tribute to Castiglioni it was given the designation “CC”. 36 of these aircraft were supplied to the Navy, all with Benz Bz.III engines of 150 hp.
<...>

E.Hauke, W.Schroeder, B.Totschinger Die Flugzeuge der k.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe und Seeflieger 1914-1918

Kampfflugboote
A.12. Type Brandenburg CC Dm 185
A.l3. - A.22. Type Brandenburg CC H 200
A.23. - A.25. Type Brandenburg CC H 200
A.26. Type Brandenburg CC FI 200
A.27. Type Brandenburg CC H 200
A.28. Type Brandenburg CC FI 200
A.29. - A.31. Type Brandenburg CC H 200
A.32. Type Brandenburg CC Dm 200
A.33. Type Brandenburg CC FI 200
A.34. Type Brandenburg CC H 200
A.35. Type Brandenburg CC II 200
A.36. - A.38. Type Brandenburg CC H 200
A.39. Type Brandenburg CC Dm 200
A.40. Type Brandenburg CC H 200
A.41. Type Brandenburg CC Dm 200
A.42. Type Brandenburg CC Dm 200
A.43. Type Brandenburg CC H 200
A.44. Type Brandenburg CC Dm 200
A.45. Type Brandenburg CC Dreidecker H 200
A.46. Type Brandenburg CC H 200
A.47. Type Brandenburg CC H 200
A.48. Type Brandenburg CC FI 200

Журнал Flight

Flight, January 17, 1918.

FROM OTHER LANDS.
AUSTRIAN AGO AND LOHNER FLYING BOATS.
("Aerial Age," U.S.A., from material supplied by the U.S.A. Government.)

   Two types of Austrian seaplanes which have fallen into the hands of the Italians during the present year, and regarded as worthy of special note, are the Ago and Lohner types. The Ago Sea-Pursuit Biplane described here and shown in the accompanying line drawing, bore the number "A-25"; it was captured May 18th, 1917. The Lohner-type flying boat (described later in this article) was brought down on the night of January 12th, 1917, and it was marked " K-301."

1.- The Ago Sea-Pursuit Biplane.
   In its general lines this machine does not differ much from all the flying boats of the Ago type. It does offer, however, features that are original and worthy of mention. Most striking is the structure of the wing cell in which no wires are employed.
   The wing cell may be considered as consisting of two cross-networks, each made up of a front spar and a rear spar and of adjacent struts in inclined planes connecting the spars, all converging toward the centre of the "star" located midway between upper and lower wings. The struts are of polished steel tubing with a fairing of laminated wood less than one mm. thick, providing a good streamlining effect.

General Dimensions.
   Span, upper plane 8.00 m
   Span, lower plane 7.38m
   Chord, both planes 1.50 m
   Gap between planes 1.65 m
   Length overall 7.62 m
   Length of hull 6.50 m
   Maximum width of hull 1.00 m
   Motor, Warschalowski 218 h.p
   Propeller, diameter 2.72 m

   No lists of weights or performances are obtainable. The accompanying sketch will give an idea of the appearance of the "A-25" in flight.
   Control cables to the ailerons pass close to the struts of the turret and lead to the upper plane. Each aileron is about 1.40 m. long and .40 m. wide.
   The construction solution of the hull, the great care with which the exposed parts have been shaped, the complete covering of the cables and control wires, and the streamline shape of the hull, all show a desire to cut down head resistances as much as possible. Similar care is shown in all details of construction to reduce to a minimum the weight of the machine without detriment to its strength.
   The hull is 6 1/2m. long; width at the step, .95 m.; maximum width, 1 m.; distance from bow to step, 3.45 m.; height of step, .16 m. The shape of the body with the necessary lining at the bow and because of a careful laying of the side and bottom plating approaches very much the shape of a solid body of fairly good streamline form. The wing floats are spaced 5 m. apart. They are of streamline section, with flat sides, attached to the planes by means of one forward strut and two rear struts, with cross wire bracing between the struts.
   The empennage or tail group is 2.38 m. in span, sustained in front by a vertical fin of very thin laminated wood, by two stays and two wire cables. Control wires of rudder flaps or elevators run through the fin. The rudder is 1.40 m. high by .80 m. wide.
   The data given out concerning the motor is as follows :- "Motor: Hiero Flugmotor, Osterr; Ind. Werke Warschalowski, Eissler & Co.; A-G 6 cylinders; type, HN1096. It develops 218 h.p. at 1,400 revolutions per minute. Weight 314 kilograms. It is equipped with Bosch magnetos and small starting magnetos. Propeller: 2:0 h.p.h. Hiero 6 cylinders; diameter, 2.72 m.; pitch, 2.25-2.40.