Книги
Centennial Perspective
C.Owers
Hansa-Brandenburg Aircraft of WWI. Volume 2 - Biplane Seaplanes
413
C.Owers - Hansa-Brandenburg Aircraft of WWI. Volume 2 - Biplane Seaplanes /Centennial Perspective/ (18)
The remains of K305 after it crashed during takeoff while piloted by Lschlt. Hugo Stenta, 25 April 1917. The hull is still fairly well intact, a tribute to the Brandenburg form of construction. Brandenburg CC A33 and Lohner TI L102 are in the background.
The supplying of a special aircraft to an "ace" was seen in other nations, but Banfield had a special fighter seaplane designed and built for him by Josef Mickl. A.11, the so called "Blue Bird," was unique and did not lead to series production though Banfield recommended this. Banfield remained at Trieste until the war's end. He had been severely injured in A.11 on 16 May 1917, but was ready to fly again after a month in hospital.
The unique Mickl A.11 "Bluebird" designed specifically for Gottfried Banfield after bring painted blue.
Among the flying boats Gottfried Banfield flew on operations is this one of a kind Oeffag H serial A.11. It is shown here at the Austro-Hungarian Trieste Naval Air Station in the summer of 1917. Banfield had it painted blue overall and it was subsequently known as the "Bluebird". Banfield liked the Oeffag H and urged its mass production, but that was not undertaken. It is on its beaching dolly and could be rolled directly to the water for takeoff from here.
Among the flying boats Gottfried Banfield flew on operations is this one of a kind Oeffag H serial A.11. It is shown here at the Austro-Hungarian Trieste Naval Air Station in the summer of 1917. Banfield had it painted blue overall and it was subsequently known as the "Bluebird". Banfield liked the Oeffag H and urged its mass production, but that was not undertaken. It is on its beaching dolly and could be rolled directly to the water for takeoff from here.
The Friedrichshafen floatplane on the end of the slipway has not had the lower wing crosses modified to the interim standard. There are two Brandenburg W.12 biplanes amongst these reconnaissance Friedrichshafens. MN 1403 is to the left and has only the fuselage crosses altered. MN 1401 on the right is presumed to be the same. (AHT AL0650-002)
A hard landing for MN 2094! It appears that the machine taxied into the seawall between the Helgoland launching ramps. Note the Friedrichshafen FF 49C biplanes in the background and the wooden wharf/slipway. Staffel number 3 is just behind the interim national insignia. There is an individual emblem on the rear fuselage of MN 2094. It lacks detail and may be the background for a detail emblem that has not been painted yet, or over-painting of a previous emblem. This machine had the early curved wing crosses at the time of this accident.
Type W
The Brandenburg W was a three-bay, two-seat floatplane with the pilot occupying the rear cockpit. The Type W, Heinkel's first seaplane design for Brandenburg, had been designed pre-war as a racing machine.(23) Previously the races had taken place on inland lakes. In 1912, an attempt had been made to have the race on the open sea; however, even the calm Baltic was too much for the aeroplane structures of the day, and, despite the wish of the Navy to hold the contest off the coast of the Baltic or the North Sea, the 1913 race was held on Lake Constance as the aeroplane manufacturers stated that they could not design types to meet the conditions to be expected on the high seas. In 1914 the race was going to again be attempted on the open sea as the Ostseeflug Warnemunde (Flight over the Baltic Sea at Warnemunde). Heinkel was sure he could develop a seaworthy floatplane using the Albatros B.II as the basis for the design. According to his autobiography Heinkel designed the machine in eight weeks. The Type W was at Warnemunde together with 26 other seaplanes for the competition as the Navy had promised a small contract for the successful seaplanes. AEG, Ago, Albatros, Aviatik, Brandenburg, Friedrichshafen, and Rumpler had entered aircraft in the competition. The commencement of the war meant the competition was abandoned. All 26 aeroplanes were impressed into German Navy service.
Of conventional construction this three-bay biplane was marked by its crude floats. These were 4.850 m long and 0.900 m wide with a single step. The wings had dihedral and a slight sweep-back. The 150-hp Benz Bz.II(24) engine was exposed with Hazet
side radiators mounted under the forward cockpit. The rectangular fuselage tapered to a vertical knife edge. An Avro type comma shaped rudder and tail float completed the fuselage.
After testing the prototype, the German Navy ordered a total of 23 machines as listed above. The type performed general duties and reconnaissance work.
(23) Although Heinkel's autobiography indicates it was a race, it appears that the contest was more towards a set of conditions for performance on the water and in the air.
(24) Gray &Thetford record the 150-hp Bz.III as the type's engine.
Brandenburg W Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Branden. 3-View
Dimensions in m
Span, m 10.70 10.700 10.700
Length, m 10.24 10.240 10.130
Wing Area 57.65 m2 57.85 m2
Empty Wt., kg 1,200 1,200 1,200
Loaded Wt., kg 1,830 1,830 1,830
Performance
Speed in km/hr 90 90
Motor 150-hp Maybach 150-hp Benz Bz.III 150-hp Benz
The Brandenburg W Production
Marine Numbers Engine Delivered Notes
57 - 58 150-hp Benz Dec 1914 57 was ex-Ostseeflug Nr.26. 58 was ex-Ostseeflug Nr.25 and was converted into a landplane 21 October 1914.
71 - 72 150-hp Benz Listed as Brandenburg in Atlas &. Typenschau but identified as Ago designs by P.M. Grosz.
116 140 hp Argus Listed as Brandenburg in Typenschau but Lohner according to P.M. Grosz
231 - 235 Bz.III Jun-Jul 1915 Class BFT.
260 - 263 Bz.III Jan 1915 - Feb 1916 Class B.
264 - 273 Mb.III Class B. 269 was captured by the Russians near Schlock.
422 - 423 Bz.III Aug-Sep 1915
484 Bz.III Listed as Brandenburg by Typenschau but Lohner Type T by P.M. Grosz.
The Brandenburg W was a three-bay, two-seat floatplane with the pilot occupying the rear cockpit. The Type W, Heinkel's first seaplane design for Brandenburg, had been designed pre-war as a racing machine.(23) Previously the races had taken place on inland lakes. In 1912, an attempt had been made to have the race on the open sea; however, even the calm Baltic was too much for the aeroplane structures of the day, and, despite the wish of the Navy to hold the contest off the coast of the Baltic or the North Sea, the 1913 race was held on Lake Constance as the aeroplane manufacturers stated that they could not design types to meet the conditions to be expected on the high seas. In 1914 the race was going to again be attempted on the open sea as the Ostseeflug Warnemunde (Flight over the Baltic Sea at Warnemunde). Heinkel was sure he could develop a seaworthy floatplane using the Albatros B.II as the basis for the design. According to his autobiography Heinkel designed the machine in eight weeks. The Type W was at Warnemunde together with 26 other seaplanes for the competition as the Navy had promised a small contract for the successful seaplanes. AEG, Ago, Albatros, Aviatik, Brandenburg, Friedrichshafen, and Rumpler had entered aircraft in the competition. The commencement of the war meant the competition was abandoned. All 26 aeroplanes were impressed into German Navy service.
Of conventional construction this three-bay biplane was marked by its crude floats. These were 4.850 m long and 0.900 m wide with a single step. The wings had dihedral and a slight sweep-back. The 150-hp Benz Bz.II(24) engine was exposed with Hazet
side radiators mounted under the forward cockpit. The rectangular fuselage tapered to a vertical knife edge. An Avro type comma shaped rudder and tail float completed the fuselage.
After testing the prototype, the German Navy ordered a total of 23 machines as listed above. The type performed general duties and reconnaissance work.
(23) Although Heinkel's autobiography indicates it was a race, it appears that the contest was more towards a set of conditions for performance on the water and in the air.
(24) Gray &Thetford record the 150-hp Bz.III as the type's engine.
Brandenburg W Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Branden. 3-View
Dimensions in m
Span, m 10.70 10.700 10.700
Length, m 10.24 10.240 10.130
Wing Area 57.65 m2 57.85 m2
Empty Wt., kg 1,200 1,200 1,200
Loaded Wt., kg 1,830 1,830 1,830
Performance
Speed in km/hr 90 90
Motor 150-hp Maybach 150-hp Benz Bz.III 150-hp Benz
The Brandenburg W Production
Marine Numbers Engine Delivered Notes
57 - 58 150-hp Benz Dec 1914 57 was ex-Ostseeflug Nr.26. 58 was ex-Ostseeflug Nr.25 and was converted into a landplane 21 October 1914.
71 - 72 150-hp Benz Listed as Brandenburg in Atlas &. Typenschau but identified as Ago designs by P.M. Grosz.
116 140 hp Argus Listed as Brandenburg in Typenschau but Lohner according to P.M. Grosz
231 - 235 Bz.III Jun-Jul 1915 Class BFT.
260 - 263 Bz.III Jan 1915 - Feb 1916 Class B.
264 - 273 Mb.III Class B. 269 was captured by the Russians near Schlock.
422 - 423 Bz.III Aug-Sep 1915
484 Bz.III Listed as Brandenburg by Typenschau but Lohner Type T by P.M. Grosz.
The Type W was a crude looking machine but reflected the state of the art at the time. The ungainly pontoons and two and a half bay bracing are noteworthy.
Type FB
The FB was Brandenburg and Heinkel's first flying boat and was used with success by the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the Adriatic. The German Navy was not an enthusiastic supporter of the flying boat and preferred floatplanes; however, they ordered six of the Class C flying boats (MN 511-516). The FB was a large machine with a crew of two or three, two in the main cockpit back in line with the wings while the observer in the bow cockpit had a Parabellum machine gun for defence. The upper wing had a large overhang that was supported by an additional pair of struts that came from the base of the interplane struts. The square tipped planes were swept back and staggered. The single 165-hp Austro-Daimler engine was mounted in pusher configuration supported by a system of V-struts. The rudder was rhomboidal in shape and mounted half below and half above the tailplane. The tailplane was suspended above the hull by a two forward struts and the rudder post. A triangular fin was mounted on top of the tailplane. The elevator was in two pieces. Small floats were suspended under the lower wing.
Designed for maritime patrol work, they were known as Lohner flying boats in the German Navy.
FB boat MN 513 was based at Angernsee Seeflugstation where it was used with a number of Friedrichshafen FF33 floatplanes in attacks against the Russians. MN 513, together with Friedrichshafen MN 659, was involved in the shooting down of a Russian M.9 flying boat on 4 July 1916. It appears that it was the only Brandenburg flying boat operated by the station that also operated the Brandenburg GW torpedo aircraft.
Ltn.d.RMA Friedrich Christiansen flew an FB, MN 516, at Zeebrugge that he named Klar Kimming and this was painted on the bow. The FB could operate in the winter when snow and ice prevented other air activity, the FB boats patrolling the areas where the German minesweepers conducted an endless campaign in trying to keep channels open to allow U-boats access to the North Sea. In a May 1917 return of aircraft all six of the FB boats were still in German Naval service.
The kuk Kriegsmarine ordered an FB from Brandenburg that was delivered to Pola and received the number K184. It was almost identical with the German prototype MN 511.(2) The type was ordered from UFAG after a number of modifications were carried out to suit the Navy's requirements. The outer parallel interplane struts supporting the wing overhang were replaced by a vee-strut. The fin and rudder were replaced by a completely new design that was connected to the top of the hull. The engine was now a 175-hp Rapp with a different radiator built in Austro-Hungary. The UFAG version could carry a bomb load up to 200 kg.
The type was ordered from UFAG in seven batches commencing with K168 - K175 ordered before the delivery of the German-built K184. The type had a good performance and proved popular. A second batch, K176 - K173, was ordered on 28 July 1917. K233 saw further modifications introduced with a new tailplane and more powerful engines. The last batch, K251 - K262, was never delivered.
K222 was captured off Brindisi on 11 August 1917. The machine was described as a "Capa Flying Boat"(3) and was equipped with a 160-hp Austro-Daimler engine No. 7139. The pilot stated that the "engine gives about 200 hp." Two magnetos were fitted but were thrown overboard when capture was certain. The propeller was of ash and mahogany with alternate laminations (diameter 275, pitch 210).
Two main fuel tanks were located in the hull under the centre section and occupied the full breadth of the boat. A gravity/emergency tank was let into the upper wing centre section. The pilot stated that the machine had an endurance of six hours and a speed of 150 km/hr.
The front cockpit had a typical German circular gun mounting. "To assist the observer to climb from beside the pilot to the gunner's seat, a strong handle is fitted in the middle of the boat and half of the windscreen in front of the observer is detachable."
Bombs were carried on the sides of the hull under the planes. "The pilot stated he carried one 150-kg bomb on the port side, and one 50-kg bomb and one 25-kg bomb on the starboard side." The machine gun and ammunition and Very pistol had been thrown overboard.
The main planes had been torn from the boat and were very badly crumpled up. The wingtip floats were of unusual shape "the nose being covered with paper-mache." The interplane struts were large steel tubes streamlined by a light wooden framework covered with fabric. The struts holding the engine bearers were streamlined by three-ply wood fairings. "The fabric used is reported to be of excellent quality. The lack of copper was very noticeable."(4)
A total of 66 Brandenburg (UFAG) FB flying boats entered service with the kuk Kriegsmarine. Although this may seem a small number when compared with the attrition of machines involved in the land war, this was a substantial number for a fighting flying boat.
The UFAG-built K248 was one of two K-boats taken to the US after the war. K248 received Bureau No. A-5807. Its condition merited a Trouble Report of 16 September 1920, but the problems with the boat are not recorded. It was shipped to the Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) on 20 December 1920, arriving in the following January. On 11 September 1920, the NAF reported that there was a hole about one foot square staved in the forward part of the bottom of the hull. The forward bulkhead was stove in. Ribs were broken in both upper and lower left wings. The cause of the trouble was not clearly evident. It was requested that it be repaired at the NAF. On completion of repairs it was to be sent to Hampton Roads for trials. It was flown to Anacostia in March 1921 before being shipped to Hampton Roads later that month. After trials, if any, it was placed into storage at Hampton Roads where it was subject to a Trouble Report of 6 February 1924. While it was reported to be in a fair condition, it was disassembled with the engine and instruments removed. Experiments and study were now completed with the machine in storage awaiting disposition. It was considered to be of no further use and it was recommended that the hull and wings be burnt but the engine and instruments be salvaged. A-5087 was stricken on 15 March 1924. No thought was given to preserving one of these flying boats.
(2) G. Haddow speculates that K184 may well have been MN 511 given the German Navy's little liking for flying boats.
(3) Allied intelligence was usually very well informed; however, it appears that in this case the nick-name for the Brandenburg was accepted as the official name for the flying boat. In Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft for 1920 K222 is described as a "Kappa"flying boat.
(4) UKNA AIR1/716/27/19/32.
Kuk Kriegsmarine Type FB (UFAG Type K) Orders & Production
Serials Delivered Notes
K184 9 July 1916 From Brandenburg, same as German prototype except for wingtip floats.
K168 - K175 Autumn 1916 175-hp Rapp.
K176 - K183 October-December 1916 175-hp Rapp. K177 - K179 160-hp Mercedes
W.20 Experimental submarine borne flying boat.
K200 Serial assigned to Weichmann flying boat. Incorrectly marked?
K203 - K212 December 1916 - January 1917 185-hp Austro-Daimler.
K213 - K224 January-February 1917 160-hp Austro-Daimler.
K225 - K232 May-June 1917 165-hp Austro-Daimler.
K233 - K247 August 1918 200-hp Hiero. Redesigned tailplane.
K248 - K250 230-hp Hiero. K248 to USA post-war.
K251 - K262 Order for 12 in September 1918, never delivered.
Brandenburg FB Specifications
Source Typenschau Brandenburg* Gray & Thetford Brandenburg SVK MN 511-516 Brandenburg G. Haddow Data UFAG
Span, m 16.00/10.00 16.0 16.000/10.000 16
Chord, Upper, m 1.90 - 1.900 -
Chord, Lower, m 1.83 - - -
Length, m 10.18 10.105 10.200 10.185
Height, m - - 3.600 -
Areas in m2
Wings 16.00/10.00 16.0 16.000/10.000 16
Ailerons 1.90 - 1.900 -
Elevators 1.83 - - -
Rudder 10.18 10.105 10.200 10.185
Weights in kg
Empty 1,140 1,140 1,033 1,100
Loaded 1,620 1,620 1,693 1,680
Performance
Speed in km/hr 140 140 - 155
Time to 800 m 8.5/9.5 minutes - 9.5 minutes -
Time to 1000 m 12.5 minutes 8.5 minutes 12.5 minutes 7.3 minutes
Time to 1500 m 16 minutes - 16 minutes -
Time to 2000 m 22 minutes - 22 minutes -
Endurance - - - 6 hours
Motor 100-hp Mercedes 100-hp Mercedes 100-hp Mercedes See Production
* The Typenschau does not list the UFAG-modified Type FB.
The FB was Brandenburg and Heinkel's first flying boat and was used with success by the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the Adriatic. The German Navy was not an enthusiastic supporter of the flying boat and preferred floatplanes; however, they ordered six of the Class C flying boats (MN 511-516). The FB was a large machine with a crew of two or three, two in the main cockpit back in line with the wings while the observer in the bow cockpit had a Parabellum machine gun for defence. The upper wing had a large overhang that was supported by an additional pair of struts that came from the base of the interplane struts. The square tipped planes were swept back and staggered. The single 165-hp Austro-Daimler engine was mounted in pusher configuration supported by a system of V-struts. The rudder was rhomboidal in shape and mounted half below and half above the tailplane. The tailplane was suspended above the hull by a two forward struts and the rudder post. A triangular fin was mounted on top of the tailplane. The elevator was in two pieces. Small floats were suspended under the lower wing.
Designed for maritime patrol work, they were known as Lohner flying boats in the German Navy.
FB boat MN 513 was based at Angernsee Seeflugstation where it was used with a number of Friedrichshafen FF33 floatplanes in attacks against the Russians. MN 513, together with Friedrichshafen MN 659, was involved in the shooting down of a Russian M.9 flying boat on 4 July 1916. It appears that it was the only Brandenburg flying boat operated by the station that also operated the Brandenburg GW torpedo aircraft.
Ltn.d.RMA Friedrich Christiansen flew an FB, MN 516, at Zeebrugge that he named Klar Kimming and this was painted on the bow. The FB could operate in the winter when snow and ice prevented other air activity, the FB boats patrolling the areas where the German minesweepers conducted an endless campaign in trying to keep channels open to allow U-boats access to the North Sea. In a May 1917 return of aircraft all six of the FB boats were still in German Naval service.
The kuk Kriegsmarine ordered an FB from Brandenburg that was delivered to Pola and received the number K184. It was almost identical with the German prototype MN 511.(2) The type was ordered from UFAG after a number of modifications were carried out to suit the Navy's requirements. The outer parallel interplane struts supporting the wing overhang were replaced by a vee-strut. The fin and rudder were replaced by a completely new design that was connected to the top of the hull. The engine was now a 175-hp Rapp with a different radiator built in Austro-Hungary. The UFAG version could carry a bomb load up to 200 kg.
The type was ordered from UFAG in seven batches commencing with K168 - K175 ordered before the delivery of the German-built K184. The type had a good performance and proved popular. A second batch, K176 - K173, was ordered on 28 July 1917. K233 saw further modifications introduced with a new tailplane and more powerful engines. The last batch, K251 - K262, was never delivered.
K222 was captured off Brindisi on 11 August 1917. The machine was described as a "Capa Flying Boat"(3) and was equipped with a 160-hp Austro-Daimler engine No. 7139. The pilot stated that the "engine gives about 200 hp." Two magnetos were fitted but were thrown overboard when capture was certain. The propeller was of ash and mahogany with alternate laminations (diameter 275, pitch 210).
Two main fuel tanks were located in the hull under the centre section and occupied the full breadth of the boat. A gravity/emergency tank was let into the upper wing centre section. The pilot stated that the machine had an endurance of six hours and a speed of 150 km/hr.
The front cockpit had a typical German circular gun mounting. "To assist the observer to climb from beside the pilot to the gunner's seat, a strong handle is fitted in the middle of the boat and half of the windscreen in front of the observer is detachable."
Bombs were carried on the sides of the hull under the planes. "The pilot stated he carried one 150-kg bomb on the port side, and one 50-kg bomb and one 25-kg bomb on the starboard side." The machine gun and ammunition and Very pistol had been thrown overboard.
The main planes had been torn from the boat and were very badly crumpled up. The wingtip floats were of unusual shape "the nose being covered with paper-mache." The interplane struts were large steel tubes streamlined by a light wooden framework covered with fabric. The struts holding the engine bearers were streamlined by three-ply wood fairings. "The fabric used is reported to be of excellent quality. The lack of copper was very noticeable."(4)
A total of 66 Brandenburg (UFAG) FB flying boats entered service with the kuk Kriegsmarine. Although this may seem a small number when compared with the attrition of machines involved in the land war, this was a substantial number for a fighting flying boat.
The UFAG-built K248 was one of two K-boats taken to the US after the war. K248 received Bureau No. A-5807. Its condition merited a Trouble Report of 16 September 1920, but the problems with the boat are not recorded. It was shipped to the Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) on 20 December 1920, arriving in the following January. On 11 September 1920, the NAF reported that there was a hole about one foot square staved in the forward part of the bottom of the hull. The forward bulkhead was stove in. Ribs were broken in both upper and lower left wings. The cause of the trouble was not clearly evident. It was requested that it be repaired at the NAF. On completion of repairs it was to be sent to Hampton Roads for trials. It was flown to Anacostia in March 1921 before being shipped to Hampton Roads later that month. After trials, if any, it was placed into storage at Hampton Roads where it was subject to a Trouble Report of 6 February 1924. While it was reported to be in a fair condition, it was disassembled with the engine and instruments removed. Experiments and study were now completed with the machine in storage awaiting disposition. It was considered to be of no further use and it was recommended that the hull and wings be burnt but the engine and instruments be salvaged. A-5087 was stricken on 15 March 1924. No thought was given to preserving one of these flying boats.
(2) G. Haddow speculates that K184 may well have been MN 511 given the German Navy's little liking for flying boats.
(3) Allied intelligence was usually very well informed; however, it appears that in this case the nick-name for the Brandenburg was accepted as the official name for the flying boat. In Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft for 1920 K222 is described as a "Kappa"flying boat.
(4) UKNA AIR1/716/27/19/32.
Kuk Kriegsmarine Type FB (UFAG Type K) Orders & Production
Serials Delivered Notes
K184 9 July 1916 From Brandenburg, same as German prototype except for wingtip floats.
K168 - K175 Autumn 1916 175-hp Rapp.
K176 - K183 October-December 1916 175-hp Rapp. K177 - K179 160-hp Mercedes
W.20 Experimental submarine borne flying boat.
K200 Serial assigned to Weichmann flying boat. Incorrectly marked?
K203 - K212 December 1916 - January 1917 185-hp Austro-Daimler.
K213 - K224 January-February 1917 160-hp Austro-Daimler.
K225 - K232 May-June 1917 165-hp Austro-Daimler.
K233 - K247 August 1918 200-hp Hiero. Redesigned tailplane.
K248 - K250 230-hp Hiero. K248 to USA post-war.
K251 - K262 Order for 12 in September 1918, never delivered.
Brandenburg FB Specifications
Source Typenschau Brandenburg* Gray & Thetford Brandenburg SVK MN 511-516 Brandenburg G. Haddow Data UFAG
Span, m 16.00/10.00 16.0 16.000/10.000 16
Chord, Upper, m 1.90 - 1.900 -
Chord, Lower, m 1.83 - - -
Length, m 10.18 10.105 10.200 10.185
Height, m - - 3.600 -
Areas in m2
Wings 16.00/10.00 16.0 16.000/10.000 16
Ailerons 1.90 - 1.900 -
Elevators 1.83 - - -
Rudder 10.18 10.105 10.200 10.185
Weights in kg
Empty 1,140 1,140 1,033 1,100
Loaded 1,620 1,620 1,693 1,680
Performance
Speed in km/hr 140 140 - 155
Time to 800 m 8.5/9.5 minutes - 9.5 minutes -
Time to 1000 m 12.5 minutes 8.5 minutes 12.5 minutes 7.3 minutes
Time to 1500 m 16 minutes - 16 minutes -
Time to 2000 m 22 minutes - 22 minutes -
Endurance - - - 6 hours
Motor 100-hp Mercedes 100-hp Mercedes 100-hp Mercedes See Production
* The Typenschau does not list the UFAG-modified Type FB.
Brandenburg FB K170: UFAG built with Rapp 175-hp motor, taken on charge 20.03.17. Written off due enemy action 03.10.17
Brandenburg FB K216: Powered by 185-hp Austro-Daimler; it survived from April 1917 to August 1918 when its age and condition saw it written off.
Further views of prototype Brandenburg FB MN 511. These views show the prototype as first built, with small rudder without horn balance.
The prototype Brandenburg FB displays the MN 511 in small numerals on the rear of the hull. This photograph is thought to show the machine after the rudder was modified to add a horn balance, (via AHT AL0354-078)
The Hansa-Brandenburg FB is yet another example of buying small numbers of many types. In this case, the navy purchased six only of this 150hp Benz Bz III powered two seat flying boat reconnaissance scout. Essentially a German-built version of the Lohner scouting flying boats, the performance details of the FB are lost, but its overall capability must have been close to that of the Lohner Type L.
The Hansa-Brandenburg FB is yet another example of buying small numbers of many types. In this case, the navy purchased six only of this 150hp Benz Bz III powered two seat flying boat reconnaissance scout. Essentially a German-built version of the Lohner scouting flying boats, the performance details of the FB are lost, but its overall capability must have been close to that of the Lohner Type L.
Ltn.d.RMA Friedrich Christiansen's Brandenburg FB MN 516 Klar Kimming on the crane at Zeebrugge. Note the canvas bag on the Parabellum machine gun to catch spent shells and prevent them being carried back into the propeller. (via AHT AL0444-232 from the album of F.Christiansen)
Officers Lehr (left) and Bachmann pose with a Brandenburg FB. Note the emblem and the name ERNY painted on the nose of the hull. This FB has a cross to the forward fuselage. A close examination of the photograph reveals much detail.
K184 in flight. This is the Brandenburg-constructed FB that was delivered to the kuk Kriegsmarine. It is almost exactly the same as the German prototype.
UFAG constructed a modified version of the FB for the kuk Kriegsmarine. K170 of the first batch photographed at Puntisella Seeflugstation in the Summer of 1917, displays the vee-struts that supported the wing overhang rather than the parallel struts of the German-built FB boats. The fin is now built to attach directly to the hull. While defending Pola from air attack, K170 was shot down on 2 October 1917. The crew of Lucie and Achatz were both killed.
K175 was the last boat of the first order for eight. These were delivered in the autumn of 1916. K175 was taken into service 2 April 1917 at Sabencico. This machine survived to receive late-war style national markings.
The sad remains of K177 being recovered after the boat crashed during an emergency landing at Durazzo on 7 April 1918.
K178 with its intrepid crew. Note the large bag for spent shells on the Schwarzlose machine gun.The extreme inboard marking of the lower wing crosses with their black outline is well displayed. K178 entered service at Kumbor on 1 December 1916 and was powered by a 160-hp Mercedes engine.
A poor quality photograph of K178 on the water; however, the machine was crewed by Frglt. Ottakar Holoubeck, Lt.d.Res. Anton Csonka and an unknown crewman, who claimed a submarine sunk 25 miles west of Rondoni after their attack of 3 June 1918.
K203 was the first machine of the third batch (K203 - K212) ordered from UFAG on 24 October 1916. The upper hull decking has been removed for maintenance. The frame on the hull under the lower wing is a bomb rack. K203 was lost due to enemy action south of the Piave River on 14 August 1917.
The crew of K206 display bombs that the machine would carry. The UFAG K boats were active in bombing Italian cities and shipping centers.
K216 displays the national markings on the lower surface of the upper wing. This machine was from the fourth batch (K213 - K224) ordered on 2 December 1916. With an 185-hp Austro-Daimler engine, K216 was accepted for service at Pola on 23 August 1917, but was written off six days later.
The remains of K222.This boat entered service on 8 April 1917 at Kumbor.The crew of Engel and Kriewallner were captured by the Italians when they were forced down following an attack on Brindisi on 11 August 1917. Found by an Italian MTB, the crew were made POWs and the flying boat was towed back to Brindisi with the end result illustrated here.
Construction of Brandenburg FB boats at the UFAG factory. K223 can be identified. Note how the hulls are completed working from right to left.
K225 has the national markings on the upper surface of the lower wing. This photograph shows well the tailplane divided into red-white-red segments. The engine was a 165-hp Austro-Daimler.
The Italians recovered the remains of K228 after it was brought down during a night raid on Venice on 14 August 1917.
K230 after crashing on a rocky beach on 31 August 1917, when taking off from Puntisella.This machine was from the batch K225 - K232.
Two views of K233, the first FB built by UFAG to have the 200-hp Hiero engine.The tail has been changed similar to the German examples of the FB. These photos were taken 31 August 1918.
UFAG-built K248 at Anacostia, 24 March 1921. This machine was reconditioned by the US Naval Aircraft Factory, Philadelphia, to bring it to flying condition. The modified tailplane of this batch is well shown. As Bureau No. A-5807 it was painted in the standard USN color scheme of US Navy grey overall with the star in circle national markings. To date it has not proved possible to unearth the USN report on this boat.
Type LW
The LW equi-span reconnaissance floatplane was constructed for the German Navy in 1915. Only three LW biplanes were built receiving Marine Numbers 477 (CBMG Class), 485 (B Class) and 571 (C Class), and were delivered in August 1916. The LW featured inward sloping interplane struts on its two-bay wings, a feature to be reproduced on many Heinkel designs, and bore a resemblance to the C.I reconnaissance biplane Heinkel designed for Austro-Hungary. This arrangement together with the float bracing struts enabled the first bay to be devoid of bracing cables. Heinkel states that the LW was a more simple machine than the NW in order to allow it to carry a machine gun. The floatplane was equipped with a single Parabellum machine gun with 500 rounds for the observer who sat behind the pilot.
Although only three were commissioned in the Navy, Heinkel's statement that it served as a "reasonably satisfactory armed seaplane at the front" has elements of truth. LW MN 477 and two floatplanes, NW MNs 487 and 521, of SFA 1 attacked Britain on the night of 19/20 May 1916.(30) The British recorded 59 of the 90 10-kg bombs that the Germans claimed as having been dropped during the raid. NW 521 was attacked near Calais on the return flight but arrived back safely. One person was killed and two injured during the raid.
LW MN 571, also from Zeebrugge, claimed a Short seaplane in flames and a second one forced to alight as well as driving off a Short Baby (possibly a Sopwith Baby escort) on 1 October 1916, but crashed on the 17th while on a test flight, injuring the crew.(31)
(30) According to Cole and Chessman the raid was carried out by three Friedrichshafen FF33, three Brandenburg NW, and the Gotha Ursinus UWD floatplanes.
(31) This section written mainly from "The Hornets of Zeebrugge," Cross & Cockade, Vol. 11, No.1,1970, PP. 9-12.
Brandenburg LW Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Branden. 3-View*
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 12.40 12.4 12.400
Span, Lower 12.40 - 12.400
Length, m 9.50 9.5 9.500
Chord, m - - 1.800
Wing Area 42.60 m2 42.6 m2 -
Empty Wt., kg 994 994 994
Loaded Wt., kg 1,555 1,555 1,555
Performance
Speed in km/hr 131 130 -
Time to 1000 m - 12 min 12 min
Motor 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes D.III -
* Marine Number 571
The LW equi-span reconnaissance floatplane was constructed for the German Navy in 1915. Only three LW biplanes were built receiving Marine Numbers 477 (CBMG Class), 485 (B Class) and 571 (C Class), and were delivered in August 1916. The LW featured inward sloping interplane struts on its two-bay wings, a feature to be reproduced on many Heinkel designs, and bore a resemblance to the C.I reconnaissance biplane Heinkel designed for Austro-Hungary. This arrangement together with the float bracing struts enabled the first bay to be devoid of bracing cables. Heinkel states that the LW was a more simple machine than the NW in order to allow it to carry a machine gun. The floatplane was equipped with a single Parabellum machine gun with 500 rounds for the observer who sat behind the pilot.
Although only three were commissioned in the Navy, Heinkel's statement that it served as a "reasonably satisfactory armed seaplane at the front" has elements of truth. LW MN 477 and two floatplanes, NW MNs 487 and 521, of SFA 1 attacked Britain on the night of 19/20 May 1916.(30) The British recorded 59 of the 90 10-kg bombs that the Germans claimed as having been dropped during the raid. NW 521 was attacked near Calais on the return flight but arrived back safely. One person was killed and two injured during the raid.
LW MN 571, also from Zeebrugge, claimed a Short seaplane in flames and a second one forced to alight as well as driving off a Short Baby (possibly a Sopwith Baby escort) on 1 October 1916, but crashed on the 17th while on a test flight, injuring the crew.(31)
(30) According to Cole and Chessman the raid was carried out by three Friedrichshafen FF33, three Brandenburg NW, and the Gotha Ursinus UWD floatplanes.
(31) This section written mainly from "The Hornets of Zeebrugge," Cross & Cockade, Vol. 11, No.1,1970, PP. 9-12.
Brandenburg LW Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Branden. 3-View*
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 12.40 12.4 12.400
Span, Lower 12.40 - 12.400
Length, m 9.50 9.5 9.500
Chord, m - - 1.800
Wing Area 42.60 m2 42.6 m2 -
Empty Wt., kg 994 994 994
Loaded Wt., kg 1,555 1,555 1,555
Performance
Speed in km/hr 131 130 -
Time to 1000 m - 12 min 12 min
Motor 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes D.III -
* Marine Number 571
LW Marine Number 571. Note the machine gun mount in the rear cockpit and the slinging cable on the top wing center section.
LW MN 571. Note the machine gun mount in the rear cockpit and the slinging cable on the top wing centre section.
Type NW
The first Brandenburg designed as a warplane was the NW, a two-seat reconnaissance floatplane that could be fitted with radio in the Navy BFT Class of aircraft. The type was a marked improvement over the W and showed the continuing influence of Heinkel's pre-war three-bay Albatros floatplanes. The NW was a large floatplane with slight sweep back to the wings. The floats were an improvement over those fitted to the Type W and had a single step. The radiator for the engine was carried on the centre section struts being mounted in front of the upper wing. The observer occupied the front cockpit under the wings. A total of 60 were supplied to the German Navy during 1915, including a batch of 30 built by Gotha under licence. Some were fitted to carry up to ten 5-kg bombs for use against enemy vessels.(25) Initially the Benz Bz.III engine was proposed for the batch MN 601 - 608 but the 160-hp Mercedes D.III was installed in all batches.
The first four were assigned in early 1916 to bases at Borkum, Norderney and Heligoland. This dispersal says much for the state of the German Navy's aeronautical efforts prior to and during the early days of the war.
The NW was used for daylight raids on the English coast, participating alone or in company with other aircraft. Attacks took place on 9 and 20 February, 19 March, 3 May 1916. The War Diary of Zeebrugge recorded that NW. MN 521, along with the Gotha UWD MN 120, Friedrichshafen FF33B MN 457; FF33E MNs 473 and 547, and FF33F MN 537, of See Flieger Abteilung 1 carried out an attack on Sunday, 19 March 1916. The machines bombed Dover, Deal, and Ramsgate. Fourteen people were killed and considerable damage caused. The CO of Zeebrugge, Oberleutenant-zur-See von Tschirschsky und Bogendorff, led the raid in Christiansen's usual Brandenburg. This machine and another were forced down at sea and narrowly escaped destruction.
Dover received no warning of a raid and the RNAS station knew of it when a bomb exploded in the town. None of the four aircraft from the RFC, Dover, saw the enemy. The RNAS launched 24 aircraft, three of which suffered forced landings. Friedrichshafen MN 537 was engaged by a Nieuport 10 from Detling piloted by Flt. Cdr. R.J. Bone. Bone, the CO of Detling, had predicted the likelihood of a raid and, having fully loaded his ammunition, flew to Westgate where he waited with a thermos of coffee and sandwiches. He followed the seaplane towards the Belgium coast and after a 40-minute chase attacked. He was met by the observer's fire but sent the Friedrichshafen down with the propeller stopped and the engine smoking. Not having enough petrol to follow, he returned and a Short seaplane was sent out to bomb the enemy machine that was last seen on the water, but discovered nothing. The machine had been towed back to base.(26)
The Brandenburg NW was attacked by an RFC F.E.2b piloted by 2nd Lt. Reginald Collins with Flt. Sgt. Alfred Emery as observer. Collins was flying the new machine to France and when he noticed the defender's fire on the attacking seaplanes, he placed himself in a position to cut off their retreat. Attacking from above and behind he gained to within 150 yards behind the Brandenburg that had not seen him and Emery opened fire. The NW went into a steep right-hand spiral with steam streaming from its engine. The F.E.2b then lost sight of their victim. Collins attack had wounded the pilot and damaged the radiator. Von Tschirschky climbed out onto the wing and fixed the leaking radiator with his handkerchief and insulation tape, enabling the machine to stay in the air and they eventually came down about 20 miles from Ostende. Further repairs were effective as they managed to take off again and reached Zeebrugge.(27)
On 24 April 1916, NW seaplanes MNs 487 and 521 are recorded as being amongst six seaplanes that bombed ships in the Channel. On the night of 19/20 May 1916, LW MN 477 together with two NW floatplanes, MN 487 and 521 attacked Britain. This attack killed one and injured two but otherwise did little damage. Flt. Sub-Lt. R.S. Dallas claimed one aircraft shot down but See I lost no aircraft on this raid.
The Austro-Hungarians ordered a Brandenburg NW on 3 March 1916, to evaluate the type in order to replace their Lohner L flying boats. The NW was given the kuk Kriegsmarine Serial K148. The Benz Bz.III engine was replaced by a 165-hp Rapp engine sometime before it was wrecked in a forced alighting at Fasana on 18 June 1916. A Friedrichshafen FF33H had been obtained at the same time, receiving the serial K149, and it suffered a forced alighting due to engine failure and it too was wrecked. No orders were forthcoming from the kuk Kriegsmarine for either of these two floatplanes.
The German Naval contingent in Turkey was supplied with a number of NW floatplanes in January 1917 as follows: MNs 603, 604, 608, 760, 770, 771, 774 and 781. MN 603 was transferred to the Ottoman Navy in January 1918.(28) This NW floatplane was named Eregli 1 (Eregli 2 was a Gotha WD.13). Eregli 1 was operated by 2NCI Deniz Tayyare Bolukd from Eregli where it operated against the Russians in the Black Sea. After suffering storm damaged on 1 August 1917, it was flown to Yesilkoy for repairs. On its return flight it had a forced alighting and was wrecked. The remains were later towed to Eregli.
On 4 April 1917 a Brandenburg (type not identified) dropped two bombs on a Russian submarine. A hit was observed on the superstructure and the submersible was seen trailing a large amount of oil.
On 11 June, Brandenburg NW 760 was on a reconnaissance flight when it had to alight. In response to its call for help Brandenburg GNW MN 654 flew to pick up the crew but it crashed on alighting. Brandenburg MN 774 was then sent out and found the two stricken aircraft and thankfully their crews were still alive. It alighted safely and all were saved. MN 770 was lost in October but the crew managed to swim to shore.(29)
Post-war Poland received at least one NW by the end of 1921. This received the Naval serial No.6.
(25) Dr. Fritz Stormer recalled that these 5-kg bombs "did not produce great results, but they did damage the ballast tanks on submarines and thereby made them unable to submerge. In other uses, the bombs were good for our morale, as the shock caused by the explosion was quite impressive." Stomer flew Brandenburg seaplanes from Zeebrugge. Stomer, F. "Seaplanes in Combat", Cross & Cockade Journal, USA, Vol.20, No.2, 1979, P.111.
(26) Bones'report is contained in UKNA AIR1/646/17/122/352.
(27) The account given in Cole, C. & Chesman, E. F., The Air Defence of Britain 1914-1918, Putnam, UK, 1984, states that the observer was wounded. Gutman, J. Naval Aces of World War 1, Part 2, Osprey, UK, 2012, states that both von Tschirschky and Christiansen were wounded.
(28) Nikolajsen, O. Turkish Military Aircraft Since 1912, self-published, France 2007.
(29) This section is mainly based on Nikolajsen, O. Turkish Military Aircraft Since 1912, self published, France 2007.
Brandenburg NW Production
Marine Numbers Class Delivered Notes
486 - 489 B July-Dec 1915 485 - 489 are listed as NW in Typenschau
517 - 526 BFT Oct.1915 - Nov.1916
563 - 570 BFT Nov.1915 - Dec.1916
601 - 608 BFT Delivered late 1916, early 1917
752 - 781 Gotha-built under licence
Brandenburg NW Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford SVK MN 602 (601 - 608) SVK MN 756 (752 - 781)
Span, m 16.27/15.27 16.5 16.270/15.270 16.270/15.270
Length, m 9.85 9.4 9.850 9.850
Height, m - - 3.750 3.750
Chord, m - - 1.800 1.800
Wing Area, m2 55.00 57.85 - -
Empty Wt, kg 1,020 1,020 1,052 1,032
Loaded Wt, kg 1,648 1,650 1,575 1,614
Performance
Speed in km/hr 122 90 - -
Time to 500 m - - 5.5 minutes -
Time to 800 m 7 minutes - 9 minutes 7 minutes
Time to 1000 m 9.5 minutes - 11.5 minutes 9.5 minutes
Time to 1500 m - - 20 minutes 15.5 minutes
Time to 2000 m - - - 22.5 minutes
Motor 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes D.III 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes
German Naval Seaplane Group in Turkey
Marine Numbers Entered Service Written Off Notes
603 04.17 Transferred to Ottoman Navy
604 04.17
608 04.17
760 04.17 11.06.17 Forced alighting Black Sea
771 04.17 16.05.17 Forced alighting Aegean Sea
770 06.17 28.10.17 Ditched Black Sea
774 06.17
781 08.18 Ex-2DzTyBl
Type GNW
The GNW was an unarmed three-bay two-seat biplane development of the NW reconnaissance seaplane. While there was no improvement in speed over the NW, it had a better climb. According to the Typenschau the type was designed to carry 10-kg bombs and had an endurance of 514 hours.
Brandenburg GNW Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brandenburg 3-View SVK MN 629 (625 - 632 & 651 - 658)
Span, m 16.20/15.20 16.2 16.200/15.200 16.200/15.200
Length, m 9.65 9.88 9.650
Height, m — — — 2.750
Chord, m — — 1.800 1.800
Wing Area, m2 55.15 55.15
Aileron Area, m2 7.30 — — 7.30
Elevator Area, m2 1.65 — — 1.65
Rudder Area, m2 1.00 — — 1.00
Empty Wt, kg 1,100 1,100 1,078
Loaded Wt, kg 1,743 1,743 — 1,647
Performance
Speed in km/hr 115 115 — —
Time to 800 m — — — 8 minutes
Time to 1000 m 9.5 minutes 9.5 minutes — 10.5 minutes
Time to 1500 m — — — 17 minutes
Time to 2000 m — — — 26 minutes
Motor 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes D.III 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Benz
Brandenburg GNW Production
Marine Numbers Class Delivered Notes
625 - 632 B Sept. - Oct. 1916 The British illustrated MN 625 in their publication Types of German Seaplanes, and identified the type as the "Brandenburg-Gotha Seaplane 1916."(32)
651 - 658 BFT Sep. 1916 - Jan. 1917 628, 653 and 654 were delivered to the German Naval contingent in Turkey.(33)
(32) This booklet was printed by the Air Ministry, Air Intelligence (A.I.4), and dated July 1918. It was "not to be carried in aircraft." Each type was identified by photographs and silhouettes with a general description but no specifications. It details a total of 25 marine aircraft: 1 Albatros; 9 Brandenburg; 9 Friedrichshafen; 3 Sablatnig; 1 Rumpler and 2 Gotha seaplanes. The Brandenburgs illustrated are the KDW (2 entries, one probably the W.11); the NW; W.12; GW; GDW; GNW floatplanes and CC and FB flying boats.
(33) Nikolajsen, O. Op Cit.
The first Brandenburg designed as a warplane was the NW, a two-seat reconnaissance floatplane that could be fitted with radio in the Navy BFT Class of aircraft. The type was a marked improvement over the W and showed the continuing influence of Heinkel's pre-war three-bay Albatros floatplanes. The NW was a large floatplane with slight sweep back to the wings. The floats were an improvement over those fitted to the Type W and had a single step. The radiator for the engine was carried on the centre section struts being mounted in front of the upper wing. The observer occupied the front cockpit under the wings. A total of 60 were supplied to the German Navy during 1915, including a batch of 30 built by Gotha under licence. Some were fitted to carry up to ten 5-kg bombs for use against enemy vessels.(25) Initially the Benz Bz.III engine was proposed for the batch MN 601 - 608 but the 160-hp Mercedes D.III was installed in all batches.
The first four were assigned in early 1916 to bases at Borkum, Norderney and Heligoland. This dispersal says much for the state of the German Navy's aeronautical efforts prior to and during the early days of the war.
The NW was used for daylight raids on the English coast, participating alone or in company with other aircraft. Attacks took place on 9 and 20 February, 19 March, 3 May 1916. The War Diary of Zeebrugge recorded that NW. MN 521, along with the Gotha UWD MN 120, Friedrichshafen FF33B MN 457; FF33E MNs 473 and 547, and FF33F MN 537, of See Flieger Abteilung 1 carried out an attack on Sunday, 19 March 1916. The machines bombed Dover, Deal, and Ramsgate. Fourteen people were killed and considerable damage caused. The CO of Zeebrugge, Oberleutenant-zur-See von Tschirschsky und Bogendorff, led the raid in Christiansen's usual Brandenburg. This machine and another were forced down at sea and narrowly escaped destruction.
Dover received no warning of a raid and the RNAS station knew of it when a bomb exploded in the town. None of the four aircraft from the RFC, Dover, saw the enemy. The RNAS launched 24 aircraft, three of which suffered forced landings. Friedrichshafen MN 537 was engaged by a Nieuport 10 from Detling piloted by Flt. Cdr. R.J. Bone. Bone, the CO of Detling, had predicted the likelihood of a raid and, having fully loaded his ammunition, flew to Westgate where he waited with a thermos of coffee and sandwiches. He followed the seaplane towards the Belgium coast and after a 40-minute chase attacked. He was met by the observer's fire but sent the Friedrichshafen down with the propeller stopped and the engine smoking. Not having enough petrol to follow, he returned and a Short seaplane was sent out to bomb the enemy machine that was last seen on the water, but discovered nothing. The machine had been towed back to base.(26)
The Brandenburg NW was attacked by an RFC F.E.2b piloted by 2nd Lt. Reginald Collins with Flt. Sgt. Alfred Emery as observer. Collins was flying the new machine to France and when he noticed the defender's fire on the attacking seaplanes, he placed himself in a position to cut off their retreat. Attacking from above and behind he gained to within 150 yards behind the Brandenburg that had not seen him and Emery opened fire. The NW went into a steep right-hand spiral with steam streaming from its engine. The F.E.2b then lost sight of their victim. Collins attack had wounded the pilot and damaged the radiator. Von Tschirschky climbed out onto the wing and fixed the leaking radiator with his handkerchief and insulation tape, enabling the machine to stay in the air and they eventually came down about 20 miles from Ostende. Further repairs were effective as they managed to take off again and reached Zeebrugge.(27)
On 24 April 1916, NW seaplanes MNs 487 and 521 are recorded as being amongst six seaplanes that bombed ships in the Channel. On the night of 19/20 May 1916, LW MN 477 together with two NW floatplanes, MN 487 and 521 attacked Britain. This attack killed one and injured two but otherwise did little damage. Flt. Sub-Lt. R.S. Dallas claimed one aircraft shot down but See I lost no aircraft on this raid.
The Austro-Hungarians ordered a Brandenburg NW on 3 March 1916, to evaluate the type in order to replace their Lohner L flying boats. The NW was given the kuk Kriegsmarine Serial K148. The Benz Bz.III engine was replaced by a 165-hp Rapp engine sometime before it was wrecked in a forced alighting at Fasana on 18 June 1916. A Friedrichshafen FF33H had been obtained at the same time, receiving the serial K149, and it suffered a forced alighting due to engine failure and it too was wrecked. No orders were forthcoming from the kuk Kriegsmarine for either of these two floatplanes.
The German Naval contingent in Turkey was supplied with a number of NW floatplanes in January 1917 as follows: MNs 603, 604, 608, 760, 770, 771, 774 and 781. MN 603 was transferred to the Ottoman Navy in January 1918.(28) This NW floatplane was named Eregli 1 (Eregli 2 was a Gotha WD.13). Eregli 1 was operated by 2NCI Deniz Tayyare Bolukd from Eregli where it operated against the Russians in the Black Sea. After suffering storm damaged on 1 August 1917, it was flown to Yesilkoy for repairs. On its return flight it had a forced alighting and was wrecked. The remains were later towed to Eregli.
On 4 April 1917 a Brandenburg (type not identified) dropped two bombs on a Russian submarine. A hit was observed on the superstructure and the submersible was seen trailing a large amount of oil.
On 11 June, Brandenburg NW 760 was on a reconnaissance flight when it had to alight. In response to its call for help Brandenburg GNW MN 654 flew to pick up the crew but it crashed on alighting. Brandenburg MN 774 was then sent out and found the two stricken aircraft and thankfully their crews were still alive. It alighted safely and all were saved. MN 770 was lost in October but the crew managed to swim to shore.(29)
Post-war Poland received at least one NW by the end of 1921. This received the Naval serial No.6.
(25) Dr. Fritz Stormer recalled that these 5-kg bombs "did not produce great results, but they did damage the ballast tanks on submarines and thereby made them unable to submerge. In other uses, the bombs were good for our morale, as the shock caused by the explosion was quite impressive." Stomer flew Brandenburg seaplanes from Zeebrugge. Stomer, F. "Seaplanes in Combat", Cross & Cockade Journal, USA, Vol.20, No.2, 1979, P.111.
(26) Bones'report is contained in UKNA AIR1/646/17/122/352.
(27) The account given in Cole, C. & Chesman, E. F., The Air Defence of Britain 1914-1918, Putnam, UK, 1984, states that the observer was wounded. Gutman, J. Naval Aces of World War 1, Part 2, Osprey, UK, 2012, states that both von Tschirschky and Christiansen were wounded.
(28) Nikolajsen, O. Turkish Military Aircraft Since 1912, self-published, France 2007.
(29) This section is mainly based on Nikolajsen, O. Turkish Military Aircraft Since 1912, self published, France 2007.
Brandenburg NW Production
Marine Numbers Class Delivered Notes
486 - 489 B July-Dec 1915 485 - 489 are listed as NW in Typenschau
517 - 526 BFT Oct.1915 - Nov.1916
563 - 570 BFT Nov.1915 - Dec.1916
601 - 608 BFT Delivered late 1916, early 1917
752 - 781 Gotha-built under licence
Brandenburg NW Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford SVK MN 602 (601 - 608) SVK MN 756 (752 - 781)
Span, m 16.27/15.27 16.5 16.270/15.270 16.270/15.270
Length, m 9.85 9.4 9.850 9.850
Height, m - - 3.750 3.750
Chord, m - - 1.800 1.800
Wing Area, m2 55.00 57.85 - -
Empty Wt, kg 1,020 1,020 1,052 1,032
Loaded Wt, kg 1,648 1,650 1,575 1,614
Performance
Speed in km/hr 122 90 - -
Time to 500 m - - 5.5 minutes -
Time to 800 m 7 minutes - 9 minutes 7 minutes
Time to 1000 m 9.5 minutes - 11.5 minutes 9.5 minutes
Time to 1500 m - - 20 minutes 15.5 minutes
Time to 2000 m - - - 22.5 minutes
Motor 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes D.III 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes
German Naval Seaplane Group in Turkey
Marine Numbers Entered Service Written Off Notes
603 04.17 Transferred to Ottoman Navy
604 04.17
608 04.17
760 04.17 11.06.17 Forced alighting Black Sea
771 04.17 16.05.17 Forced alighting Aegean Sea
770 06.17 28.10.17 Ditched Black Sea
774 06.17
781 08.18 Ex-2DzTyBl
Type GNW
The GNW was an unarmed three-bay two-seat biplane development of the NW reconnaissance seaplane. While there was no improvement in speed over the NW, it had a better climb. According to the Typenschau the type was designed to carry 10-kg bombs and had an endurance of 514 hours.
Brandenburg GNW Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brandenburg 3-View SVK MN 629 (625 - 632 & 651 - 658)
Span, m 16.20/15.20 16.2 16.200/15.200 16.200/15.200
Length, m 9.65 9.88 9.650
Height, m — — — 2.750
Chord, m — — 1.800 1.800
Wing Area, m2 55.15 55.15
Aileron Area, m2 7.30 — — 7.30
Elevator Area, m2 1.65 — — 1.65
Rudder Area, m2 1.00 — — 1.00
Empty Wt, kg 1,100 1,100 1,078
Loaded Wt, kg 1,743 1,743 — 1,647
Performance
Speed in km/hr 115 115 — —
Time to 800 m — — — 8 minutes
Time to 1000 m 9.5 minutes 9.5 minutes — 10.5 minutes
Time to 1500 m — — — 17 minutes
Time to 2000 m — — — 26 minutes
Motor 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes D.III 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Benz
Brandenburg GNW Production
Marine Numbers Class Delivered Notes
625 - 632 B Sept. - Oct. 1916 The British illustrated MN 625 in their publication Types of German Seaplanes, and identified the type as the "Brandenburg-Gotha Seaplane 1916."(32)
651 - 658 BFT Sep. 1916 - Jan. 1917 628, 653 and 654 were delivered to the German Naval contingent in Turkey.(33)
(32) This booklet was printed by the Air Ministry, Air Intelligence (A.I.4), and dated July 1918. It was "not to be carried in aircraft." Each type was identified by photographs and silhouettes with a general description but no specifications. It details a total of 25 marine aircraft: 1 Albatros; 9 Brandenburg; 9 Friedrichshafen; 3 Sablatnig; 1 Rumpler and 2 Gotha seaplanes. The Brandenburgs illustrated are the KDW (2 entries, one probably the W.11); the NW; W.12; GW; GDW; GNW floatplanes and CC and FB flying boats.
(33) Nikolajsen, O. Op Cit.
The Albatros influence was still present in the NW. Note the red pennant on the port wing tip. Red pennants were flown by naval aircraft during the red uprising after Germany lost the war.
Like many early floatplanes the NW had a multitude of struts to take the loads on the floats. Note the small national marking on the fuselage of MN 517.
The person at the starboard wings is not thought to be walking on water but on a sand bar where this NW (518 or 519) must have run aground.
NW 524 was from the same batch as 517 but in this case the cross was marked ahead of the Marine Number. Details of this incident are not known.
Brandenburg NW floatplanes lead this line up on the slipway with Friedrichshafen FF33L MN 1239 at the rear.
Brandenburg NW(Go) Marine #759 was destroyed landing at Libau on 15 June 1917. Note the style and size of the national markings.
The sole Austro-Hungarian kuk Kriegsmarine NW, serial K148. Note the position of the cross on the upper surface of both wings.
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.
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.
The Brandenburg CC prototype, Marine Number 946, in color shows its plain finish with stained wood fuselage and clear-doped linen flying surfaces.
Brandenburg CC A.13 was the first CC in the first production batch for the kuk Kriegsmarine. Accepted 16.12.16, A.13 was in service until 27.12.17, when it was written off due to condition and age.
Brandenburg CC A.16. was the fourth CC in the first production batch for the kuk Kriegsmarine. A16 was accepted on 29.12.16 and lasted until it was written off on 02.01.17, after an accident.
Brandenburg CC A.38. was from the second production batch for the kuk Kriegsmarine. This boat had a short career being accepted on 26.03.17 and being written off 18.06.17 in an accident.
Brandenburg CC A.45. was from the second production batch for the kuk Kriegsmarine and was an experimental triplane conversion.
The prototype Type CC undergoing taxiing and beaching trials while still in Brandenburg's hands as indicated by the lack of national markings and armament.
The CC prototype undergoing testing. The star-strut arrangement provided, in theory, lower drag than conventional cable-braced struts.
The prototype after application of the Marine Nummer 946 and national markings with armament fitted. It is often hard to distinguish the MN against the dark varnished hulls. In this case it is painted at the rear of the hull in front of the cross. Lower wing crosses do not have any outline. The cross panels on the upper wing can be discerned through the fabric as a darker tone.
Marine #946, the Brandenburg CC prototype, was armed with one gun and had a frontal radiator. It was the only flying boat fighter used by the German Navy. The German Navy did not favor flying boats for the cold waters of Northern Europe and the CC was soon replaced, but the CC served successfully with the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the warmer waters of the Adriatic.
Marine #946, the Brandenburg CC prototype, was armed with one gun and had a frontal radiator. It was the only flying boat fighter used by the German Navy. The German Navy did not favor flying boats for the cold waters of Northern Europe and the CC was soon replaced, but the CC served successfully with the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the warmer waters of the Adriatic.
Another view of the prototype after application of the Marine Nummer 946 and national markings with armament fitted.
On MN 1144 the number is painted on the nose under the cockpit. 1144 is from the first production batch allocated to the German Kriegsmarine and has twin guns. Aircraft of this type and batch escorted torpedo bombers during their missions.
Brandenburg CC from the first production batch, probably #1144, displays its clean lines. It carries two guns, has an airfoil radiator, and a streamlined engine cowling with propeller spinner.
On MN 1144 the number is painted on the nose under the cockpit. MN 1144 is from the first production batch and has twin guns. The machine is in plain finish without outlines or fields for the wing crosses. Note the smooth "egg" cowling that encloses the pusher engine. The machine guns are mounted such that the pilot has access in the event of a jam.
This CC from the first production batch displays a number of changes from the prototype; it has two guns, an airfoil radiator, and the engine is enclosed in a streamlined cowling.
Front view of MN 1144 emphasizes its twin guns and smooth "egg" cowling that encloses the pusher engine.
Front view of MN 1144 emphasizes its twin guns and smooth "egg" cowling that encloses the pusher engine.
German CC MN 1331 after suffering damage to the starboard wing and losing the wing-tip float.
Damaged Brandenburg CC #1331 was built in the second and final production batch. Two guns are carried and an airfoil radiator is fitted, as in the first production aircraft. The streamlined engine cowling is not fitted to this aircraft and may have been omitted from the entire series.
Damaged Brandenburg CC #1331 was built in the second and final production batch. Two guns are carried and an airfoil radiator is fitted, as in the first production aircraft. The streamlined engine cowling is not fitted to this aircraft and may have been omitted from the entire series.
CC MN 1332 lacks the extra struts retro-fitted to most of the second production batch. The way the type was finished is well illustrated with the housing on the hull immediately behind the pilot and the gun covers, etc., painted a light color that contrasts sharply with the varnished hull. This pilot was a Pole who flew with the German Navy.
MN 1348 was from the second batch produced for the German Navy. It has the extra interplane struts that were to be applied to all star-strutter types. These struts were to improve the aileron effectiveness by strengthening the upper wing in torsion. Note the forward sight on the decking in front of the cockpit and the uncowled engine.
Another view of MN 1348 was from the second batch produced for the German Navy showing the retro-fitted interplane struts, the forward sight on the decking in front of the cockpit, and the uncowled engine.
Linienschiffsleutnant Gottfried Banfield stands in his new CC flying boat at Trieste harbor, November 1916. This presentation machine bears the initials of Camillo Castiglioni on the hull. This machine received the kuk Kriegsmarine serial A.12. The A series denoted "Abwher" or "defence."
Above: Linienschiffsleutnant Gottfried Banfield stands in his new CC flying boat at Trieste harbor, November 1916.
A.13 at Santa Catharina, December 1916, has the numerals applied in small numbers. A.13 entered service at Trieste on 12 December 1916 and lasted until it was written off a year later on 27 December due to excessive wear.
A.14 and A.24 in the main operational yard at Trieste Naval Air Station in February 1917. Banfield is standing next to A.24 leaning against the lower wing.The ladders were to provide access to the cockpits. Also visible is the single metal rail that the beaching trolley used to take the boats to the water.
Another view of A.24. on the slipway at Trieste in 1917, with sheds in the background. The serial is applied as "A.24."; the period after the serial denoted a machine not built in Austro-Hungary. The beaching trolley was run in a railed trough that took one side of the trolley's wheels as may be seen in the accompanying photographs.
This sleek, wooden-hulled Hansa-Brandenburg C.C., No. A.24., was the flying boat fighter flown by leading KuK Naval ace Linienschiffsleutnant Gottfried Banfield. 37 of these fighters were flown from established naval air stations throughout the Adriatic.
This sleek, wooden-hulled Hansa-Brandenburg C.C., No. A.24., was the flying boat fighter flown by leading KuK Naval ace Linienschiffsleutnant Gottfried Banfield. 37 of these fighters were flown from established naval air stations throughout the Adriatic.
A.24, 200-hp Hiero, the last machine of the first batch of Austro-Hungarian CC boats. Note the radiator position compared with A.12. A.24. was first placed in service on 16 February 1917. Banfield used A.24 on many occasions during the summer of 1917.
A.28. and A.29. The bar in the hull of A.29 would be a handle for manoeuvring the machine onto the beaching trolley. Note the machine gun barrel protruding from the windshield.
The remains of K305 after it crashed during takeoff while piloted by Lschlt. Hugo Stenta, 25 April 1917. The hull is still fairly well intact, a tribute to the Brandenburg form of construction. Brandenburg CC A33 and Lohner TI L102 are in the background.
A.33 has the engine and cockpit covered for storage and appears to be unarmed. Typically the hangar is crowded. The red and white wing tips, rudders and elevators of the larger flying boats may be noted. The CC did not carry the wing stripes.
A winter scene with A.38 on yet another example of a beaching trolley. This late-manufactured example has the aerofoil radiator in the upper wing, and provision for twin machine guns.
Twin-gun A.39 at Pola. This machine appears to be finished the same as the German CC boats with the usual red and white rudder stripes of the kuk Kriegsmarine.
Brandenburg was not immune to the triplane craze. Note that the serial is in the form A.45., indicating that it was built by Brandenburg rather than a modification carried out by the kuk Kriegsmarine. However, the Typenschau, the book produced by Heinkel's own company, lists the machine as the Phonix Dr.I. That is because the modification was most likely to have been made to an existing standard CC airframe at Phonix Werke in Vienna and not by Hansa-Brandenburg in Germany. It remained experimental and was not used on operations.
On July 16, 1917, a Brandenburg plant mechanic from Driest installed an additional Steiger on Brandenburg CC flying boats 1139, 1141, 1143, 1145 and 1328.
On July 16, 1917, a Brandenburg plant mechanic from Driest installed an additional Steiger on Brandenburg CC flying boats 1139, 1141, 1143, 1145 and 1328.
Identified as the W.22, this flying boat is definitely related to the CC series. The wings have the late bracing arrangement with the extra support struts and the wing surfaces appear to be the same as the CC. The hull has been modified with sponsons. It is thought that this was an experimental machine to test the new hull but no data are available.
Type GW
According to Heinkel, the GW floatplane was based on the twin-engined GF bomber. The family development is readily seen in the appearance of the machine. This large floatplane was developed during 1916 to carry a 725-kg torpedo, hence T Class. The prototype, MN 528, had triple vertical tail surfaces but this was simplified on production machines. The drag-inducing frontal radiators of the prototype were replaced by flush-mounted aerofoil radiators on the rest of the batch of floatplanes. Heinkel states it was the first time that a machine carried starting devices for the engines.(35) One defensive Parabellum machine gun was provided. The prototype passed its tests in January 1916 at Warnemunde. The German Navy ordered a further 20 of these aircraft after successful testing of the prototype.
The twin Mercedes engines were mounted in nacelles between the wings on each sides of the fuselage. The rudder was balanced being above the fin and below the fuselage. A large triangular fin was mounted atop the fuselage. The twin floats were mounted directly below each engine nacelle. A single machine gun was provided for defence.
The first two batches of five machines each were delivered between April and August 1916. The production examples were mainly operated from Lake Engure,(36) Angernsee seaplane station in Courland, Latvia, against Russian targets. The German army had captured large areas of the Russian Empire in 1915. The seaplane base established at Angernsee was to enable the Germans to carry out reconnaissance and aerial operations against the Russian forces on the Eastern and Southern sides of the Gulf of Riga. The lake was an excellent place from which to operate seaplanes and a nearby airfield allowed for the use of landplanes as well, Fokker Eindecker monoplanes operating from here in defence of the station. In July 1916 the 1st Torpedo-Staffel began to establish itself at the station with a single Friedrichshafen FF33H and four Brandenburg GW floatplanes. The Brandenburgs were numbered T1 to T4 and these numbers were carried on their fuselage.
T3 (MN 648) was damaged during a Russian air raid on 16/17 August. Its tail was damaged when a Russian bomb blew the hangar door in. T1 and T4(37) also sustained slight shrapnel damage during this attack.
Apparently the GW floatplanes were not well received as it was reported back to the test command that it took over an hour to reach cruising altitude.
Although each batch was different they were all designated Type GW and were duly recorded as such in the SVK drawings. The prototype had triple rudders. MNs 700 - 704 had a more rounded nose and a single rudder. This batch was constructed between September 1916 and January 1917. MNs 1080 - 1084 had short noses and were constructed between September and November 1917. They saw service from Zeebrugge and other North Sea bases.
The kuk Kriegsmarine received a single GW (MN 701) in late November 1917 that received the Austro-Hungarian serial T1 (T2 and T3 were Gotha WD.14 biplanes).
(35) Various writers have noted that Heinkel had a habit of claiming the "first" for many innovations.
(36) Also spelt Angern. This section has been written mainly from "The Battle of Angernsee", by A. Alexandrov and R. Kintner, Over the Front Journal, US, Vol.18, No.4, 2003, P.292.
(37) T4 was MN 649.
Brandenburg GW Production
Marine Numbers Class Delivered Notes
528 T Jan. 1916 Prototype. Triple rudders.
620 - 624 TMG Aug. - Oct. 1916 Machine gun provided for defence. Revised tailplane, triple rudders.
646 - 650 TMG Apr. - July 1916 Transition between triple & single rudders in this batch.
700 - 704 T Nov.1916 - Mar.1917 Single rudder. Gunner to rear. 701 to Austro-Hungarian Navy.
1080 - 1084 T Sept. - Nov.1917 Revised tailplane, balanced elevators.
Brandenburg GW Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brandenburg 3-View GW IV Serie SVK MN 620 (620 - 624) SVK MN 647 (646 - 650) SVK MN 700 (700 - 704) SVK MN 1083 (1080 - 1084)
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 21.56 21.56 21.560 21.000 21.000 21.000 21.560
Span, Lower 21.56 21.56 21.560 21.000 21.000 21.000 21.560
Length 11.74 11.74 11.700 11.700 11.740 11.900
Chord, Upper 2.56 - 2.560 2.400 2.400 2.500 2.560
Chord, Lower 2.56 - 2.560 2.400 2.400 2.500 2.560
Areas in m2
Wings 103.40 103.4 - - - - -
Ailerons 6.0 - - - - - -
Elevators 2.5 - - - - - -
Rudder 2.13 - - - - - -
Weights in kg
Empty 2,374 2,374 2,334 2,399 2,315 2,361 2,374
Loaded 3,856 3,856 3,928 3,590 3,741 3,787 3,856
Performance
Speed in km/hr 127.5 127.5 - - - - -
Time to 500 m - - - 9.9 min. 10.5 min. 9 min. 11.7 min.
Time to 800 m 20.9 min. 20.9 min. - 17.5 min. 21 min. 14.5 min. 20.8 min.
Time to 1000 m 29.1 min. 29.1 min. 22 min. 26 min. 30 min. 19.9 min. 29.4 min.
Time to 1500 m - - - 53.5 min. 60.5 min. 34 min. -
Motor 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes D.III 160-hp Mercedes 195-hp 195-hp 160-hp 160-hp Mercedes
Type GDW
As the designation shows, the Class T floatplane GDW was a development of the GW designed to carry the heavier 825-kg torpedo, the extra power being supplied by a pair of 220-hp Benz engines. Only a single aircraft, MN 746, was built. The prototype was modified after its acceptance by the SVK as photographs show that the rudder was now an inverted L shape and did not extend below the fuselage. A large triangular fin was fitted. The elevators were now balanced and in two pieces. The SVK drawing shows MN 746 with plain elevators and a large rudder with balance surfaces above and below the fuselage. The machine must have been modified after initial testing. Again a single machine gun provided defence. The pilot and gunner were both situated towards the wing trailing edge, in close proximity for communication. The pilot would have had little view above due to being situated almost completely below the upper wing. The wings were constructed in seven sections, the outer panels being swept back from the engine nacelles.
It is thought the GDW was utilized for training as no further development took place. Production of such large aircraft in small numbers was typical of the times. Aircraft were constantly evolving and the skilled factory workers could produce a prototype in a relatively short time. Until a machine had flown there was no way of knowing if the design would perform as predicted by the aeronautical engineering science of the day.
Brandenburg GDW Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford SVK MN 746
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 24.30 24.5 24.500
Span, Lower 24.30 - 24.500
Length 9.50 9.5 9.500
Height - 5.0 5.000
Chord, Upper 2.935 - 2.935
Chord, Lower 2.935 - 2.935
Areas in m2
Wings 134.00 134 -
Ailerons 9.0 - -
Elevators 3.40 - -
Rudder 2.85 - -
Empty Wt., kg 2,950 2,936 -
Loaded Wt., kg 4,865 4,851
Performance
Speed in km/hr 130 130 -
Time to 800 m 13.5 min. - -
Time to 1000 m 17.5 min. 19.5 min. -
Time to 1500 m 29.0 min. - -
Time to 2000 m 45.0 min. - -
Motor 220-hp Benz 200-hp Benz Bz.IV 200-hp Benz
According to Heinkel, the GW floatplane was based on the twin-engined GF bomber. The family development is readily seen in the appearance of the machine. This large floatplane was developed during 1916 to carry a 725-kg torpedo, hence T Class. The prototype, MN 528, had triple vertical tail surfaces but this was simplified on production machines. The drag-inducing frontal radiators of the prototype were replaced by flush-mounted aerofoil radiators on the rest of the batch of floatplanes. Heinkel states it was the first time that a machine carried starting devices for the engines.(35) One defensive Parabellum machine gun was provided. The prototype passed its tests in January 1916 at Warnemunde. The German Navy ordered a further 20 of these aircraft after successful testing of the prototype.
The twin Mercedes engines were mounted in nacelles between the wings on each sides of the fuselage. The rudder was balanced being above the fin and below the fuselage. A large triangular fin was mounted atop the fuselage. The twin floats were mounted directly below each engine nacelle. A single machine gun was provided for defence.
The first two batches of five machines each were delivered between April and August 1916. The production examples were mainly operated from Lake Engure,(36) Angernsee seaplane station in Courland, Latvia, against Russian targets. The German army had captured large areas of the Russian Empire in 1915. The seaplane base established at Angernsee was to enable the Germans to carry out reconnaissance and aerial operations against the Russian forces on the Eastern and Southern sides of the Gulf of Riga. The lake was an excellent place from which to operate seaplanes and a nearby airfield allowed for the use of landplanes as well, Fokker Eindecker monoplanes operating from here in defence of the station. In July 1916 the 1st Torpedo-Staffel began to establish itself at the station with a single Friedrichshafen FF33H and four Brandenburg GW floatplanes. The Brandenburgs were numbered T1 to T4 and these numbers were carried on their fuselage.
T3 (MN 648) was damaged during a Russian air raid on 16/17 August. Its tail was damaged when a Russian bomb blew the hangar door in. T1 and T4(37) also sustained slight shrapnel damage during this attack.
Apparently the GW floatplanes were not well received as it was reported back to the test command that it took over an hour to reach cruising altitude.
Although each batch was different they were all designated Type GW and were duly recorded as such in the SVK drawings. The prototype had triple rudders. MNs 700 - 704 had a more rounded nose and a single rudder. This batch was constructed between September 1916 and January 1917. MNs 1080 - 1084 had short noses and were constructed between September and November 1917. They saw service from Zeebrugge and other North Sea bases.
The kuk Kriegsmarine received a single GW (MN 701) in late November 1917 that received the Austro-Hungarian serial T1 (T2 and T3 were Gotha WD.14 biplanes).
(35) Various writers have noted that Heinkel had a habit of claiming the "first" for many innovations.
(36) Also spelt Angern. This section has been written mainly from "The Battle of Angernsee", by A. Alexandrov and R. Kintner, Over the Front Journal, US, Vol.18, No.4, 2003, P.292.
(37) T4 was MN 649.
Brandenburg GW Production
Marine Numbers Class Delivered Notes
528 T Jan. 1916 Prototype. Triple rudders.
620 - 624 TMG Aug. - Oct. 1916 Machine gun provided for defence. Revised tailplane, triple rudders.
646 - 650 TMG Apr. - July 1916 Transition between triple & single rudders in this batch.
700 - 704 T Nov.1916 - Mar.1917 Single rudder. Gunner to rear. 701 to Austro-Hungarian Navy.
1080 - 1084 T Sept. - Nov.1917 Revised tailplane, balanced elevators.
Brandenburg GW Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brandenburg 3-View GW IV Serie SVK MN 620 (620 - 624) SVK MN 647 (646 - 650) SVK MN 700 (700 - 704) SVK MN 1083 (1080 - 1084)
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 21.56 21.56 21.560 21.000 21.000 21.000 21.560
Span, Lower 21.56 21.56 21.560 21.000 21.000 21.000 21.560
Length 11.74 11.74 11.700 11.700 11.740 11.900
Chord, Upper 2.56 - 2.560 2.400 2.400 2.500 2.560
Chord, Lower 2.56 - 2.560 2.400 2.400 2.500 2.560
Areas in m2
Wings 103.40 103.4 - - - - -
Ailerons 6.0 - - - - - -
Elevators 2.5 - - - - - -
Rudder 2.13 - - - - - -
Weights in kg
Empty 2,374 2,374 2,334 2,399 2,315 2,361 2,374
Loaded 3,856 3,856 3,928 3,590 3,741 3,787 3,856
Performance
Speed in km/hr 127.5 127.5 - - - - -
Time to 500 m - - - 9.9 min. 10.5 min. 9 min. 11.7 min.
Time to 800 m 20.9 min. 20.9 min. - 17.5 min. 21 min. 14.5 min. 20.8 min.
Time to 1000 m 29.1 min. 29.1 min. 22 min. 26 min. 30 min. 19.9 min. 29.4 min.
Time to 1500 m - - - 53.5 min. 60.5 min. 34 min. -
Motor 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes D.III 160-hp Mercedes 195-hp 195-hp 160-hp 160-hp Mercedes
Type GDW
As the designation shows, the Class T floatplane GDW was a development of the GW designed to carry the heavier 825-kg torpedo, the extra power being supplied by a pair of 220-hp Benz engines. Only a single aircraft, MN 746, was built. The prototype was modified after its acceptance by the SVK as photographs show that the rudder was now an inverted L shape and did not extend below the fuselage. A large triangular fin was fitted. The elevators were now balanced and in two pieces. The SVK drawing shows MN 746 with plain elevators and a large rudder with balance surfaces above and below the fuselage. The machine must have been modified after initial testing. Again a single machine gun provided defence. The pilot and gunner were both situated towards the wing trailing edge, in close proximity for communication. The pilot would have had little view above due to being situated almost completely below the upper wing. The wings were constructed in seven sections, the outer panels being swept back from the engine nacelles.
It is thought the GDW was utilized for training as no further development took place. Production of such large aircraft in small numbers was typical of the times. Aircraft were constantly evolving and the skilled factory workers could produce a prototype in a relatively short time. Until a machine had flown there was no way of knowing if the design would perform as predicted by the aeronautical engineering science of the day.
Brandenburg GDW Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford SVK MN 746
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 24.30 24.5 24.500
Span, Lower 24.30 - 24.500
Length 9.50 9.5 9.500
Height - 5.0 5.000
Chord, Upper 2.935 - 2.935
Chord, Lower 2.935 - 2.935
Areas in m2
Wings 134.00 134 -
Ailerons 9.0 - -
Elevators 3.40 - -
Rudder 2.85 - -
Empty Wt., kg 2,950 2,936 -
Loaded Wt., kg 4,865 4,851
Performance
Speed in km/hr 130 130 -
Time to 800 m 13.5 min. - -
Time to 1000 m 17.5 min. 19.5 min. -
Time to 1500 m 29.0 min. - -
Time to 2000 m 45.0 min. - -
Motor 220-hp Benz 200-hp Benz Bz.IV 200-hp Benz
Brandenburg GW #646, first aircraft of the second production batch, retained the triple rudders of the first production batch.
Brandenburg GW #650, the last aircraft of the second production batch, had the single rudder and aileron servo tabs of the later production aircraft.
Brandenburg GW #700. GWs of the third production batch were delivered between Nov. 1916 & March 1917. In this batch the gunner was moved aft.
Brandenburg GW #701 in kuk Kriegsmarine service. The lozenge camouflage is thought to be in standard German Navy colors but the stripe colors are unknown, so two different renditions are given to illustrate the most likely alternatives.
MN 528 on the bank of the Havel River in Brandenburg. The triple rudders and front gunner's position established the layout for the first production batch. This aircraft passed its testing at Warnemunde in January 1916.
MN 624 the last GW of the first production batch. This aircraft was part of the Torpedostaffel at SFS Angernsee. Colors thought to be light blue-grey overall.
MN 646, the first GW of the second production batch. MN 646 had the triple rudders of the first production batch, but MN 650, the last aircraft of the second batch, had the single rudder and aileron servo tabs used on the later production batches, although it retained the forward gun turret. The different types of float dollies are noteworthy. Moving these big aircraft required a lot of manpower.
Construction of GW torpedo biplanes in the Brandenburg factory. MN 649 is from the second production batch.
Loading a 45 cm Torpedo C/06 onto GW MN 650 in Flensburg. These were part of a set of propaganda photographs.
MN 650 with torpedo. Engines were 160 hp Mercedes D.III. Twenty-six were delivered. Given the location of the pilot it is understandable that the gunner's position was relocated to improve his view.
Torpedo loaded on Brandenburg GW torpedo bomber. The type was not successful in combat due to its limited ability to carry its torpedo.
The more rounded nose with the gunner's position moved to the rear and single large rudder of the third production batch are well displayed in these photographs of MN 700. Also significant was the addition of aileron servo tabs on this batch, which reduced the pilot's control forces.
The more rounded nose with the gunner's position moved to the rear and single large rudder of the third production batch are well displayed in these photographs of MN 700. Also significant was the addition of aileron servo tabs on this batch, which reduced the pilot's control forces.
The more rounded nose with the gunner's position moved to the rear and single large rudder of the third production batch are well displayed in these photographs of MN 700. Also significant was the addition of aileron servo tabs on this batch, which reduced the pilot's aileron control forces.
Brandenburg GW Marine Number 701 after being rebuilt and sold to the Austro-Hungarian Kriegsmarine after arrival at Pola on October 23,1917. Its colorful camouflage was the standard German late-war naval camouflage supplemented by red stripes to clearly identify it as Austrian as it was the only aircraft of its type in the Adriatic. A flying boat with red/white/red Austro-Hungarian markings on its wing is in the right background.
GW MN 1081 from the fourth batch. Despite their differences in layout all the machines were designated Type GW. The launching dollies for the floats are separate units.
A GW from the fourth production batch (MN 1080 - 1084) showing the single rudder, balanced elevators, and shorter fuselage. This version could carry a 1,600 lb torpedo. There appears to be a pitot tube suspended from the nose of the fuselage.
Brandenburg GDW, a larger development of the GW to carry larger torpedoes; power was two 200 hp Benz Bz.IV engines. One was built.
The Germans tried to develop a practical torpedo floatplane and the GDW one of the very large floatplanes built in pursuit of this goal.
The Germans tried to develop a practical torpedo floatplane and the GDW one of the very large floatplanes built in pursuit of this goal.
The GDW was one of the very large floatplanes built to develop a practical torpedo floatplane; only one, MN 746, was constructed.
Type KDW
The Brandenburg KD (D.I) land based fighter was the basis of the KDW single seat fighting floatplane. The floatplane retained the "star struts" of the KD; in fact the prototype was virtually a KD fuselage mounted on floats with wings of slightly increased area. The KDW was designed due to a requirement for a naval air station defence fighter.
The fuselage followed the construction of the KD with four spruce longerons, ply formers forward, spruce spacers and transverse diagonal bracing members aft the cockpit and ply covering, eliminating the need for internal wire bracing. Metal panels enclosed the engine. The fuselage was deep and tapered to a vertical knife edge. A synchronised Maxim 08/15 machine gun was mounted on the starboard side. Initially this was mounted too far forward for the pilot to be able to rectify a jam while in flight. On later machines it was mounted within reach of the pilot. The fin was ply covered, while the tail surfaces were of metal tube with fabric covering.
The horizontal tailplane was mounted on the longerons and braced by steel tubes to the lower longeron. The parallel chord elevators were of steel tube and fabric covered.
The KDW proved as difficult to fly as its landplane counterpart. It was necessary to increase the fin area below the fuselage, and an upper fin had to be added as well. The machine had poor directional stability due to the deep fuselage blanketing the rudder and spin recovery was marginal, "more by luck than by any degree of skill."(38)
The prototype received the MN 748, and five batches were constructed as noted in the table, for a total of 58 aircraft. The prototype and early production aircraft up to MN 1076 were fitted with the 150-hp Benz and a nose mounted radiator. On 27 June 1917, flying on all Brandenburg KDW and CC fighters was forbidden until an additional pair of light tubular struts supporting the wing overhang were fitted, thereby obviating the benefit of the star-strut arrangement. This modification was standard on the last two batches. The aircraft from the first, third and fourth batches were fitted with the 160-hp Maybach Mb.III engine and an aerofoil radiator mounted in the wing to starboard of the centre line. The Maybach powered examples can be identified by their single exhaust manifold on the starboard side. Aircraft of the second production batch had either the 150-hp Benz Bz.III if intended to serve in the Baltic, or, if intended for the North Sea and Flanders, the 160-hp Mercedes D.III. The selection of engine provides a statement as to what area was considered the greater threat to the seaplanes.
The German Navy found the "star-strutters," both the KDW and CC, heavy, tricky and unsafe to fly. The view from the cockpit of the KDW was poor, making it unsuitable for air fighting as the risk of a collision was constant. The type was known as the "Spider" in service due to the unusual strut arrangement. The survivors of the 58 KDW fighters were stored at the Navy Depot at Hage.
KDW fighters MNs 1571 - 1573 were to go to Turkey but were instead sent to the Seddin depot. One KDW is reported by Turkish sources to have been used by the Ottoman air force as a maritime reconnaissance machine. When it arrived it had no armament and was powered by a Mercedes engine. KDW MN 1557 was sent to Japan post-war. The Japanese showed more interest in the Brandenburg floatplanes than any of the Allied powers, even receiving Austro-Hungarian Brandenburg C.I biplanes.
Service use of the KDW(39)
Prototype MN 748 was flown to Angernsee where it was to be tested under actual service conditions. Here the Germans were facing the Russians. Sikorsky bombers that, together with other aircraft, carried out attacks against the German base. MN 748 commenced its first mission on 12 September 1916, as escort to torpedo bombers. On 23 September MN 748 was in the hands of Ltn.d.R. Fritz Hammer when he intercepted one of the giant Sikorsky bombers and after making four runs at the bomber, Hammer succeeded in forcing it down near a forest near Dunamunde. During the combat Hammer had been caught up in the turbulence from the Sikorsky's engines and had nearly lost control of his small floatplane, a type not known for its stability.
On 12 February 1917, Zeebrugge had the following Brandenburg aircraft out of a total of 53 aircraft on strength:
KDW: MNs 912 - 916, and 1067 - 1068
W.11: MNs 988 - 990
CC: MNs 1137, 1139, 1141, 1143, and 1145
W.12: MNs 1014 - 1015
The superlative W.12 would replace the obsolescent KDW in the fighter role.
The 28 March 1918, was not a good day for the KDW fighter-trainers of the floatplane school at Putzig. KDW fighters MNs 1385 and 1072 were part of a group of three when they collided. The KDW had been criticized for the lack of visibility from the cockpit, particularly when trying to fly in formation. MN 1385 cut off the tail of MN 1072 that crashed, killing the pilot. MN 1385 also crashed but the pilot survived. The third KDW, MN 917, also crashed trying to avoid the other two and although destroyed, the pilot survived. This was not the end of the saga as MN 915 took off to assist the machine side-slipping out of a turn at 100 metres and crashing, again destroying the aircraft but the pilot managing to survive. The pilots owed their survival to being picked up by local fishing boats. The school did not have a fast motor launch and the unit's diary recorded this fact.
As a result all KDW training was cancelled, the machines being grounded. As the current course could not be completed without these machines the ban was soon lifted and the KDW floatplanes were soon flying, and crashing, again. However, not all the blame could be levelled at the Brandenburg as Albatros W.4 and Rumpler 6B2 biplanes also contributed to the statistics. In the period of one month eight single-seat floatplanes had been destroyed or seriously damaged, five of them being KDW fighters with three deaths on the Brandenburg machines. It appears that the school continued to use the Brandenburgs till at least July, with one, 1387, being shipped from there to Hage in early November.
Given the small number of marine aircraft built for the German Navy, the KDW was a reasonable success. The competing Albatros W.4 floatplane based on the D.I biplane fighter was built in double the numbers of the KDW, had a better performance, and was a better fighting machine due to its speed and the view from the cockpit.
The British confidential Types of German Seaplanes and Flying Boats of July 1918, contains photographs and silhouettes of the KDW wherein it is described as "Brandenburg Seaplane 1917." Apart from stating that the machine was powered by a 150-hp Benz or 160-hp Maybach, no other technical information is described. A second entry repeats the description but states the motor is a 200-hp Benz and it is apparent that the aircraft is the W.11; however, it is illustrated with photographs of a machine bearing MN 508. This Marine Number was assigned to a Friedrichshafen FF33E. This error was repeated for the Type NW. As the photographs have been copied from a German publication the question arises if they were designed to mislead the Allies, yet the photograph of the Type GW show MN 700 and correctly identifies the engines as 160-hp Mercedes.
(38) Gray, P. & Thetford, O. German Aircraft of the First Word War, Putnam, UK, 1962.
(39) This section is based on the pioneering work of Ron Kinter. See "The Brandenburg KDW Operational History," Over the Front Journal, Vol.24, No.3, P.217.
Brandenburg KDW Production
Marine Numbers Class Engine Delivered Notes
748 ED 150 Bz.III Sept. 1916 Prototype. Completed Sept. 1916
783 - 784 ED 150 Bz.III Sept. 1916 Prototypes. Completed Sept. 1916
912 - 921 ED 160 Mb.III Jan. - Feb. 1917 Completed Feb. 1917
1067 - 1076 ED 160 D.III/ 150 Bz.III Oct. 1917 - Apr. 1918 Completed in Mar. & Apr 1917. Aircraft for North Sea had Mercedes. Aircraft for Baltic had Benz.
1380 - 1394 ED 160 Mb.III Mar. - Aug. 1917 Additional interplane struts as standard.
1554 - 1573 E2MG 160 Mb.III One or two machine guns. Completed between Oct. 1917 &. Feb. 1918. Additional interplane struts.
Brandenburg KDW Specifications
Source Typenschau (see note) Gray & Thetford SVK MN 784 SVK MN 914 SVK MN 1067 SVK MN 1554 Brandenburg 3-View
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 9.30 9.25 9.300 9.300 9.300 9.250 9.300
Span, Lower 9.30 - 9.300 9.300 9.300 9.250 9.300
Chord, Upper 1.655 - 1.650 1.650 1.650 1.650 1.650
Chord, Lower 1.655 - 1.650 1.650 1.650 1.650 1.650
Length 7.86 8.0 8.000 7.900 7.900 8.000 7.860
Height - 3.35 3.150 3.370 3.370 3.350
Areas in m2
Wings 29.15 20 - - - - -
Ailerons 1.85 - 1.85 1.85 1.85 1.74 -
Elevators 1.10 - 1.08 1.10 1.10 1.10 -
Rudder 0.64 - 0.65 0.64 0.62 0.53 -
Weights in kg
Empty 759 940 768 759 775 940 768
Loaded 1,039 1,210 1.048 1,059 1,065 1,210 1,048
Performance
Speed in km/hr 172 170 - - - - -
Time to 800 m 3 min. - 4 min. 3 min. 3 min. 4.5 min. -
Time to 1000 m 4 min. 5.9 min. 4.5 min. 4 min. 4 min. 5.9 min. 4.5 min.
Time to 1500 m 6 min. - 7.5 min. 6 min. 7 min. 9.5 min. -
Time to 2000 m 9 min. 14 min. 11 min. 9 min. 11 min. 14.9 min. 11 min.
Time to 3000 m 16 min. 21 min. 21.5 min. 16 min. 22.5 min. 21 min. 21.5 min.
Endurance - 2.5 hour - - - - -
Motor 160-hp Maybach/150-hp Benz 150-hp Benz Bz.III/160-hp Maybach Mb .III 150-hp Benz 160-hp Maybach 150-hp Benz 160 Maybach 150-hp Benz
Note: The Typenschau specifications are for a machine with a single machine gun.
The Brandenburg KD (D.I) land based fighter was the basis of the KDW single seat fighting floatplane. The floatplane retained the "star struts" of the KD; in fact the prototype was virtually a KD fuselage mounted on floats with wings of slightly increased area. The KDW was designed due to a requirement for a naval air station defence fighter.
The fuselage followed the construction of the KD with four spruce longerons, ply formers forward, spruce spacers and transverse diagonal bracing members aft the cockpit and ply covering, eliminating the need for internal wire bracing. Metal panels enclosed the engine. The fuselage was deep and tapered to a vertical knife edge. A synchronised Maxim 08/15 machine gun was mounted on the starboard side. Initially this was mounted too far forward for the pilot to be able to rectify a jam while in flight. On later machines it was mounted within reach of the pilot. The fin was ply covered, while the tail surfaces were of metal tube with fabric covering.
The horizontal tailplane was mounted on the longerons and braced by steel tubes to the lower longeron. The parallel chord elevators were of steel tube and fabric covered.
The KDW proved as difficult to fly as its landplane counterpart. It was necessary to increase the fin area below the fuselage, and an upper fin had to be added as well. The machine had poor directional stability due to the deep fuselage blanketing the rudder and spin recovery was marginal, "more by luck than by any degree of skill."(38)
The prototype received the MN 748, and five batches were constructed as noted in the table, for a total of 58 aircraft. The prototype and early production aircraft up to MN 1076 were fitted with the 150-hp Benz and a nose mounted radiator. On 27 June 1917, flying on all Brandenburg KDW and CC fighters was forbidden until an additional pair of light tubular struts supporting the wing overhang were fitted, thereby obviating the benefit of the star-strut arrangement. This modification was standard on the last two batches. The aircraft from the first, third and fourth batches were fitted with the 160-hp Maybach Mb.III engine and an aerofoil radiator mounted in the wing to starboard of the centre line. The Maybach powered examples can be identified by their single exhaust manifold on the starboard side. Aircraft of the second production batch had either the 150-hp Benz Bz.III if intended to serve in the Baltic, or, if intended for the North Sea and Flanders, the 160-hp Mercedes D.III. The selection of engine provides a statement as to what area was considered the greater threat to the seaplanes.
The German Navy found the "star-strutters," both the KDW and CC, heavy, tricky and unsafe to fly. The view from the cockpit of the KDW was poor, making it unsuitable for air fighting as the risk of a collision was constant. The type was known as the "Spider" in service due to the unusual strut arrangement. The survivors of the 58 KDW fighters were stored at the Navy Depot at Hage.
KDW fighters MNs 1571 - 1573 were to go to Turkey but were instead sent to the Seddin depot. One KDW is reported by Turkish sources to have been used by the Ottoman air force as a maritime reconnaissance machine. When it arrived it had no armament and was powered by a Mercedes engine. KDW MN 1557 was sent to Japan post-war. The Japanese showed more interest in the Brandenburg floatplanes than any of the Allied powers, even receiving Austro-Hungarian Brandenburg C.I biplanes.
Service use of the KDW(39)
Prototype MN 748 was flown to Angernsee where it was to be tested under actual service conditions. Here the Germans were facing the Russians. Sikorsky bombers that, together with other aircraft, carried out attacks against the German base. MN 748 commenced its first mission on 12 September 1916, as escort to torpedo bombers. On 23 September MN 748 was in the hands of Ltn.d.R. Fritz Hammer when he intercepted one of the giant Sikorsky bombers and after making four runs at the bomber, Hammer succeeded in forcing it down near a forest near Dunamunde. During the combat Hammer had been caught up in the turbulence from the Sikorsky's engines and had nearly lost control of his small floatplane, a type not known for its stability.
On 12 February 1917, Zeebrugge had the following Brandenburg aircraft out of a total of 53 aircraft on strength:
KDW: MNs 912 - 916, and 1067 - 1068
W.11: MNs 988 - 990
CC: MNs 1137, 1139, 1141, 1143, and 1145
W.12: MNs 1014 - 1015
The superlative W.12 would replace the obsolescent KDW in the fighter role.
The 28 March 1918, was not a good day for the KDW fighter-trainers of the floatplane school at Putzig. KDW fighters MNs 1385 and 1072 were part of a group of three when they collided. The KDW had been criticized for the lack of visibility from the cockpit, particularly when trying to fly in formation. MN 1385 cut off the tail of MN 1072 that crashed, killing the pilot. MN 1385 also crashed but the pilot survived. The third KDW, MN 917, also crashed trying to avoid the other two and although destroyed, the pilot survived. This was not the end of the saga as MN 915 took off to assist the machine side-slipping out of a turn at 100 metres and crashing, again destroying the aircraft but the pilot managing to survive. The pilots owed their survival to being picked up by local fishing boats. The school did not have a fast motor launch and the unit's diary recorded this fact.
As a result all KDW training was cancelled, the machines being grounded. As the current course could not be completed without these machines the ban was soon lifted and the KDW floatplanes were soon flying, and crashing, again. However, not all the blame could be levelled at the Brandenburg as Albatros W.4 and Rumpler 6B2 biplanes also contributed to the statistics. In the period of one month eight single-seat floatplanes had been destroyed or seriously damaged, five of them being KDW fighters with three deaths on the Brandenburg machines. It appears that the school continued to use the Brandenburgs till at least July, with one, 1387, being shipped from there to Hage in early November.
Given the small number of marine aircraft built for the German Navy, the KDW was a reasonable success. The competing Albatros W.4 floatplane based on the D.I biplane fighter was built in double the numbers of the KDW, had a better performance, and was a better fighting machine due to its speed and the view from the cockpit.
The British confidential Types of German Seaplanes and Flying Boats of July 1918, contains photographs and silhouettes of the KDW wherein it is described as "Brandenburg Seaplane 1917." Apart from stating that the machine was powered by a 150-hp Benz or 160-hp Maybach, no other technical information is described. A second entry repeats the description but states the motor is a 200-hp Benz and it is apparent that the aircraft is the W.11; however, it is illustrated with photographs of a machine bearing MN 508. This Marine Number was assigned to a Friedrichshafen FF33E. This error was repeated for the Type NW. As the photographs have been copied from a German publication the question arises if they were designed to mislead the Allies, yet the photograph of the Type GW show MN 700 and correctly identifies the engines as 160-hp Mercedes.
(38) Gray, P. & Thetford, O. German Aircraft of the First Word War, Putnam, UK, 1962.
(39) This section is based on the pioneering work of Ron Kinter. See "The Brandenburg KDW Operational History," Over the Front Journal, Vol.24, No.3, P.217.
Brandenburg KDW Production
Marine Numbers Class Engine Delivered Notes
748 ED 150 Bz.III Sept. 1916 Prototype. Completed Sept. 1916
783 - 784 ED 150 Bz.III Sept. 1916 Prototypes. Completed Sept. 1916
912 - 921 ED 160 Mb.III Jan. - Feb. 1917 Completed Feb. 1917
1067 - 1076 ED 160 D.III/ 150 Bz.III Oct. 1917 - Apr. 1918 Completed in Mar. & Apr 1917. Aircraft for North Sea had Mercedes. Aircraft for Baltic had Benz.
1380 - 1394 ED 160 Mb.III Mar. - Aug. 1917 Additional interplane struts as standard.
1554 - 1573 E2MG 160 Mb.III One or two machine guns. Completed between Oct. 1917 &. Feb. 1918. Additional interplane struts.
Brandenburg KDW Specifications
Source Typenschau (see note) Gray & Thetford SVK MN 784 SVK MN 914 SVK MN 1067 SVK MN 1554 Brandenburg 3-View
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 9.30 9.25 9.300 9.300 9.300 9.250 9.300
Span, Lower 9.30 - 9.300 9.300 9.300 9.250 9.300
Chord, Upper 1.655 - 1.650 1.650 1.650 1.650 1.650
Chord, Lower 1.655 - 1.650 1.650 1.650 1.650 1.650
Length 7.86 8.0 8.000 7.900 7.900 8.000 7.860
Height - 3.35 3.150 3.370 3.370 3.350
Areas in m2
Wings 29.15 20 - - - - -
Ailerons 1.85 - 1.85 1.85 1.85 1.74 -
Elevators 1.10 - 1.08 1.10 1.10 1.10 -
Rudder 0.64 - 0.65 0.64 0.62 0.53 -
Weights in kg
Empty 759 940 768 759 775 940 768
Loaded 1,039 1,210 1.048 1,059 1,065 1,210 1,048
Performance
Speed in km/hr 172 170 - - - - -
Time to 800 m 3 min. - 4 min. 3 min. 3 min. 4.5 min. -
Time to 1000 m 4 min. 5.9 min. 4.5 min. 4 min. 4 min. 5.9 min. 4.5 min.
Time to 1500 m 6 min. - 7.5 min. 6 min. 7 min. 9.5 min. -
Time to 2000 m 9 min. 14 min. 11 min. 9 min. 11 min. 14.9 min. 11 min.
Time to 3000 m 16 min. 21 min. 21.5 min. 16 min. 22.5 min. 21 min. 21.5 min.
Endurance - 2.5 hour - - - - -
Motor 160-hp Maybach/150-hp Benz 150-hp Benz Bz.III/160-hp Maybach Mb .III 150-hp Benz 160-hp Maybach 150-hp Benz 160 Maybach 150-hp Benz
Note: The Typenschau specifications are for a machine with a single machine gun.
Marine #748 was the first KDW prototype. It was finished in stained wood for the fuselage and floats and clear-doped linen flying surfaces.
Marine #921 was the last KDW in the first production batch. Like the prototypes, it was finished in stained wood for the fuselage and floats and clear-doped linen flying surfaces.
Marine #1562 was part of the fourth and last KDW production batch. It was finished in the standard late-war German naval camouflage with three-color printed fabric on upper surfaces.
This striking view of Marine #748, the first prototype, shows the washed out ailerons. Many WWI airplanes had the angle of attack of their ailerons reduced or 'washed out' to ensure the inner part of the wing stalled before the outer part, where the ailerons were fitted. With no 'wash out', the outer part of the wing would stall first and the pilot would lose aileron control at the beginning of the stall, making a spin much more likely. The metal fairings enclosing the apex of the wing star-struts of #748 are not seen on later aircraft.
The KDW was a floatplane development of the D.I fighter used by Austria but not Germany. Ltn. Fritz Hammer used #748 to down a Russian Ilya Mouromets bomber in September 1916, one of only three downed by German aircraft in air combat. Although credited as a victory, the badly damaged bomber crash-landed at its base with three of it four crewmen wounded.
The KDW was a floatplane development of the D.I fighter used by Austria but not Germany. Ltn. Fritz Hammer used #748 to down a Russian Ilya Mouromets bomber in September 1916, one of only three downed by German aircraft in air combat. Although credited as a victory, the badly damaged bomber crash-landed at its base with three of it four crewmen wounded.
The KDW prototype before armament was fitted. No Marine Number is visible and the frontal, car-type radiator and overall aerodynamic cleanliness of the design are prominent.
The prototype KDW Marine #748, as confirmed by the fairings over the apex of the struts. The Marine Number has not yet been applied.
Marine Number 783, the second KDW prototype, showing its frontal radiator. The machine gun is far forward, out of the pilot's reach in case of jams. The wing structure is evident through the fabric. The Balkenkreuz on the wings appear to be painted over white backgrounds. Although it is difficult to see in this view, there is no fixed fin above the fuselage.
The inaccessible location of the machinegun is also clearly evident on the second KDW prototype, Marine #783. This aircraft was being ferried from Warnemunde to Windau by Lt.z.S. Joachim Cooler when it was forced down near Memel on 23 Sept., 1916. This aircraft may not have completed its journey, for it does not appear in subsequent flying entries at Windau. In March, 1917, Coeler was ordered to the Putzig Seekampfeinsitzerschule to be its commander. KDW Marine #748 is in the right background, identified by the metal fairings at the apex of its interplane struts.
Marine Number 783, the second KDW prototype, clearly shows the forward mounting of the machine gun in this photo. Although the view of the rudder is washed out, the only fixed fin is shown below the fuselage.
Side view of Marine Number 912, the first production KDW, shows the machine gun has been moved back to enable the pilot to reach it in flight to clear jams. This change was made on the basis of early combat reports on #748.
Another KDW from the first production batch was Marine #921, which initially went to Libau, arriving there on 24 Feb., 1917. This aircraft was apparently at Putzig by May, and was wrecked while being flown by Lt. Markwald on 11 August, 1917. This photo was taken in front of a Hansa-Brandenburg hangar, apparently prior to June, 1917, when additional bracing struts were ordered to be installed on all KDWs.
The first KDW from the initial production batch, Marine #912 went to Zeebrugge. On 10 May, 1917, this aircraft was wrecked while being flown by Oblt.z.S Kurt Reinert, who later died from the injuries he sustained. Note that that Lt. Hammer's remarks were heeded; the machine gun is now located closer to the cockpit. Also the radiator has been moved to the upper wing, just right of center.
A late production KDW, Marine Number unknown, displays the fixed upper fin added to later aircraft to improve stability and the additional small interplane struts added for better aileron effectiveness. Compare this aircraft with #1562 of the last production batch; this aircraft retains the plain finish of early production KDWs and the intermediate location of the guns, so may be of the third production batch.
This appears to be another photo of the KDW, and provides an interesting view of the star struts augmented with the auxiliary bracing struts. This arrangement was strong and eliminated the need for drag-producing bracing wires, but was heavier than conventional wing bracing. The additional weight and drag of the auxiliary bracing struts basically eliminated the advantages of the star-strut design, and later designs returned to conventional wing struts.
This later production Brandenburg KDW illustrates inherent design problems and attempted solutions. The unusual 'star-strutter' interplane bracing struts were strong and, made of triangles, eliminated the need for drag-producing bracing cables. This enabled the KDW to be fairly fast. However, the struts were heavy and the wing cellule would twist when ailerons were used. To stiffen the wing cellule in torsion in order to improve aileron effectiveness, outboard auxiliary struts were added as shown. Moreover, stability and flying qualities were poor. A supplementary fixed fin was added to the top of the rear fuselage in an attempt to improve directional stability due to the too-small vertical tail. The lack of wing dihedral meant lateral stability was also inadequate. The design problems could not be completely solved and the KDW was withdrawn from combat due to excessive accidents due to poor flying qualities despite that it was strong and fast.
These photos, Marine Number unknown, clearly shows the light interplane struts ordered to be added to all KDWs in June, 1917. The light struts run from the front spar of the lower wing to both spars of the upper wing and increased the torsional stiffness of the upper wing, which improved aileron response. Compared to the prototypes, the machine gun has been moved back closer to give the pilot better access in case of jams. A fixed vertical fin has been added above the fuselage, which was not done on early production batches.
A KDW from the last production batch, #1562 was one of the aircraft originally sent to II.Seefliegerabteilung, presumably for assignment to a western front unit. Following a series of crashes at the Seekampfeinsitzerschule at Putzig, this and several other II.SFA machines were ordered to be transferred to I.SFA and sent to the Putzig school. Standard late naval lozenge camouflage was applied to this machine. The fixed vertical fin above the fuselage is enlarged compared to the prototypes and early production machines.
Marine Number 1562 of the final KDW production batch displays the additional interplane struts and shows off the three-color hexagonal camouflage fabric used on the upper surfaces of German naval aircraft late in the war. The machine guns have been moved up in front of the pilot for better access.
Type KW
Brandenburg continued to supply small numbers of floatplanes to the German Navy. Three KW two-seat, three-bay reconnaissance biplanes in the CFT Class were supplied during April and May 1916. The KW featured the inward-sloping interplane struts and a first bay devoid of bracing cables. Although intended to have the 260-hp Mercedes D.IVa engine after testing, the 200-hp Benz Bz.IV replaced the Mercedes and the performance suffered accordingly, such that the machines, MNs 588 - 590, were only used for training. These machines survived the war and were at the Hage repair depot in November 1918. Post-war Italy received MN 589 and Japan received MN 588.
Brandenburg KW Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brandenburg 3-View SVK MN 590 (588 - 590)
Span, m 16.30/16.30 16.4 16.400/16.400 16.300/16.300
Length, m 10.55 11.16 ca 10.500 10.550
Height, m - 4.06 4.950 -
Chord, m - - 1.900 1.900
Areas in m2
Wings 60.00 60.4 - -
Ailerons 7.30 - - 7.30
Elevators 1.65 - - 1.65
Rudder 1.00 - - 1.00
Empty Wt, kg 1,471 1,447 1,445 1,471
Loaded Wt, kg 2,135 2,106 2,106 2,135
Performance
Speed in km/hr 134 134 - -
Time to 800 m 11 minutes - - 11 minutes
Time to 1000 m 14.3 minutes 14.5 minutes - 14.3 minutes
Time to 1500 m 24.3 minutes - - 24.3 minutes
Endurance - 6 hours - -
Motor 220-hp Benz 200-hp Benz Bz.IV 220-hp Benz 220-hp Benz
Brandenburg continued to supply small numbers of floatplanes to the German Navy. Three KW two-seat, three-bay reconnaissance biplanes in the CFT Class were supplied during April and May 1916. The KW featured the inward-sloping interplane struts and a first bay devoid of bracing cables. Although intended to have the 260-hp Mercedes D.IVa engine after testing, the 200-hp Benz Bz.IV replaced the Mercedes and the performance suffered accordingly, such that the machines, MNs 588 - 590, were only used for training. These machines survived the war and were at the Hage repair depot in November 1918. Post-war Italy received MN 589 and Japan received MN 588.
Brandenburg KW Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brandenburg 3-View SVK MN 590 (588 - 590)
Span, m 16.30/16.30 16.4 16.400/16.400 16.300/16.300
Length, m 10.55 11.16 ca 10.500 10.550
Height, m - 4.06 4.950 -
Chord, m - - 1.900 1.900
Areas in m2
Wings 60.00 60.4 - -
Ailerons 7.30 - - 7.30
Elevators 1.65 - - 1.65
Rudder 1.00 - - 1.00
Empty Wt, kg 1,471 1,447 1,445 1,471
Loaded Wt, kg 2,135 2,106 2,106 2,135
Performance
Speed in km/hr 134 134 - -
Time to 800 m 11 minutes - - 11 minutes
Time to 1000 m 14.3 minutes 14.5 minutes - 14.3 minutes
Time to 1500 m 24.3 minutes - - 24.3 minutes
Endurance - 6 hours - -
Motor 220-hp Benz 200-hp Benz Bz.IV 220-hp Benz 220-hp Benz
This GNW (KW ???) appears to have a communal cockpit rather than the separate cockpits for observer and pilot. This machine without a fuselage cross may be the prototype.
MN 590 in full camouflage and markings. This was the machine used for the SVK "Atlas" three-view and these photographs are thought to have been taken at Warnemunde.
This would be KW 590 in the Brandenburg factory in Briest, Germany. Points to note are the engine installation with individual exhaust pipes, the white surround to the fuselage cross is not finished, nor is the Marine Number.
The fuselage of KW MN 588 in the Brandenburg factory. A twin-engined floatplane can be seen in the background being assembled.
Type W.11
The W.11 was a heavier and more powerful attempt to improve the KDW floatplane fighter. It had the more powerful 200-hp Benz Bz IV engine and was dimensionally slightly larger than the KDW. It retained the star-struts of the earlier design and equipped with two synchronised Maxim 08/15 machine guns, placing it in the ED2MG Class. Only three were constructed in late 1916 and received MNs 988 - 990. MN 988 was destroyed as a static test example.(40) Both remaining W.11 fighters were recorded at Flandern 1, Zeebrugge, in a report of 15 May 1917. MN 989 was recorded at the Hage Repair Depot in November 1918. No flying records have been found to date in the surviving war diaries for these aircraft.
(40) It would appear that a contract for three prototypes was standard in order to have a static test example and two to carry out the flying requirements. If one was lost there would be a stand-by machine to continue the testing without delay. Green and Swanborough state that only two W.11 fighters were produced, ignoring the static test example.
Brandenburg W.11 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford SVK MN 990 (988 - 990) Brandenburg 3-View
Span, m 10.10/10.10 10.0 10.100/10.100 10.000/10.000
Chord, m 1.65/1.65 - 1.650/1.650 1.650/1.650
Length, m 8.10 8.2 8.100 8.200
Height, m - 3.32 3.500 3.320
Areas, m2
Wings 31.42 31.4 31.43 -
Ailerons 2.0 - 2.00 1.92
Elevators 1.2 - 1.20 1.13
Rudder 0.64 - 0.64 0.53
Empty Wt, kg 933 935 935 935
Loaded Wt, kg 1,233 1,215 1,233 1,215
Performance
Speed in km/hr 176 176 - -
Time to 1000 m 4 minutes - - -
Time to 1500 m 6.5 minutes - 6.5 minutes -
Time to 2000 m 9 minutes - 9 minutes -
Time to 3000 m 16.5 minutes - 16.5 minutes -
Motor 220-hp Benz 220-hp Benz Bz.IV 220-hp Benz 220-hp Benz
The W.11 was a heavier and more powerful attempt to improve the KDW floatplane fighter. It had the more powerful 200-hp Benz Bz IV engine and was dimensionally slightly larger than the KDW. It retained the star-struts of the earlier design and equipped with two synchronised Maxim 08/15 machine guns, placing it in the ED2MG Class. Only three were constructed in late 1916 and received MNs 988 - 990. MN 988 was destroyed as a static test example.(40) Both remaining W.11 fighters were recorded at Flandern 1, Zeebrugge, in a report of 15 May 1917. MN 989 was recorded at the Hage Repair Depot in November 1918. No flying records have been found to date in the surviving war diaries for these aircraft.
(40) It would appear that a contract for three prototypes was standard in order to have a static test example and two to carry out the flying requirements. If one was lost there would be a stand-by machine to continue the testing without delay. Green and Swanborough state that only two W.11 fighters were produced, ignoring the static test example.
Brandenburg W.11 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford SVK MN 990 (988 - 990) Brandenburg 3-View
Span, m 10.10/10.10 10.0 10.100/10.100 10.000/10.000
Chord, m 1.65/1.65 - 1.650/1.650 1.650/1.650
Length, m 8.10 8.2 8.100 8.200
Height, m - 3.32 3.500 3.320
Areas, m2
Wings 31.42 31.4 31.43 -
Ailerons 2.0 - 2.00 1.92
Elevators 1.2 - 1.20 1.13
Rudder 0.64 - 0.64 0.53
Empty Wt, kg 933 935 935 935
Loaded Wt, kg 1,233 1,215 1,233 1,215
Performance
Speed in km/hr 176 176 - -
Time to 1000 m 4 minutes - - -
Time to 1500 m 6.5 minutes - 6.5 minutes -
Time to 2000 m 9 minutes - 9 minutes -
Time to 3000 m 16.5 minutes - 16.5 minutes -
Motor 220-hp Benz 220-hp Benz Bz.IV 220-hp Benz 220-hp Benz
The W.11 was a slightly enlarged, more powerful version of the KDW fighter retaining the "star strutter" bracing of its predecessor and looks virtually identical; the Marine Number is the fool-proof way to tell the difference.
If not for the Marine Number 988 the W.11 can be mistaken for a KDW fighter retaining the "star strutter" bracing of its predecessor.
The W11 derivative of the KDW was tested in 1917, but only prototypes were completed.
The W11 derivative of the KDW was tested in 1917, but only prototypes were completed.
The W.11 was an unsuccessful attempt to improve the KDW fighter. Its more powerful engine gave better speed and climb but maneuverability and handling remained problematic. The appearance of the exceptional W.12 rendered single-seat floatplane fighters obsolete.
Type W.13 (Austro-Hungarian K Flying Boat)
The W.13 was another large flying boat built for production in Austro-Hungary by Phonix and UFAG, and later by Oeffag, as a Type K boat.(5) The prototype was constructed in Germany but none were used by the German air services.
The first W.13 for the kuk Kriegsmarine was K305 that arrived at Pola in March 1917. This machine crashed on 25 April during trials. The second Brandenburg-built machine, K306, did not arrive until 6 March 1918, indicating problems at the Brandenburg factory at Briest. In the meantime the type had entered active service, with K366 attacking the Italian barracks at Palmanova in August 1917.
K307 was found by an Italian Torpedo boat on 28 September 1917, having alighted due to engine failure, and was recovered in almost perfect condition. "She appeared to be brand new, well-built, and nicely finished off, a great contrast to K222, captured on 11th August 1917, which was rather cheaply built." The report published by the British noted that the wings were of deep section and large camber. The interplane struts were of 44 mm streamlined steel tubing and inclined inwards from bottom to top. The fin was a hollow three-ply structure built onto the hull that was constructed of three-ply throughout.
The wings were attached by steel extensions of the main spars that passed through the deck of the hull. The pilot sat on the left side with the observer on the right. He could pass to the front cockpit by means of a sliding door without climbing over the top. The engine was reported to be a 12-cylinder Vee-type Austro-Daimler of 345-hp. Twin Bosch magnetos were fitted, each supplying 12 cylinders. Twin carburettors were fitted on the starboard side, each supplying six cylinders. Starting was achieved by means of a starting crank (removable) on the end of the crank shaft and a standard Bosch starting magneto. The engine was supported on steel bearers.
The two-bladed propeller had brass tips and was of mahogany except for the central lamination that was of ash. Fuel for eight hours was carried in two tanks located in the hull under the engine. The forward tank held 170 litres, while the aft tank held 590 litres. A gravity tank located in the starboard top plane was fed by air pressure from the main tanks. Full supply also could be made from the main tanks. A hand pump and two mechanical pumps driven off the cam shaft could be used to supply fuel.
The aileron controls were led from the hull through the wings. Rudder and elevator control runs were along the top of the boat. No controls were duplicated. "The rudder control bar is fitted with rests for both feet, and must be unusually comfortable for a long flight."
Armament comprised a single machine gun in the front cockpit, the gunner standing to operate the gun. K307 was fitted to carry two 155 kg bombs and fourteen 20 kg bombs. One 155 kg bomb was carried against the hull under the main planes on each side. The bombs could not be released except in a live condition as the fusing wire was operated by the bomb-dropping lever. Fourteen 30 kg bombs could be carried in two "more or less" streamlined boxes mounted on the lower main planes. The bombs could be dropped separately or by turning the lever swiftly, in a box together.(6)
Despite the "Kappa" having a good record in service, 59 of the 134 known to have been constructed were placed directly into storage, mainly due to the lack of suitable engines.
After the end of the war, when the French left the Austro-Hungarian seaplane base at Kumbor, the Royal Yugoslav Navy obtained 22 abandoned Austro-Hungarian marine aircraft. There were four Brandenburg W.18 flying boats, five Brandenburg K, and five Brandenburg W.13 boats, together with a Friedrichshafen FF49C, two Rumpler 6B2 floatplanes, and five Lohner TL boats. Some of these, including the Brandenburgs, were pressed into service, mostly as trainers.(7)
The USN received a number of Austro-Hungarian naval aircraft post-Armistice. On 23 October 1919, it was reported that the Commander, US Naval Forces, Eastern Mediterranean, had arranged with Italian authorities to obtain two ex-Austrian seaplanes from the Naval Air station at Pola. UFAG-built W.13 K405, with a 12-cylinder 450-hp Daimler engine, was shipped to the US by the USS Mars in October 1919, along with UFAG-built FB K248 with a 250-hp Hiero engine,(8) both boats being reported at the Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) on 1 October 1920. K405 was restored to flight status with a Liberty engine by the NAF. On 4 January 1921, it was reported that the bottom of the hull was weak and old and should be replaced. Whether this was done or not is unknown; however, the flying boat was shipped by air to Hampton Roads, where the USN had its experimental facility, on 27 May 1921. It underwent testing at Hampton Roads with the Bureau No. A-5806. On 18 May 1922, Hampton Roads put in a Trouble Report that noted that the hull had depreciated to such an extent that the machine was no longer safe to fly and as it was beyond economic repair, it was recommended that it be stricken from the list of naval aircraft, this being carried out on 16 June 1922.
(5) The K class of flying boat was introduced to supplement the L Class and to have a greater load and defensive power with a crew of three and a machine gun in the forward cockpit. The types were most often flown with a crew of only two.
(6) UKNA AIR1 /716/27/19/32. "Austrian Flying Boat"K.307."
(7) Why the W.13 boats were listed separately from K boats is not explained. Source: Isaic,V. and Frka, D. Naval Aviation at the Eastern Coast of the Adriatic Sea 1918-1941 (Volume 1), TKO ZNA ZNA, Zagreb, 2010.
(8) NARA RG72 Box 2, File O-ZS-21.
Brandenburg W.13 Production
Serial Manufacturer Notes
K305 - K319 Brandenburg Short hulls. 350-hp Austro-Daimler.
K320 - K364 Brandenburg Long hulls. 350-hp Austro-Daimler. 40 delivered without engine.
K365 - K422 UFAG 350-hp Austro-Daimler. K417 - K421 destroyed in fire at factory.
K425 - K452 Phonix Long hull. Only first 10 delivered, 7 without engine (See below).
K431 & K434 Oeffag 350-hp Austro-Daimler. Possibly sub-contract from Brandenburg.
The W.13 was another large flying boat built for production in Austro-Hungary by Phonix and UFAG, and later by Oeffag, as a Type K boat.(5) The prototype was constructed in Germany but none were used by the German air services.
The first W.13 for the kuk Kriegsmarine was K305 that arrived at Pola in March 1917. This machine crashed on 25 April during trials. The second Brandenburg-built machine, K306, did not arrive until 6 March 1918, indicating problems at the Brandenburg factory at Briest. In the meantime the type had entered active service, with K366 attacking the Italian barracks at Palmanova in August 1917.
K307 was found by an Italian Torpedo boat on 28 September 1917, having alighted due to engine failure, and was recovered in almost perfect condition. "She appeared to be brand new, well-built, and nicely finished off, a great contrast to K222, captured on 11th August 1917, which was rather cheaply built." The report published by the British noted that the wings were of deep section and large camber. The interplane struts were of 44 mm streamlined steel tubing and inclined inwards from bottom to top. The fin was a hollow three-ply structure built onto the hull that was constructed of three-ply throughout.
The wings were attached by steel extensions of the main spars that passed through the deck of the hull. The pilot sat on the left side with the observer on the right. He could pass to the front cockpit by means of a sliding door without climbing over the top. The engine was reported to be a 12-cylinder Vee-type Austro-Daimler of 345-hp. Twin Bosch magnetos were fitted, each supplying 12 cylinders. Twin carburettors were fitted on the starboard side, each supplying six cylinders. Starting was achieved by means of a starting crank (removable) on the end of the crank shaft and a standard Bosch starting magneto. The engine was supported on steel bearers.
The two-bladed propeller had brass tips and was of mahogany except for the central lamination that was of ash. Fuel for eight hours was carried in two tanks located in the hull under the engine. The forward tank held 170 litres, while the aft tank held 590 litres. A gravity tank located in the starboard top plane was fed by air pressure from the main tanks. Full supply also could be made from the main tanks. A hand pump and two mechanical pumps driven off the cam shaft could be used to supply fuel.
The aileron controls were led from the hull through the wings. Rudder and elevator control runs were along the top of the boat. No controls were duplicated. "The rudder control bar is fitted with rests for both feet, and must be unusually comfortable for a long flight."
Armament comprised a single machine gun in the front cockpit, the gunner standing to operate the gun. K307 was fitted to carry two 155 kg bombs and fourteen 20 kg bombs. One 155 kg bomb was carried against the hull under the main planes on each side. The bombs could not be released except in a live condition as the fusing wire was operated by the bomb-dropping lever. Fourteen 30 kg bombs could be carried in two "more or less" streamlined boxes mounted on the lower main planes. The bombs could be dropped separately or by turning the lever swiftly, in a box together.(6)
Despite the "Kappa" having a good record in service, 59 of the 134 known to have been constructed were placed directly into storage, mainly due to the lack of suitable engines.
After the end of the war, when the French left the Austro-Hungarian seaplane base at Kumbor, the Royal Yugoslav Navy obtained 22 abandoned Austro-Hungarian marine aircraft. There were four Brandenburg W.18 flying boats, five Brandenburg K, and five Brandenburg W.13 boats, together with a Friedrichshafen FF49C, two Rumpler 6B2 floatplanes, and five Lohner TL boats. Some of these, including the Brandenburgs, were pressed into service, mostly as trainers.(7)
The USN received a number of Austro-Hungarian naval aircraft post-Armistice. On 23 October 1919, it was reported that the Commander, US Naval Forces, Eastern Mediterranean, had arranged with Italian authorities to obtain two ex-Austrian seaplanes from the Naval Air station at Pola. UFAG-built W.13 K405, with a 12-cylinder 450-hp Daimler engine, was shipped to the US by the USS Mars in October 1919, along with UFAG-built FB K248 with a 250-hp Hiero engine,(8) both boats being reported at the Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) on 1 October 1920. K405 was restored to flight status with a Liberty engine by the NAF. On 4 January 1921, it was reported that the bottom of the hull was weak and old and should be replaced. Whether this was done or not is unknown; however, the flying boat was shipped by air to Hampton Roads, where the USN had its experimental facility, on 27 May 1921. It underwent testing at Hampton Roads with the Bureau No. A-5806. On 18 May 1922, Hampton Roads put in a Trouble Report that noted that the hull had depreciated to such an extent that the machine was no longer safe to fly and as it was beyond economic repair, it was recommended that it be stricken from the list of naval aircraft, this being carried out on 16 June 1922.
(5) The K class of flying boat was introduced to supplement the L Class and to have a greater load and defensive power with a crew of three and a machine gun in the forward cockpit. The types were most often flown with a crew of only two.
(6) UKNA AIR1 /716/27/19/32. "Austrian Flying Boat"K.307."
(7) Why the W.13 boats were listed separately from K boats is not explained. Source: Isaic,V. and Frka, D. Naval Aviation at the Eastern Coast of the Adriatic Sea 1918-1941 (Volume 1), TKO ZNA ZNA, Zagreb, 2010.
(8) NARA RG72 Box 2, File O-ZS-21.
Brandenburg W.13 Production
Serial Manufacturer Notes
K305 - K319 Brandenburg Short hulls. 350-hp Austro-Daimler.
K320 - K364 Brandenburg Long hulls. 350-hp Austro-Daimler. 40 delivered without engine.
K365 - K422 UFAG 350-hp Austro-Daimler. K417 - K421 destroyed in fire at factory.
K425 - K452 Phonix Long hull. Only first 10 delivered, 7 without engine (See below).
K431 & K434 Oeffag 350-hp Austro-Daimler. Possibly sub-contract from Brandenburg.
The first kuk Kriegsmarine W.13, K305, at Puntisella, March 1917, is surrounded by what appear to be factory personnel. The figure on the right in a cloth cap is Ernst Heinkel.
The remains of K305 after it crashed during takeoff while piloted by Lschlt. Hugo Stenta, 25 April 1917. The hull is still fairly well intact, a tribute to the Brandenburg form of construction. Brandenburg CC A33 and Lohner TI L102 are in the background.
K.307 on the turntable at Brindisi displays the period after the "K" indicating the components were built in Briest, Germany. The red and white wing tip and tail markings are well shown. K307 was captured and the subject of a British report on the type.
K.315 was accepted at Trieste on 3 December 1917. Note the bomb rack on the side of the hull under the wing. This machine is known to have been used as a trainer at Trieste.
K368 in the water at Trieste. Accepted on 8 August 1917, this boat survived until a raid on Italian troops on 31 October. The pilot and another crew member were wounded by anti-aircraft fire. The crew managed to bring the machine back to base but it was destroyed in landing. All three crew survived.
Five 50-kg Skoda bombs are aligned on the side of the hull of K373. Accepted for service on 12 September 1917, at Trieste.
K374, inflight on 26 January 1918, displays the location of national markings on the top of both wings.
The intrepid pilot shows off his flying machine to his lady love! K377 at Puntisella, February 1918.
K386 at Puntisella in 1918. Note the bombs suspended along the side of the hull. In early 1918 a directive was issued that flying boats were to be painted "above dark and bright below," but does not specify any colors. K386 is in this scheme whereby the hull was divided into two with the bottom painted what is thought to be either a light grey or blue. The upper part was probably left in the usual varnish finish. Wingtips were red/white/red stripes to the full extent of the ailerons.
The remains of K404.The strength of the hull is demonstrated by its supporting eight men after its mishap.
The starboard upper wing of K405 at the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, showing the kuk Kriegsmarine cross's location and style.
K425 displays the cross on the bow. After the Italians captured the Lohner flying boat L40 intact and then manufactured a direct copy as the Macchi L1, a regulation was gazetted on 2 January 1916, that the cross be added to the bow. This was applied such that the cross would have the correct proportions when viewed from directly ahead. The Italians marked their hulls with a roundel on the bow.
K434 has the serial marked in a different style, probably due to it being built by Oeffag. This flying boat was lost in an attack on Poveglia, the crew being taken POWs and the aircraft recovered by the Italians. The machine is seen here at Venice after capture.
Type W.16
The little W.16 station defence fighter of pleasing lines was constructed in 1916. Unusually for a Brandenburg floatplane design it was powered by a rotary engine, the 160-hp Oberursel U.III. Of conventional Brandenburg-type construction, it featured "V" interplane struts with another strut from the lower wing to the fuselage, thereby doing away with cable bracing. Three were ordered (MNs 1077 - 1079) but MN 1078 was reportedly cancelled; however, all three were recorded at Warnemunde according to a report of 15 May 1917; and MN 1078 was recorded at the Hage Repair Depot in November 1919. No flying records of these aircraft have been found in the war diaries to date.
While flying characteristics were probably an improvement over the KDW, its speed of 170 km/h was the same, and above 1,000 m its climb was inferior. The type therefore had no chance of a production run, especially as the W.12 was greatly superior.
Brandenburg W.16 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brandenburg 3-View SVK MN 1078 (1077 - 1079)
Span, m 9.11/7.77 9.25 9.110/7.774 9.250/7.800
Chord, m 1.6601.100 - 1.650/1.100 1.660/1.110
Length, m 7.35 7.35 6.845 7.350
Height, m - 2.925 - 2.925
Areas, m2
Wings 23.00 21.35 23.0 21.35
Ailerons 1.45 - - 1.45
Elevators 1.0 - - 1.00
Rudder 0.40 - - 0.40
Empty Wt, kg 659 636 659 636
Loaded Wt, kg 935 896 935 896
Performance
Speed in km/hr 170 179 - -
Time to 500 m - - - 3.9 minutes
Time to 800 m - - - -
Time to 1000 m 5 minutes 5 minutes - 5 minutes
Time to 1500 m 8.2 minutes - - 8.2 minutes
Time to 2000 m 12.6 minutes - - 12.6 minutes
Time to 3000 m 27 minutes 27 minutes - 27.0 minutes
Endurance - 2 hours approximately - -
Engine 160-hp Oberursel 160-hp Oberursel U.III - 160-hp Oberursel
Brandenburg W.16 Production
Marine Numbers Class Engine Notes
1077 - 1079 ED Oberursel U.III 1078 reportedly cancelled 15.11.18. 1079 static test November 1918.
The little W.16 station defence fighter of pleasing lines was constructed in 1916. Unusually for a Brandenburg floatplane design it was powered by a rotary engine, the 160-hp Oberursel U.III. Of conventional Brandenburg-type construction, it featured "V" interplane struts with another strut from the lower wing to the fuselage, thereby doing away with cable bracing. Three were ordered (MNs 1077 - 1079) but MN 1078 was reportedly cancelled; however, all three were recorded at Warnemunde according to a report of 15 May 1917; and MN 1078 was recorded at the Hage Repair Depot in November 1919. No flying records of these aircraft have been found in the war diaries to date.
While flying characteristics were probably an improvement over the KDW, its speed of 170 km/h was the same, and above 1,000 m its climb was inferior. The type therefore had no chance of a production run, especially as the W.12 was greatly superior.
Brandenburg W.16 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brandenburg 3-View SVK MN 1078 (1077 - 1079)
Span, m 9.11/7.77 9.25 9.110/7.774 9.250/7.800
Chord, m 1.6601.100 - 1.650/1.100 1.660/1.110
Length, m 7.35 7.35 6.845 7.350
Height, m - 2.925 - 2.925
Areas, m2
Wings 23.00 21.35 23.0 21.35
Ailerons 1.45 - - 1.45
Elevators 1.0 - - 1.00
Rudder 0.40 - - 0.40
Empty Wt, kg 659 636 659 636
Loaded Wt, kg 935 896 935 896
Performance
Speed in km/hr 170 179 - -
Time to 500 m - - - 3.9 minutes
Time to 800 m - - - -
Time to 1000 m 5 minutes 5 minutes - 5 minutes
Time to 1500 m 8.2 minutes - - 8.2 minutes
Time to 2000 m 12.6 minutes - - 12.6 minutes
Time to 3000 m 27 minutes 27 minutes - 27.0 minutes
Endurance - 2 hours approximately - -
Engine 160-hp Oberursel 160-hp Oberursel U.III - 160-hp Oberursel
Brandenburg W.16 Production
Marine Numbers Class Engine Notes
1077 - 1079 ED Oberursel U.III 1078 reportedly cancelled 15.11.18. 1079 static test November 1918.
The Brandenburg W.16 seaplane fighter was an attempt to produce a seaplane fighter with better handling qualities than the Brandenburg KDW. Only three prototypes were built.
Type W.12
The KDW and Albatros W.4 single-seater fighters performed well for their day, but were obsolescent by the end of 1916 and the Naval authorities had already determined to concentrate their limited raw materials to the development of two-seat fighter floatplanes that would be defended from the rear. The English were experimenting with the Curtiss America flying boats and the first Large America boat, the Curtiss H-8 serial 8650, arrived at Felixstowe for erection on 24 March 1916. The machine required much modification and the improved type, designated H-12, started to enter service at the end of the year, therefore the W.12 was not designed to counteract the Large America flying boats as has been suggested in some publications. The British Short floatplanes on anti-submarine patrols from Dunkirk were escorted by Sopwith Baby fighters. By May 1917 the Dunkirk seaplanes were unable to undertake meaningful work due to the opposition by German fighting aircraft, and it was suggested that the Baby seaplanes be replaced by fighter land planes.
A combat on 19 June 1917, with Short 184 serial 9057 and its two escorting Sopwith Baby fighters of the Dunkirk Seaplane Squadron, emphasized the change in conditions. The British aircraft set out on a mine and U-Boat spotting patrol. When half an hour out and about 12 miles north-east of Dunkirk they were attacked by three enemy fighting seaplanes. Flt. Sub. Lt. J.E. Potvin in Baby N1015 was shot down by the German pilot Dyck, who was himself brought down with an abdomen wound when attacked by Flt. Lt. R. Graham in the other Baby. In the meantime the observer in the Short, Lt. T. Rogers, had been shot and killed by another of the attacking Germans. The Short's radiator and fuel tank had been hit, forcing the floatplane to alight. Graham's Baby was badly shot about and he was forced to leave the action with a failing engine. He alighted alongside a French destroyer and sent two messages by pigeon to Dunkirk. Graham wrote that the Short had been shot down and "Potvin?" His tank had been shot and he couldn't climb. He requested that more fighters be sent.
Dyck had managed to alight safely and one of his companions landed alongside and removed the wounded pilot to his own single-seat fighter and succeeded in reaching Ostend, but in vain, as Dyck had died on the way. A thunderstorm meant that Dunkirk could not send out any aircraft and the decision was made to send out two of the then secret Coastal Motor Boats (CMB) as speed was essential. One of the boats suffered engine problems and was captured by the Germans. The other had an eventful cruise, being attacked by four enemy destroyers, and after firing a torpedo, unsuccessfully, returned without seeing anything. It was afterwards learned that German destroyers had reached the Short and taken aboard her pilot and dead observer. This episode resulted in the loss of two seaplanes and one of the new CMB vessels, and emphasized the need for first-class fighter aircraft to oppose the German seaplanes. The Baby seaplanes were replaced by Sopwith Pup fighters and later by Sopwith Camels when the Flight was expanded into the Seaplane Defence Squadron (later No.13 Squadron, RNAS).
The first Brandenburg floatplane fighter to achieve fame, the W.12 exhibited characteristics that the late P.M. Grosz noted were inherited from the development of the Brandenburg Type K and KDD landplanes built for the Austro-Hungarian LFT. These characteristics were the high-sided fuselage with rudder under the tailplane giving the rear gunner an unparallel field of fire without danger of damaging his own aircraft. The Castiglioni group of companies shared information and it is probable that the fuselage design of the prototype that became the W.12 was influenced by the design efforts in Austro-Hungary that led to the Phonix and UFAG C.I reconnaissance two-seat biplanes.
Heinkel states that he designed the W.12 in eight weeks. Heinkel was the Chief Designer but was not alone in working on the design. He states in his autobiography that he had to work hard to achieve the light, strong structure in order to meet the performance specification with the then available engines.
The W.12 was designed in 1916 as a seaplane defence fighter having a gun for rearward protection. The German Navy placed an order for three W.12 prototypes on 15 October 1916, (MN 1014 - 1016). This was followed the next month by another order for three further prototypes (MN 1011 - 1013).(41)
The W.12 was of conventional Brandenburg construction but possessed design characteristics that were to be carried forward through to the next models of Brandenburg fighters and to influence other manufacturers. The fuselage was based on four spruce longerons with multi-ply formers supporting the engine. The pilot was located behind the engine seated over the fuel tank. Immediately aft of the engine bearers the longerons swept up towards the tail giving an elevated gun position for the observer. The observer's cockpit was surmounted by a metal basin shaped structure containing the gun ring. This allowed plenty of room for handling the gun. He could fire his LMG 14/17 Parabellum machine gun over the wing and, if necessary, through the wings without concern that he would cut the bracing cables as the structure did not require any cables. The fuselage tapered to a vertical knife edge. The cantilever horizontal tailplane was ply covered and mounted flush with the upper longerons, well clear of spray. The tailplane was thicker at the centre and air flow disturbance caused the steel tube elevators to be redesigned. The cantilevered tailplane meant that the gunner could aim his gun close to the fuselage without tailplane bracing struts entering his field of fire. The elevators were welded metal framed steel tube with fabric covering as were the rudder and ailerons. The rudder was mounted on the stern post with the balance section underneath the fuselage. The deep fuselage compensated for the additional float area and lack of a fin. The fuselage was of usual Brandenburg construction and covered with ply eliminating the need for internal wire bracing. Easily detachable metal panels forward enclosed the engine. Those machines equipped with the 160-hp Mercedes D.III engine had a leading edge radiator whilst the batches equipped with the 150-hp Benz Bz.III had a radiator mounted in the nose.
The wings were of conventional construction but were of a thick aerofoil section in order to be strong enough to eliminate the interplane bracing cables. Both wings were of the same chord, tapering towards the tips. The upper wing was slightly longer than the lower wing. The wings were constructed around two spars, the upper wing being in one piece. A cut-out in the trailing edge gave the observer clear upward vision although this had to be enlarged on production machines. Plain unbalanced ailerons were carried on the top wing only. Later machines had ailerons on all wings connected by a link strut.
A compass of the liquid type with floating dial of about 110 mm diameter was mounted in the lower wing about 900 mm from the side of the fuselage. In some cases it was illuminated with a small electric bulb protected from the front, the wiring for which was carried out from the fuselage through the wing. An air speed indicator of the cup type was often mounted on an interplane strut.
The single step floats were of wood being composed of five water tight compartments and covered with marine ply. Bituminous paint was often used as a finish to make them watertight. A chassis of steel tube struts, in the form of the letter "M" in front view, connected the floats to the fuselage, the points of the "M" being located at the roots of the wing spars. Additional struts brace the floats to the wings under the interplane struts completed the structure. These formed the letter "N" in side elevation. The struts were steel tubes faired with light veneer. The ends of the struts were fitted with a screw plug that would have been used to align the machines. These struts formed a strong, robust structure that helped support the wing cellule without having to resort to cable bracing. This system of support struts was to be carried through the W.19, W.29, W.33, W.34 and proposed W.37, and was seen on the Heinkel He.1 post-war floatplane.
The W.12 was not an instant success. As the waters round Brandenburg were frozen, the machine was crated and shipped to the seaplane test unit at Warnemunde for its first flight. Heinkel records that the test pilot was named Walter Stagge. On its first flight the W.12 proved dangerously tail heavy, and the observer had to throw all ballast out in order to allow the machine to make a safe alighting. The floatplane had to be re-rigged before the Navy personnel were allowed to fly it.(42) MN 1014 had arrived at the SVK in January 1917 but was later wrecked in an emergency landing, having to be rebuilt and was returned to testing in June 1917. Initial testing was promising, the machine possessing a good turn of speed and manoeuvrability. Before the prototypes had flown an order had been placed for ten production W.12 fighters. These machines had round wingtips as against the prototypes square tips.
As the W.12 was developed many improvements were tried and introduced into production batches. Later aircraft had four ailerons connected by a link strut that gave improved flight characteristics. A longer fuselage was introduced from MN 2000 that significantly improved longitudinal control and the rudder was reduced in area to compensate for the additional side area. Aerofoil radiators were tried as well as a narrow tailplane; there were at least three variations of the tailplane on production machines. The wings were basically the same on all batches.
An early criticism was made to the location of the pilot under the upper wing. In the event of an accident, his chance of getting out was hampered by the interplane struts and wing. The cut-out was made larger on the first production batch, and increased later as a reduction in stagger moved the wing backwards. Redesigning the centre-section struts to facilitate entry/exit took longer. On early production machines the upper wing was supported by five struts, the odd leg carrying the fuel pipe to the upper wing gravity tank. Later machines had a revised system of two substantial support N struts.
The modifications that were incorporated into production aircraft were faithfully recorded on the Atlas drawings of the various batches of the W.12 as reproduced in these pages.
W.12 in Service
German Naval activities did not involve seeking out enemy seaplanes alone, in fact reconnaissance was more important. Dr. Fritz Stormer recalled that:
Our submarines were particularly interested in changes of the buoys set out in our sector of the sea, as well as new blockade nettings, minefields, wrecks and other underwater obstacles, all of which we were supposed to report upon our return or landing at sea. Even if we could not convey the exact nautical position we could usually mention enough recognition points to make our report essentially clear, which was especially important when we pushed as far forward as High Margate in the Thames.
The patrols would report whether the cleared channels for access for U-Boats were kept clear. As Dr Stormer noted:
We did more than just interdict enemy aircraft. Indeed, our mission was mainly devoted to surveillance of maritime traffic in the entire blockade sector from the English coast to Holland. On many occasions, our aircraft pursued vessels and either dropped bombs near them or signalled them to halt by directing a stream of machine gun fire across their bows, after which a German boarding party would take over. In these instances the Staffeln reported the ship’s presence by wireless telegraphy and gave the precise location. Then a large seaplane would come out with a “prize officer” who was put aboard the captured vessel while our aircraft circled overhead and observed their slow progress towards our shore. Thus many large sailing ships, as well as two steamers, did not reach their intended ports of call and were, instead, brought into Zeebrugge. One of these prizes of war served as a barrack ship for the petty officers among our flying personnel.(43)
In line with the above activities Christiansen's Staffel was credited with the destruction of the Dutch ship Agina on 12 July 1917.
The W.12 entered active service in the autumn of 1916. By 12 February 1917, Zeebrugge had W.12 floatplanes MNs 1014 and 1015 in service. However it was not until October that the W.12 made its combat debut. A sortie by three Friedrichshafen FF 33L, an Albatros W.4 and Brandenburg W.12 MN 1183, left Zeebrugge at 1600 (German time). After one FF33L dropped out and alighted with engine trouble, and another returned to summons help to the downed biplane, the three remaining aircraft encountered a large British flying boat and attacked.
This flying boat was Porte Baby 9810, a three-engined machine designed by John Porte at Felixstowe. The boat was on patrol from Felixstowe in the vicinity of the North Hinder Light Vessel when attacked by "an aeroplane and two fighting seaplanes." The pilot, Flt Cmdr N. Shoto Douglas, managed to avoid many of the attacks by sideslipping, until the port and centre engine were shot up and the boat forced to alight. Once on the water the Germans attacked but AM C. Spikings kept up return fire although he had been scalded when the engine near him had been set on fire. He also worked on the engines during the night despite having burned his hands. The boat managed to taxi to the Sizewell Gap, north of Oxford, where she was taken in tow.(44) The Baby was ill designed to withstand attacks by fighter aircraft. As a result of this action the Baby was not used where enemy aircraft were expected unless an escort of America flying boats could be given.
The Germans claimed that the British flying boat was shot down with bullets in its left engine and radiator by the W.12. The pilot, Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich Christiansen, claiming his second victory.(45) This was to be the start of the increasing activities of the Zeebrugge Brandenburg biplanes and then monoplanes against the British patrolling flying boats that lasted until the end of the war.
"Fiede" Christiansen's name now became synonymous with the activities of the Brandenburgs from Zeebrugge. The most spectacular victory achieved by Christiansen was the shooting down the British coastal non-rigid Astra-Torres type airship C27 on 11 December 1917, off the East Anglia coast. Three aircraft took off for an offensive patrol at 0900 (German time) and over the Outer Gabbard sighted a British airship in the vicinity of the North Hinder Lightship. MN 1183 began the fight and within two minutes the airship fell some 400 metres to the sea. The crew of five perished. In actuality Christiansen was responsible for the loss of two airships. The sister airship, C26, was lost the following day while searching for the missing C27. The non-rigid drifted into Eemnes, near the Zuyderzee, after its engine failed, resulting in the crew being interned in the Netherlands.(46) As a result of this, no airship patrols were to be flown where they were liable to be intercepted by German aircraft.
Encounters with the "Large America" Curtiss H.12 and Felixstowe F2a flying boats often turned into running battles with the flying boats flying low over the water in order to prevent attacks from beneath. The Brandenburgs would fly alongside with the gunners trading fire over the short distance separating the two adversaries. The W.12 and later W.19 would fly mixed formations with Friedrichshafen reconnaissance aircraft. When conditions were suitable the Brandenburgs would alight and wait while the aircraft with longer endurance would search for patrolling British flying boats or ships. If it saw a formation it would try and get the British to follow it to the waiting Brandenburgs, or else call up the fighters by wireless while keeping the British engaged.
The Brandenburgs did not have everything their own way. On 1 April 1918, two W.12 floatplanes, MNs 2102 and 2107, together with a Friedrichshafen FF49C HFT Class aircraft left Zeebrugge. According to German reports they encountered six enemy landplanes and in the ensuing fight the Friedrichshafen and one W.12 (MN 2102) were shot down. The surviving W.12 shot down one enemy aircraft and returned to the station. In actuality there were only three British aircraft but they were Sopwith Camels of No.213 Squadron, the RNAS and RFC being amalgamated on that day. No British aircraft were lost. The usual accidents associated with any military air base also took their toll. On 3 April W.12 MN 1413 collided with another aircraft while alighting. Both aircraft were destroyed and the Brandenburg's pilot, Ltn.d.RMI Johns, was drowned.
The Germans now were active in attacking the British flying boats such that instead of a lone boat the British had to send out three and eventually up to five in order to ensure that the reconnaissance was carried out. This led to a debate within the British authorities as to what was needed to combat the new German fighters. The Curtiss H.12 had inadequate armament while the Felixstowe F.2a was more heavily armed but was still vulnerable to attacks from below. The bow position carried a single Lewis gun on a Scarff mounting, the pilot had a Lewis gun on a pivot mount, and there were three gun positions behind the wings. On each side of the hull a single or double Lewis gun could be mounted on a Gallows Mount, and in the center of the hull a Lewis gun on a ring mount. An attack from the rear and below could not be engaged from any of these positions, forcing the British boats to fly low over the water in order to prevent the Germans from getting beneath them.
The situation became so bad that a special meeting was held in May 1918 where the British stated that "in addition to the fighting seaplanes, there were the fighting aeroplanes which came up from the German coast, and it frequently happened now that a reconnaissance was not carried out because the Boats found themselves up against a superior German formation." It was stated that three boats were required if one was to win through, and it was likely that up to five boats would be needed by the end of the summer.(47)
Christiansen added the Curtiss H.12B serial N4338 on 15 February and Curtiss H.12 serial 8677 on 24 April 1918, to his score, and claimed another Curtiss on the 25th.
The W.12 was popular with its crews and earned the colloquial name "Kamael", probably due to the distinctive fuselage. It remained in service alongside the W.29 until the end of the war.
The German Naval contingent in Turkey received three W.12 biplanes: MN 2018 late in 1918 and MNs 2110 and 2112 in July 1918. Nothing further is known of their activities.(48)
(41) The out of sequence of the Marine Numbers was probably due to the bureaucracy finalising the documentation and not an attempt at confusing the enemy.
(42) The top wing had to be moved backwards 350 mm. Heinkel had a works crew carry this out overnight.
(43) Dr. Fritz Stormer served in the German Imperial Navy in WWI, first in the naval infantry, then as an observer in two-seat seaplanes based on the Flanders coast. Stormer, F. "Seaplanes in Combat", Cross & Cockade Journal, USA, Vol.20, No.2, 1979.
(44) Jones, H.A. The War in the Air, Vol.IV, P.67
(45) "The Hornets of Zeebrugge", Cross & Cockade Journal, USA. Vol.11, No.1, 1970. In fact the Porte Baby made it back to the UK and was returned to service surviving until December 1918, but the type was never used in areas where opposition from German marine aircraft could be expected.
(46) C26 came down in Holland on 13 December 1917. About 03.15 four men jumped out of the gondola at Poortugaal (SW of Rotterdam), they were brought by car to Rotterdam. Between 07.00 and 08.00 the last man jumped in the Biesbosch, opposite Sliedrecht. Local workers brought him over the Merwede River. He was brought by train at 09.00 to Dordrecht. At Wijngaarden, just north of Sliedrecht, a bomb was found. C26 ended at Eemnes-Buiten, a village about 5 km from the (then) Zuiderzee, now Gooimeer and Eemmeer.The airship caused enormous damage with broken electric and telephone lines. (Research by F Gerdessen.) For several photographs of the wreck of C26 enter www.geheugenvannederland.nl and then enter "Eemnes."
(47) Forty-Fifth Meeting of the Technical Committee, 30.05.18. Copy in NARA RG72 File O-ZS-7.The Meeting was held to discuss whether the construction of a fighting flying boat was warranted.
(48) Nikolajsen, O. Op Cit.
Brandenburg W.12 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brand. 3-View*
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 11.20 11.20 11.200
Span, Lower 10.48 - 10.480
Length 9.60 9.6 9.605
Height - 3.3 -
Chord, Upper - - 1.800
Chord, Lower - - 1.800
Areas in m2
Wings 36.20 35.3 36.26
Ailerons 9.6
Elevators 1.8 1.50
Rudder 0.75 0.75
Empty Wt., kg 1,000 997 1,000
Loaded Wt., kg 1,463 1,454 1,463
Performance
Speed in km/hr 160 159.5 -
Time to 800 m 6 min. 6 min.
Time to 1000 m 8 min. 7 min. 8 min.
Time to 1500 m 13 min. 13 min.
Time to 2000 m 20 min. 18.9 min. 20 min.
Time to 3000 m 38.5 min. 38 min.
Motor 160-hp Mercedes; 150 hp Benz 160-hp Mercedes D.III; 150-hp Benz Bz.III 160-hp Mercedes
* Date 9.3.17, MN 1011 - 1016
Brandenburg W.12 Specifications
Source SVK MN 1014 SVK MN 1185 SVK MN 1413 SVK MN 2001 (2001 - 2019) SVK MN 2023
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 11.250 11.200 11.200 11.200 11.200
Span, Lower 10.500 10.500 10.500 10.500 10.500
Length 8.470 9.450 8.690 9.600 9.600
Height 3.230 3.550 3.300 3.300 3.300
Chord 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.800
Stagger - - 0.220 0.225 0.128
Empty Wt, kg 857 977 959 997 1,056
Loaded Wt, kg 1,314 1,434 1,230 1,454 1,550
Performance
Time to 800 m 6 minutes 7.6 minutes 5.8 minutes 5.2 minutes 8.8 minutes
Time to 1000 m 8 minutes 9.6 minutes 7.7 minutes 7.0 minutes 11.1 minutes
Time to 1500 m 13 minutes 16.2 minutes 12.9 minutes 12.0 minutes 19.7 minutes
Time to 2000 m 20 minutes 24 minutes 20.9 minutes 18.4 minutes 30.5 minutes
Time to 3000 m 38.5 minutes - - - -
Engine 160-hp Mercedes 150-hp Benz 150-hp Benz 150-hp Benz 150 hp Benz
Brandenburg W.12 Production
Marine Numbers Class Engine Delivered Notes
1011 - 1013 C2MG D.III Feb. - Sep./Oct. 1917 2nd order for prototypes 22 Nov. 1916. Short fuselage.
1014 - 1016 C2MG D.III 1st order for prototypes 15 Oct. 1916. Short fuselage.
1178 - 1187 C2MG Bz.III July - Aug. 1917 1st production order Jan. 1917. Short fuselage. 1181 not delivered. 1185 long fuselage.
1395 - 1414 C2MG D.III Sep. - Dec. 1917 Ordered Mar. 1917. Short fuselage. 1413 four ailerons.
2000 - 2019 C2MG Bz.III Dec. 1917 - Mar. 1918 Ordered Sep. 1917. Long fuselage, larger wing cut-out. 2016 Hispano-Suiza, later Benz Bz.IIIb V-8 engine. 2018 to Turkey.
2023 - 2052 C3MG Bz.III Mar. - May 1918 Ordered Oct. 1917. Long fuselage. 2024 used for trials of motor machine gun. 2027 destroyed during acceptance.
2093 - 2132 C2MG D.III Feb. - May 1918 Ordered Oct. 1917. 2095 nose radiator. 2110 - 2112 to Turkey.
2217 - 2236 C2MGHFT D.IIIa Apr. - June 1918 Ordered Nov. 1917. Radio fitted.
The KDW and Albatros W.4 single-seater fighters performed well for their day, but were obsolescent by the end of 1916 and the Naval authorities had already determined to concentrate their limited raw materials to the development of two-seat fighter floatplanes that would be defended from the rear. The English were experimenting with the Curtiss America flying boats and the first Large America boat, the Curtiss H-8 serial 8650, arrived at Felixstowe for erection on 24 March 1916. The machine required much modification and the improved type, designated H-12, started to enter service at the end of the year, therefore the W.12 was not designed to counteract the Large America flying boats as has been suggested in some publications. The British Short floatplanes on anti-submarine patrols from Dunkirk were escorted by Sopwith Baby fighters. By May 1917 the Dunkirk seaplanes were unable to undertake meaningful work due to the opposition by German fighting aircraft, and it was suggested that the Baby seaplanes be replaced by fighter land planes.
A combat on 19 June 1917, with Short 184 serial 9057 and its two escorting Sopwith Baby fighters of the Dunkirk Seaplane Squadron, emphasized the change in conditions. The British aircraft set out on a mine and U-Boat spotting patrol. When half an hour out and about 12 miles north-east of Dunkirk they were attacked by three enemy fighting seaplanes. Flt. Sub. Lt. J.E. Potvin in Baby N1015 was shot down by the German pilot Dyck, who was himself brought down with an abdomen wound when attacked by Flt. Lt. R. Graham in the other Baby. In the meantime the observer in the Short, Lt. T. Rogers, had been shot and killed by another of the attacking Germans. The Short's radiator and fuel tank had been hit, forcing the floatplane to alight. Graham's Baby was badly shot about and he was forced to leave the action with a failing engine. He alighted alongside a French destroyer and sent two messages by pigeon to Dunkirk. Graham wrote that the Short had been shot down and "Potvin?" His tank had been shot and he couldn't climb. He requested that more fighters be sent.
Dyck had managed to alight safely and one of his companions landed alongside and removed the wounded pilot to his own single-seat fighter and succeeded in reaching Ostend, but in vain, as Dyck had died on the way. A thunderstorm meant that Dunkirk could not send out any aircraft and the decision was made to send out two of the then secret Coastal Motor Boats (CMB) as speed was essential. One of the boats suffered engine problems and was captured by the Germans. The other had an eventful cruise, being attacked by four enemy destroyers, and after firing a torpedo, unsuccessfully, returned without seeing anything. It was afterwards learned that German destroyers had reached the Short and taken aboard her pilot and dead observer. This episode resulted in the loss of two seaplanes and one of the new CMB vessels, and emphasized the need for first-class fighter aircraft to oppose the German seaplanes. The Baby seaplanes were replaced by Sopwith Pup fighters and later by Sopwith Camels when the Flight was expanded into the Seaplane Defence Squadron (later No.13 Squadron, RNAS).
The first Brandenburg floatplane fighter to achieve fame, the W.12 exhibited characteristics that the late P.M. Grosz noted were inherited from the development of the Brandenburg Type K and KDD landplanes built for the Austro-Hungarian LFT. These characteristics were the high-sided fuselage with rudder under the tailplane giving the rear gunner an unparallel field of fire without danger of damaging his own aircraft. The Castiglioni group of companies shared information and it is probable that the fuselage design of the prototype that became the W.12 was influenced by the design efforts in Austro-Hungary that led to the Phonix and UFAG C.I reconnaissance two-seat biplanes.
Heinkel states that he designed the W.12 in eight weeks. Heinkel was the Chief Designer but was not alone in working on the design. He states in his autobiography that he had to work hard to achieve the light, strong structure in order to meet the performance specification with the then available engines.
The W.12 was designed in 1916 as a seaplane defence fighter having a gun for rearward protection. The German Navy placed an order for three W.12 prototypes on 15 October 1916, (MN 1014 - 1016). This was followed the next month by another order for three further prototypes (MN 1011 - 1013).(41)
The W.12 was of conventional Brandenburg construction but possessed design characteristics that were to be carried forward through to the next models of Brandenburg fighters and to influence other manufacturers. The fuselage was based on four spruce longerons with multi-ply formers supporting the engine. The pilot was located behind the engine seated over the fuel tank. Immediately aft of the engine bearers the longerons swept up towards the tail giving an elevated gun position for the observer. The observer's cockpit was surmounted by a metal basin shaped structure containing the gun ring. This allowed plenty of room for handling the gun. He could fire his LMG 14/17 Parabellum machine gun over the wing and, if necessary, through the wings without concern that he would cut the bracing cables as the structure did not require any cables. The fuselage tapered to a vertical knife edge. The cantilever horizontal tailplane was ply covered and mounted flush with the upper longerons, well clear of spray. The tailplane was thicker at the centre and air flow disturbance caused the steel tube elevators to be redesigned. The cantilevered tailplane meant that the gunner could aim his gun close to the fuselage without tailplane bracing struts entering his field of fire. The elevators were welded metal framed steel tube with fabric covering as were the rudder and ailerons. The rudder was mounted on the stern post with the balance section underneath the fuselage. The deep fuselage compensated for the additional float area and lack of a fin. The fuselage was of usual Brandenburg construction and covered with ply eliminating the need for internal wire bracing. Easily detachable metal panels forward enclosed the engine. Those machines equipped with the 160-hp Mercedes D.III engine had a leading edge radiator whilst the batches equipped with the 150-hp Benz Bz.III had a radiator mounted in the nose.
The wings were of conventional construction but were of a thick aerofoil section in order to be strong enough to eliminate the interplane bracing cables. Both wings were of the same chord, tapering towards the tips. The upper wing was slightly longer than the lower wing. The wings were constructed around two spars, the upper wing being in one piece. A cut-out in the trailing edge gave the observer clear upward vision although this had to be enlarged on production machines. Plain unbalanced ailerons were carried on the top wing only. Later machines had ailerons on all wings connected by a link strut.
A compass of the liquid type with floating dial of about 110 mm diameter was mounted in the lower wing about 900 mm from the side of the fuselage. In some cases it was illuminated with a small electric bulb protected from the front, the wiring for which was carried out from the fuselage through the wing. An air speed indicator of the cup type was often mounted on an interplane strut.
The single step floats were of wood being composed of five water tight compartments and covered with marine ply. Bituminous paint was often used as a finish to make them watertight. A chassis of steel tube struts, in the form of the letter "M" in front view, connected the floats to the fuselage, the points of the "M" being located at the roots of the wing spars. Additional struts brace the floats to the wings under the interplane struts completed the structure. These formed the letter "N" in side elevation. The struts were steel tubes faired with light veneer. The ends of the struts were fitted with a screw plug that would have been used to align the machines. These struts formed a strong, robust structure that helped support the wing cellule without having to resort to cable bracing. This system of support struts was to be carried through the W.19, W.29, W.33, W.34 and proposed W.37, and was seen on the Heinkel He.1 post-war floatplane.
The W.12 was not an instant success. As the waters round Brandenburg were frozen, the machine was crated and shipped to the seaplane test unit at Warnemunde for its first flight. Heinkel records that the test pilot was named Walter Stagge. On its first flight the W.12 proved dangerously tail heavy, and the observer had to throw all ballast out in order to allow the machine to make a safe alighting. The floatplane had to be re-rigged before the Navy personnel were allowed to fly it.(42) MN 1014 had arrived at the SVK in January 1917 but was later wrecked in an emergency landing, having to be rebuilt and was returned to testing in June 1917. Initial testing was promising, the machine possessing a good turn of speed and manoeuvrability. Before the prototypes had flown an order had been placed for ten production W.12 fighters. These machines had round wingtips as against the prototypes square tips.
As the W.12 was developed many improvements were tried and introduced into production batches. Later aircraft had four ailerons connected by a link strut that gave improved flight characteristics. A longer fuselage was introduced from MN 2000 that significantly improved longitudinal control and the rudder was reduced in area to compensate for the additional side area. Aerofoil radiators were tried as well as a narrow tailplane; there were at least three variations of the tailplane on production machines. The wings were basically the same on all batches.
An early criticism was made to the location of the pilot under the upper wing. In the event of an accident, his chance of getting out was hampered by the interplane struts and wing. The cut-out was made larger on the first production batch, and increased later as a reduction in stagger moved the wing backwards. Redesigning the centre-section struts to facilitate entry/exit took longer. On early production machines the upper wing was supported by five struts, the odd leg carrying the fuel pipe to the upper wing gravity tank. Later machines had a revised system of two substantial support N struts.
The modifications that were incorporated into production aircraft were faithfully recorded on the Atlas drawings of the various batches of the W.12 as reproduced in these pages.
W.12 in Service
German Naval activities did not involve seeking out enemy seaplanes alone, in fact reconnaissance was more important. Dr. Fritz Stormer recalled that:
Our submarines were particularly interested in changes of the buoys set out in our sector of the sea, as well as new blockade nettings, minefields, wrecks and other underwater obstacles, all of which we were supposed to report upon our return or landing at sea. Even if we could not convey the exact nautical position we could usually mention enough recognition points to make our report essentially clear, which was especially important when we pushed as far forward as High Margate in the Thames.
The patrols would report whether the cleared channels for access for U-Boats were kept clear. As Dr Stormer noted:
We did more than just interdict enemy aircraft. Indeed, our mission was mainly devoted to surveillance of maritime traffic in the entire blockade sector from the English coast to Holland. On many occasions, our aircraft pursued vessels and either dropped bombs near them or signalled them to halt by directing a stream of machine gun fire across their bows, after which a German boarding party would take over. In these instances the Staffeln reported the ship’s presence by wireless telegraphy and gave the precise location. Then a large seaplane would come out with a “prize officer” who was put aboard the captured vessel while our aircraft circled overhead and observed their slow progress towards our shore. Thus many large sailing ships, as well as two steamers, did not reach their intended ports of call and were, instead, brought into Zeebrugge. One of these prizes of war served as a barrack ship for the petty officers among our flying personnel.(43)
In line with the above activities Christiansen's Staffel was credited with the destruction of the Dutch ship Agina on 12 July 1917.
The W.12 entered active service in the autumn of 1916. By 12 February 1917, Zeebrugge had W.12 floatplanes MNs 1014 and 1015 in service. However it was not until October that the W.12 made its combat debut. A sortie by three Friedrichshafen FF 33L, an Albatros W.4 and Brandenburg W.12 MN 1183, left Zeebrugge at 1600 (German time). After one FF33L dropped out and alighted with engine trouble, and another returned to summons help to the downed biplane, the three remaining aircraft encountered a large British flying boat and attacked.
This flying boat was Porte Baby 9810, a three-engined machine designed by John Porte at Felixstowe. The boat was on patrol from Felixstowe in the vicinity of the North Hinder Light Vessel when attacked by "an aeroplane and two fighting seaplanes." The pilot, Flt Cmdr N. Shoto Douglas, managed to avoid many of the attacks by sideslipping, until the port and centre engine were shot up and the boat forced to alight. Once on the water the Germans attacked but AM C. Spikings kept up return fire although he had been scalded when the engine near him had been set on fire. He also worked on the engines during the night despite having burned his hands. The boat managed to taxi to the Sizewell Gap, north of Oxford, where she was taken in tow.(44) The Baby was ill designed to withstand attacks by fighter aircraft. As a result of this action the Baby was not used where enemy aircraft were expected unless an escort of America flying boats could be given.
The Germans claimed that the British flying boat was shot down with bullets in its left engine and radiator by the W.12. The pilot, Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich Christiansen, claiming his second victory.(45) This was to be the start of the increasing activities of the Zeebrugge Brandenburg biplanes and then monoplanes against the British patrolling flying boats that lasted until the end of the war.
"Fiede" Christiansen's name now became synonymous with the activities of the Brandenburgs from Zeebrugge. The most spectacular victory achieved by Christiansen was the shooting down the British coastal non-rigid Astra-Torres type airship C27 on 11 December 1917, off the East Anglia coast. Three aircraft took off for an offensive patrol at 0900 (German time) and over the Outer Gabbard sighted a British airship in the vicinity of the North Hinder Lightship. MN 1183 began the fight and within two minutes the airship fell some 400 metres to the sea. The crew of five perished. In actuality Christiansen was responsible for the loss of two airships. The sister airship, C26, was lost the following day while searching for the missing C27. The non-rigid drifted into Eemnes, near the Zuyderzee, after its engine failed, resulting in the crew being interned in the Netherlands.(46) As a result of this, no airship patrols were to be flown where they were liable to be intercepted by German aircraft.
Encounters with the "Large America" Curtiss H.12 and Felixstowe F2a flying boats often turned into running battles with the flying boats flying low over the water in order to prevent attacks from beneath. The Brandenburgs would fly alongside with the gunners trading fire over the short distance separating the two adversaries. The W.12 and later W.19 would fly mixed formations with Friedrichshafen reconnaissance aircraft. When conditions were suitable the Brandenburgs would alight and wait while the aircraft with longer endurance would search for patrolling British flying boats or ships. If it saw a formation it would try and get the British to follow it to the waiting Brandenburgs, or else call up the fighters by wireless while keeping the British engaged.
The Brandenburgs did not have everything their own way. On 1 April 1918, two W.12 floatplanes, MNs 2102 and 2107, together with a Friedrichshafen FF49C HFT Class aircraft left Zeebrugge. According to German reports they encountered six enemy landplanes and in the ensuing fight the Friedrichshafen and one W.12 (MN 2102) were shot down. The surviving W.12 shot down one enemy aircraft and returned to the station. In actuality there were only three British aircraft but they were Sopwith Camels of No.213 Squadron, the RNAS and RFC being amalgamated on that day. No British aircraft were lost. The usual accidents associated with any military air base also took their toll. On 3 April W.12 MN 1413 collided with another aircraft while alighting. Both aircraft were destroyed and the Brandenburg's pilot, Ltn.d.RMI Johns, was drowned.
The Germans now were active in attacking the British flying boats such that instead of a lone boat the British had to send out three and eventually up to five in order to ensure that the reconnaissance was carried out. This led to a debate within the British authorities as to what was needed to combat the new German fighters. The Curtiss H.12 had inadequate armament while the Felixstowe F.2a was more heavily armed but was still vulnerable to attacks from below. The bow position carried a single Lewis gun on a Scarff mounting, the pilot had a Lewis gun on a pivot mount, and there were three gun positions behind the wings. On each side of the hull a single or double Lewis gun could be mounted on a Gallows Mount, and in the center of the hull a Lewis gun on a ring mount. An attack from the rear and below could not be engaged from any of these positions, forcing the British boats to fly low over the water in order to prevent the Germans from getting beneath them.
The situation became so bad that a special meeting was held in May 1918 where the British stated that "in addition to the fighting seaplanes, there were the fighting aeroplanes which came up from the German coast, and it frequently happened now that a reconnaissance was not carried out because the Boats found themselves up against a superior German formation." It was stated that three boats were required if one was to win through, and it was likely that up to five boats would be needed by the end of the summer.(47)
Christiansen added the Curtiss H.12B serial N4338 on 15 February and Curtiss H.12 serial 8677 on 24 April 1918, to his score, and claimed another Curtiss on the 25th.
The W.12 was popular with its crews and earned the colloquial name "Kamael", probably due to the distinctive fuselage. It remained in service alongside the W.29 until the end of the war.
The German Naval contingent in Turkey received three W.12 biplanes: MN 2018 late in 1918 and MNs 2110 and 2112 in July 1918. Nothing further is known of their activities.(48)
(41) The out of sequence of the Marine Numbers was probably due to the bureaucracy finalising the documentation and not an attempt at confusing the enemy.
(42) The top wing had to be moved backwards 350 mm. Heinkel had a works crew carry this out overnight.
(43) Dr. Fritz Stormer served in the German Imperial Navy in WWI, first in the naval infantry, then as an observer in two-seat seaplanes based on the Flanders coast. Stormer, F. "Seaplanes in Combat", Cross & Cockade Journal, USA, Vol.20, No.2, 1979.
(44) Jones, H.A. The War in the Air, Vol.IV, P.67
(45) "The Hornets of Zeebrugge", Cross & Cockade Journal, USA. Vol.11, No.1, 1970. In fact the Porte Baby made it back to the UK and was returned to service surviving until December 1918, but the type was never used in areas where opposition from German marine aircraft could be expected.
(46) C26 came down in Holland on 13 December 1917. About 03.15 four men jumped out of the gondola at Poortugaal (SW of Rotterdam), they were brought by car to Rotterdam. Between 07.00 and 08.00 the last man jumped in the Biesbosch, opposite Sliedrecht. Local workers brought him over the Merwede River. He was brought by train at 09.00 to Dordrecht. At Wijngaarden, just north of Sliedrecht, a bomb was found. C26 ended at Eemnes-Buiten, a village about 5 km from the (then) Zuiderzee, now Gooimeer and Eemmeer.The airship caused enormous damage with broken electric and telephone lines. (Research by F Gerdessen.) For several photographs of the wreck of C26 enter www.geheugenvannederland.nl and then enter "Eemnes."
(47) Forty-Fifth Meeting of the Technical Committee, 30.05.18. Copy in NARA RG72 File O-ZS-7.The Meeting was held to discuss whether the construction of a fighting flying boat was warranted.
(48) Nikolajsen, O. Op Cit.
Brandenburg W.12 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brand. 3-View*
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 11.20 11.20 11.200
Span, Lower 10.48 - 10.480
Length 9.60 9.6 9.605
Height - 3.3 -
Chord, Upper - - 1.800
Chord, Lower - - 1.800
Areas in m2
Wings 36.20 35.3 36.26
Ailerons 9.6
Elevators 1.8 1.50
Rudder 0.75 0.75
Empty Wt., kg 1,000 997 1,000
Loaded Wt., kg 1,463 1,454 1,463
Performance
Speed in km/hr 160 159.5 -
Time to 800 m 6 min. 6 min.
Time to 1000 m 8 min. 7 min. 8 min.
Time to 1500 m 13 min. 13 min.
Time to 2000 m 20 min. 18.9 min. 20 min.
Time to 3000 m 38.5 min. 38 min.
Motor 160-hp Mercedes; 150 hp Benz 160-hp Mercedes D.III; 150-hp Benz Bz.III 160-hp Mercedes
* Date 9.3.17, MN 1011 - 1016
Brandenburg W.12 Specifications
Source SVK MN 1014 SVK MN 1185 SVK MN 1413 SVK MN 2001 (2001 - 2019) SVK MN 2023
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 11.250 11.200 11.200 11.200 11.200
Span, Lower 10.500 10.500 10.500 10.500 10.500
Length 8.470 9.450 8.690 9.600 9.600
Height 3.230 3.550 3.300 3.300 3.300
Chord 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.800
Stagger - - 0.220 0.225 0.128
Empty Wt, kg 857 977 959 997 1,056
Loaded Wt, kg 1,314 1,434 1,230 1,454 1,550
Performance
Time to 800 m 6 minutes 7.6 minutes 5.8 minutes 5.2 minutes 8.8 minutes
Time to 1000 m 8 minutes 9.6 minutes 7.7 minutes 7.0 minutes 11.1 minutes
Time to 1500 m 13 minutes 16.2 minutes 12.9 minutes 12.0 minutes 19.7 minutes
Time to 2000 m 20 minutes 24 minutes 20.9 minutes 18.4 minutes 30.5 minutes
Time to 3000 m 38.5 minutes - - - -
Engine 160-hp Mercedes 150-hp Benz 150-hp Benz 150-hp Benz 150 hp Benz
Brandenburg W.12 Production
Marine Numbers Class Engine Delivered Notes
1011 - 1013 C2MG D.III Feb. - Sep./Oct. 1917 2nd order for prototypes 22 Nov. 1916. Short fuselage.
1014 - 1016 C2MG D.III 1st order for prototypes 15 Oct. 1916. Short fuselage.
1178 - 1187 C2MG Bz.III July - Aug. 1917 1st production order Jan. 1917. Short fuselage. 1181 not delivered. 1185 long fuselage.
1395 - 1414 C2MG D.III Sep. - Dec. 1917 Ordered Mar. 1917. Short fuselage. 1413 four ailerons.
2000 - 2019 C2MG Bz.III Dec. 1917 - Mar. 1918 Ordered Sep. 1917. Long fuselage, larger wing cut-out. 2016 Hispano-Suiza, later Benz Bz.IIIb V-8 engine. 2018 to Turkey.
2023 - 2052 C3MG Bz.III Mar. - May 1918 Ordered Oct. 1917. Long fuselage. 2024 used for trials of motor machine gun. 2027 destroyed during acceptance.
2093 - 2132 C2MG D.III Feb. - May 1918 Ordered Oct. 1917. 2095 nose radiator. 2110 - 2112 to Turkey.
2217 - 2236 C2MGHFT D.IIIa Apr. - June 1918 Ordered Nov. 1917. Radio fitted.
Brandenburg W.12 #1014 was the prototype and is shown here as photographed at Warnemunde on 20 February 1917 while its fuselage insignia was still being painted.
Brandenburg W.12 Marine Number 1183 of Oblt.d.R. Friedrich Christiansen, OC, Seeflugstation Flandern 1, Zeebrugge, winter 1917/1918.
Brandenburg W.12 Marine Number 1414, Ltn. Becht, Seeflugstation Flandern 1, Zeebrugge, December 1917.
Brandenburg W.12 Marine Number 2002, 3 Staffel, Seeflugstation Borkum, December 1917. The crest is that of the city of Bremen, and the insignia style is assumed.
Brandenburg W.12 Marine Number 2118, Ltn. Haase & Vizeflugmaat Goetze, OC Staffel 3, Seeflugstation Borkum, late spring 1918.
View with crew member posing with MN 1012. Note the dark painted nose, personal emblem and fuselage band. The floats are either covered with the hexagon fabric on their top surface or else painted to match the pre-printed fabric. There is a stencil on the front of the pontoon. These floats are a light color.
View with crew member posing with MN 1012. Note the dark painted nose, personal emblem and fuselage band. The floats are either covered with the hexagon fabric on their top surface or else painted to match the pre-printed fabric. There is a stencil on the front of the pontoon. These floats are a light color.
Crewman with a W.12. Note that the cockpit is not bulged on this example.The personal marking appears to be a variation of the four leaf clover (MN 1012?). Note that the hexagon camouflage pattern on the floats carries up and over the batten strips indicating that it must have been painted on. The struts appear to be the light grey color of the fuselage. Note also the marking on the nose of the float. The narrow straight armed cross on the machine in the background indicates that this photograph was taken after April 1918. (AHT AL0354-008)
The prototype W.12 floatplane prototype MN 1014 in January 1917, outside the Brandenburg factory hangar at Briest.The prototypes differed markedly from the production examples. The pilot's cockpit has a low side to starboard to facilitate entry, and the gun ring is small without the bulged sides for the standard gun ring. Note the light color of the bottom of the pontoons. The synchronised machinegun fitted to the W.12 was the Maxim IMG-08 with its distinctive fat jacket. Later machines carried two guns but the extra weight had a detrimental effect on performance.
The prototype MN 1014 in national markings at the SVK, Warnemunde, 20 February 1917. It has a very dark fuselage and an unusual marking of the national insignia. The rudder shows that the clear doped areas have a different finish to the white field. This photograph shows the first form of center-section struts that look fragile without a streamline fairing. The gun ring is now bulged and a wire guard is fitted on top of the centre section to prevent the gunner damaging the machine when firing over the upper wing.
Christiansen flying one of the early production Brandenburg W12 seaplanes powered by a 150hp Benz engine. This aircraft, 1183, served at Zeebrugge for eight months before it was destroyed in a bombing attack on the Mole on 10 May 1918. Designed by Ernst Heinkel late in 1916, the W12's performance was equal to that of the single-seat seaplanes then in service. Capable of 160km/hr (100mph), its rate of climb and general manoeuvrability made it popular with the crews, who gave it the name 'Kamel'.
View of MN 1183 in standard color scheme before Christiansen has added his personal "touches". The hexagon pre-printed fabric to the upper surfaces of wings and tail are well shown. 1183 was Christiansen's mount when he destroyed the British airship C27 on 11 December 1917. Accepted in September 1917 this machine survived until it was destroyed in an air attack on the Zeebrugge Mole on 10 May 1918. The photograph illustrate that from some directions the perception of the national insignia changes and how British airmen could report that the German insignia was painted in a circle. (AHT AL0354-032)
Ships were important targets. The original caption states that it depicts Ltn. Herrankuchl bombing ship. The machine in the photo is Christiansen's W.12. (AHT AL0087-055)
The Mole at Zeebrugge with ten W.12 biplanes on the hardstand area. The machine to the rear and nearest the water appears to be Christiansen's.The W.19 on the water has a white field but it can not be ascertained if this is also a machine with Christiansen's insignia. (AHT AL0444-002 from the album of F. Christiansen)
A scene on the Mole at Zeebrugge, aircraft of IC Staffel. The "C" in diamond is the personal marking of Christiansen and was to appear on many of his aircraft. The interior of Brandenburg's fuselage was painted white and this is evident on the open pilot's cockpit door. This aircraft has cockpit doors on both sides of the fuselage. MN 1183 has white sides to its pontoons. MN 1184 has a quartered square as its pilot's emblem.The third W.12 is MN 1395 from the second production batch. The crane was used to lift the machines into and out of the water at Zeebrugge. (via AHT AL0087-019)
More views of Zeebrugge. Christiansen's 1183 is identified by its insignia. MNs 1395 and 1396 may be identified on the original print. Note that the machine suspended in the air had a man in the rear cockpit and the metal engine panels removed. These machines all have the nose radiator. According to CF Snowden Gamble (The Story of a North Sea Air Station), the Germans had converted the railway sheds on the Mole into a seaplane station and kept their machines when not in use on railway trucks with a locomotive standing by, always with steam up, to move them to safety whenever enemy bombing forces were detected approaching, (via AHT AL0064-08)
MN 1186 is in standard color scheme with the top of the floats covered in the hexagon camouflage pattern. This was the first W.12 at Borkum. During firing trials of the synchronised gun it shot the propeller off and the engine tore out of its mounting but the crew managed to effect a safe forced landing.
This crew from II.C Staffel display the WWI life vests, 29 February 1918. The W.12 in the background is MN 1399. The machine gun on the port side may be made out on the original photograph. This machine was produced with only a synchronised machine gun on the starboard side and was therefore modified in service.
MN 1400 bears the thick interim cross national marking. Note the dark square behind the fuselage cross. The scaffolding support is in front of what must be a personal emblem.
The Friedrichshafen floatplane on the end of the slipway has not had the lower wing crosses modified to the interim standard. There are two Brandenburg W.12 biplanes amongst these reconnaissance Friedrichshafens. MN 1403 is to the left and has only the fuselage crosses altered. MN 1401 on the right is presumed to be the same. (AHT AL0650-002)
Marine #1407, a Brandenburg W12 of the second production batch, illustrates the distinctive features of this breakthrough design, including the upswept tail without vertical fin that gave the gunner an excellent field of fire. The extensive keel surface provided by the deep rear fuselage eliminated the need for a fin. To reduce drag the radiator has been moved to the nose. Both doors on the pilot's cockpit are open to allow easier access.
MN 1407 in harbor with the crewman waiting patiently on the pontoon. This machine features the thick interim national cross marking. The rudder is now completely doped white with the cross marked thereon. The white internal fuselage color is displayed on the open cockpit door. (AHT AL0225-28)
MN 1407 in harbor with the crewman waiting patiently on the pontoon. This machine features the thick interim national cross marking. The rudder is now completely doped white with the cross marked thereon. The white internal fuselage color is displayed on the open cockpit door. (AHT AL0225-28)
A pilot's error always created a gathering for the camera. Compare MN 1407's markings with the photograph above.The early curved cross national markings over-painted and the final narrow cross applied. A narrow band has been applied to the rear fuselage. The lower wings appear to have been crudely over-painted white to eliminate the early cross.
W12 Marine #1407 of the second production batch in an embarrassing position. Its original insignia have been over-painted in the new insignia standardized on March 30, 1918. The single white stripe on the rear fuselage indicates assignment to a specific naval air station, possibly Borkum.
Three W.12 floatplanes on the Zeebrugge docks, 1918. The floats appear to be painted with black bitumen paint. (AHT AL03354-015)
MN 1409 has a distinctive emblem marked forward of the Marine Number. Accepted during the period 16-30 November 1917, this biplane lasted until written off on 6 May 1918. The crew's personal insignia is on the side of the observer's cockpit. Unfortunately, their names are not known.
Marine #1409 is first in this lineup of W12 fighters at Zeebrugge Naval Air Station on the Flanders coast.
The naval units also had their dogs! Two officers pose in front of MN 1410 that has a heraldic-type emblem. The open cockpit door displays the internal white color. It was photographed with several crew members on February 6, 1918. Entering service in the period 16-30 November 1917, it was written off on 23 April 1918.
Zeebrugge W.12 floatplanes taking off. The leading machine is MN 1414 judging by the checkerboard personal insignia. 1414 was the aircraft of Ltn.d.Reserve Bechl, the commander of IIC Staffel at Zeebrugge. Note the prominent way the white outline for the wing crosses stand out. (AHT AL0087-038)
Famous photograph of MN 1414 in flight showing the hexagonal camouflage applied to upper surfaces. Preprinted fabric was used; however, it is thought that early applications of this scheme may have been hand painted, but confirmation is lacking. The sides and presumably the bottoms of the floats are black bituminous paint. 1414 was originally going to be shipped to Turkey but instead was sent to Zeebrugge.The German Navy's specifications stated that the wing crosses had to be positioned at the tips of the wings; however, Brandenburg painted them in the same locations as it would for aircraft delivered to the Austro-Hungarians. 1414 was severely damaged in a bombing raid by No.211 Squadron, RAF, during the summer of 1918, that damaged other machines from 3C Staffel.
Some serious and some playful posing around MN 2004. The men in the group photo are the pilots of Seeflugstation Flanders I, abbreviated See I, in late 1917. Christiansen is sitting on the pontoon just under the prop. 27 January 1918. The change to the center section struts and partially-cowled machine gun are noteworthy. W12 #2004, a category C2MG, has the longer fuselage plus a nose radiator for its Benz Bz.III. It is.
Suspended in the air MN 2004 shows how the darker upper surface finish joined with the light colored (clear doped) lower surfaces. No white outline is applied to the crosses. The floats have a shiny appearance indicating that they are clear varnished on this example. Floats were replaced regularly. Metal floats were developed and would have been in widespread use if the war had continued.
German Naval pilots did not like the flying boat format for use in the English Channel, North Sea, and Baltic Sea theatre of operations. They preferred the twin-float seaplane format and the two-seat Hansa-Brandenburg W.12, seen here, was one of the best. It’s performance gave German crews a huge advantage against the lumbering Felixstowe and Short aircraft of the British.
German Naval pilots did not like the flying boat format for use in the English Channel, North Sea, and Baltic Sea theatre of operations. They preferred the twin-float seaplane format and the two-seat Hansa-Brandenburg W.12, seen here, was one of the best. It’s performance gave German crews a huge advantage against the lumbering Felixstowe and Short aircraft of the British.
Christiansen in discussion with other officers.The W.12 behind them, MN 2007, has a white field to the underwing curved cross. The floats and struts appear to be black.
Germany's single-seat floatplane fighters were reasonably successful defending German naval air stations, but longer-range fighters of greater combat effectiveness were needed for offensive operations. The two-seat Brandenburg W12 fighter succeeded brilliantly and immediately became a problem for Allied flying boats over the North Sea. The innovative W12 set the pace for subsequent two-seat floatplane fighters and its monoplane derivatives served into the mid-1930s. The four-leaf clover on the fuselage of this W12 worked; this crew is happy to survive a forced landing on a grassy field. The W12 was a sturdy warplane and this aircraft turned out to be almost undamaged by its experience.
The fuselage and rudder cross have a white outline.
The Brandenburg W12 shows its innovative tail design that gave the gunner a nearly unobstructed field of fire to the rear. The gunner could also fire forward over the wing or between the wings. The floats were strong enough to tolerate emergency landings on land.
The fuselage and rudder cross have a white outline.
The Brandenburg W12 shows its innovative tail design that gave the gunner a nearly unobstructed field of fire to the rear. The gunner could also fire forward over the wing or between the wings. The floats were strong enough to tolerate emergency landings on land.
MN 2016 with a 195-hp Benz Bz.IIIb V-8 engine, 14 March 1918. V-eight engine installed for testing. This machine has all the modifications to date including four ailerons, large cut-out in the upper wing center, and longer fuselage. Points to note are the stencil on the nose of the float; the dark color of the struts; the fuel leads from the upper wing gravity tank, and the application of the national insignia with white outline. In the hangars in the background are a set of huge wings. MN 2016 served at the SVK till the war's end but was never formally accepted by the Navy.
MN 2016 with a 195-hp Benz Bz.IIIb V-8 engine, 14 March 1918. V-eight engine installed for testing. This machine has all the modifications to date including four ailerons, large cut-out in the upper wing center, and longer fuselage. Points to note are the stencil on the nose of the float; the dark color of the struts; the fuel leads from the upper wing gravity tank, and the application of the national insignia with white outline. MN 2112 appears in the background. MN 2016 served at the SVK till the war's end but was never formally accepted by the Navy.
Pontoons suffered from rough sea conditions and were really only suitable for sheltered waters. MN 2017 has suffered a major accident but appears to be in good shape apart from the smashed pontoon. It is finished with the late narrow crosses without any sign of over-painting. (AHT AL0354-018)
The swastika on MN 2028 off Ostende in 1918 denotes good luck and was a common symbol used by both sides in WWI. The crosses are in the interim style and have a "fat" appearance on the wings. (AHT AL0057-03)
MN 2053 with frontal radiator carries the final form of national marking. The lower wing crosses do not have a white outline, the rudder is white and the machine carries the two tail bands indicating a machine from the resort island of Norderney. Note the racks under the rear cockpit presumably for flares. Floats and struts are a dark color (black).
A hard landing for MN 2094! It appears that the machine taxied into the seawall between the Helgoland launching ramps. Note the Friedrichshafen FF 49C biplanes in the background and the wooden wharf/slipway. Staffel number 3 is just behind the interim national insignia. There is an individual emblem on the rear fuselage of MN 2094. It lacks detail and may be the background for a detail emblem that has not been painted yet, or over-painting of a previous emblem. This machine had the early curved wing crosses at the time of this accident.
Four W.12 floatplanes can be seen in this Zeebrugge scene. The observer is standing in the cockpit of MN 2107 gives a good idea of where the floor was located. A sight for the single synchronised machine gun can be seen as well as the open cockpit door. The tailplane from MN 2001 was of a less rounded and more rectangular shape. There were at least three variations to the tailplane. MN 2104 in the background is finished in the same color scheme. (AHT AL0354-020)
These two photographs of MN 2119 from 3 Staffel are reproduced as the below photograph is taken from a wartime British publication on German aircraft. The background has been eliminated to define the shape of the machine and, perhaps by the intelligence services (German or Allied?) to conceal the location or information about the source of the image. The personal emblem is a rampant stallion. The late cross national markings on the fuselage and rudder show where the earlier crosses have been over-painted. This machine has the wing-mounted radiator.
This type of accident was common with floatplanes. MN 2128 has the late narrow crosses. There is a belt for flare cartridges under the gun ring.
Note the pilot badge on this crewman. Frontal radiator and exhaust to port indicates a Benz-engined Brandenburg W.12. Also noteworthy are the propeller and windscreen detail. The floats and struts appear to be the same blue-grey as the fuselage. (AHT AL0354-012)
A Brandenburg W.29 monoplane leads two W.12 biplanes off from Zeebrugge. The W.29, MN 2209(7), bears the interim national markings while the W.12 biplanes show the interim crosses marked on an all white rudder and white panel on the fuselage. No white can be detected on the wings of the nearest W.12, MN 2037, the crosses having no outline. (AHT AL0064-08A)
W.12 in flight over the sea wall at Zeebrugge. Note the bridge over the "blasting gap." (AHT AL0087-046)
Brandenburg monoplanes and biplanes often flew sorties together. Note how the old wing crosses have been altered to the late narrow type in a more refined manner on the W.12's wings compared with the W.29. (AHT AL0588-015)
After being interned in the Netherlands MN 2098 was purchased for Hf 25.000 and taken over by the Dutch Navy's aerial arm, the MLD, under the serial W 1. The German national markings were over-painted with the Dutch orange circle marking.
A view of W 1 after its demise. The Dutch orange national insignia was marked on the lower surface of each wing, a common practice for Netherlands aircraft.
The end of W 1 occurred when alighting at De Mok. The rib tapes on the ailerons over the hexagon fabric show up in this view.
Type W.17
This machine is not recorded in the Typenschau but was a single-seat biplane flying boat fighter developed for the kuk Kriegsmarine. It was developed from the CC but had a cantilever lower wing. The upper wing was braced by struts from the engine mount, the 200-hp Hiero engine was fitted in the usual pusher configuration, together with an additional pair of struts braced the wing from the hull to the wing spars near the ailerons.(18) This machine was given the serial A.49. The first machine reportedly crashed when the upper wing broke away in flight. It is recorded as serving from July 1917 to April 1918.
Gottfried Banfield tested the A49 at Pola in July 1917 and did not recommend it as he was of the opinion that the cantilever lower wing was not suitable for maritime operations and it lacked manoeuvrability. The production machines were to have two 8-mm Schwarzlose machine guns as armament. The span is given as 9 m.(19) No other data are available.
Green and Swanborough state that a second machine was built as an equi-span triplane with interplane bracing struts, and received the serial A49/II (Apparently this would be why the first is referred to as A49/I). The existence of this second machine has not been confirmed.(20)
(18) A photograph of A.49. in full Austro-Hungarian markings appears in Die Flugzeuge derk.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe und Seeflieger 1914-1918, by Hauke, Schroder and Totschinger, P.177.
(19) Schupita, P. Op Cite P.77.
(20) Schupita does not record an A49/II.
This machine is not recorded in the Typenschau but was a single-seat biplane flying boat fighter developed for the kuk Kriegsmarine. It was developed from the CC but had a cantilever lower wing. The upper wing was braced by struts from the engine mount, the 200-hp Hiero engine was fitted in the usual pusher configuration, together with an additional pair of struts braced the wing from the hull to the wing spars near the ailerons.(18) This machine was given the serial A.49. The first machine reportedly crashed when the upper wing broke away in flight. It is recorded as serving from July 1917 to April 1918.
Gottfried Banfield tested the A49 at Pola in July 1917 and did not recommend it as he was of the opinion that the cantilever lower wing was not suitable for maritime operations and it lacked manoeuvrability. The production machines were to have two 8-mm Schwarzlose machine guns as armament. The span is given as 9 m.(19) No other data are available.
Green and Swanborough state that a second machine was built as an equi-span triplane with interplane bracing struts, and received the serial A49/II (Apparently this would be why the first is referred to as A49/I). The existence of this second machine has not been confirmed.(20)
(18) A photograph of A.49. in full Austro-Hungarian markings appears in Die Flugzeuge derk.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe und Seeflieger 1914-1918, by Hauke, Schroder and Totschinger, P.177.
(19) Schupita, P. Op Cite P.77.
(20) Schupita does not record an A49/II.
Brandenburg CC A.49. was from the second production batch for the kuk Kriegsmarine. It was accepted on 09.07.17 and deleted on 04.04.18, due to age and condition.
The Brandenburg W.17 fighter prototype was an intermediate step between the Brandenburg CC and W.18. Both those types were produced in quantity and saw operational service, while the W.17 remained a single prototype. Designed in Germany, the W.17 was evaluated by the Austro-Hungarian kuk Kriegsmarine and is shown here in the markings of that service.
The W.17 under test by Brandenburg personnel before shipment to Austria-Hungary. Its development from the Type CC flying boat is evident in this view. Gottfried Banfield, the leading Austro-Hungarian naval ace, judged that the cantilevered lower wing was not sturdy enough for maritime operations.
The W.17 in Austro-Hungarian naval markings as A.49. The full story of this aircraft is unknown.
Only two W17 fighters were built and one, serial A.49, was supplied to the Austro-Hungarian navy, where it was flown operationally by Oblt. Gottfried Banfield, the leading Austro-Hungarian Naval ace.
Only two W17 fighters were built and one, serial A.49, was supplied to the Austro-Hungarian navy, where it was flown operationally by Oblt. Gottfried Banfield, the leading Austro-Hungarian Naval ace.
The W.17 under test by Brandenburg personnel before shipment to Austria-Hungary. Its development from the Type CC flying boat is evident in this view. Gottfried Banfield, the leading Austro-Hungarian naval ace, judged that the cantilevered lower wing was not sturdy enough for maritime operations.
Type W.18
The W.18 was a version of the CC single-seat fighter flying boat. One was supplied to the German Navy in December 1917, as a Class E2MG machine, with MN 2138, and a Benz Bz.III engine. The W.18 reverted to conventional interplane bracing with struts and cables. The wings were equal in chord but the lower wing was swept back. Armament was two Maxim 08/15 machine guns. The German Navy then appear to have had no interest in the machine.
A slightly modified version with a 230-hp Hiero engine went to the Austro-Hungarian Navy. On 14 December 1916, 47 boats were ordered by the kuk Kriegsmarine. Given the serials A50 - A96, the Austro-Hungarian machines differed from the German prototype. The hull was lengthened to provide better stability, and modified to fit 8-mm Schwarzlose machine guns to the nose. The wing cellule was modified as were the tailplane and elevators. All 47 boats were delivered by the end of February 1918, and were in service in the Adriatic. A88 - A96 had been accepted without engines, probably as replacement boats, and were in service by May 1918. The problem with engine supply meant that some W.18 boats were fitted with the 200-hp Hiero.
Phonix built a much-modified version as the Phonix A. Sixty were constructed (A61 - A120). They had a single machine gun as against the two guns of the German model. The type could take on the Italian Nieuport 11 fighters but their short endurance restricted them to operating close to the naval air stations where they were based. They were replaced by Phonix D.I landplanes when the Italians introduced new aircraft towards the end of 1917. The Phonix D series was developed from the Brandenburg D.I fighters built under licence.
The Royal Yugoslav Navy used at least one W.18 flying boat post-war. It was a school machine and carried the serial N9.
The US Navy received ex-Austro-Hungarian W.18 A87 after the war along with Lohner S.3, S26, L126, R9 and Mickl A125. These machines were shipped to the US by the USS Nereus in April 1920. A later listing gives S32 instead of S3 and A126 instead of A125. The W.18 had a 230-hp Hiero engine. None of these boats were considered airworthy and they were given Bureau Nos. A-6049 to A-6054 inclusive in April 1921 for record purposes as they were not considered to be worth the expense of placing them into flying condition. No indication of a connection between the Bureau Numbers and the aircraft has been found. On 5 May 1921, Survey Report 182-21 recommended that they be stricken. This was carried out in September when they were stricken as a group. No photographs of these machines in US hands are known to exist.
Type W.18 Production
Serials Notes
A50 - A51 200-hp Hiero.
A51 - A70 230-hp Hiero. A52 was delivered in German naval hexagon camouflage.
A71 - A72 200-hp Hiero.
A73 - A79 230-hp Hiero.
A80 - A86 200-hp Hiero.
A87 230-hp Hiero.
A88 - A96 Supplied without engine.
Brandenburg W.18 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford SVK MN 2138 George Haddow Data Schupita Data
Dimensions in m
Span 10.70/10.30 10.7 10.700/10.300 10.7/8.92 10.7/10.3
Chord 1.80 - 1.800 - -
Length 8.15 8.15 8.150 8.64 8.15
Hull Length 7.60 - 7.600 - -
Hull Width 0.965 - 0.965 - -
Height - 3.45 3.450 3.45 -
Areas in m2
Wings 34.38 34.38 34.38 - -
Ailerons 1.90 - 1.90 - -
Elevators 1.08 - 1.08 - -
Rudder 0.57 - 0.57 - -
Weights in kg
Empty 875 875 875 812 716
Loaded 1,145 1,145 1,145 1,092 941
Performance
Speed in km/hr 160 160 - 180 -
Time to 800 m 3.9 minutes - 3.9 minutes - -
Time to 1000 m 5 minutes 5 minutes 5 minutes 5 minutes -
Time to 1500 m 8.1 minutes - 8.1 minutes - -
Time to 2000 m 11.2 minutes - 11.2 minutes 11.2 minutes 9 minutes
Time to 3000 m 23.4 minutes 23 minutes 23.4 minutes 23.4 minutes 15 minutes
Ceiling, m - - - 4,000 5,000
Range - - - 400 km -
Motor 200-hp Hiero 150-hp Benz Bz.m 150-hp Benz 230-hp Hiero 200-hp Hiero/230-hp Hiero
Type W.23
The W.23 was a further development of the single-seat fighting flying boat. Three of the experimental Class EMGMK were ordered, MN 1647 - 1649. The machine was to be armed with one machine gun and a 2-cm Becker cannon. The boat was of conventional Brandenburg construction and resembled the other boats in the Brandenburg family with its pusher installation, swept lower wing, single-step hull, and wing floats.
All three were built and delivered. MN 1647 was recorded at the Hage Repair Depot in November 1918. Further details are lacking. One source states that they had poor flight characteristics.(22)
(22) Leaman, P. "The Hansa-Brandenburg Seaplanes Pt.3," Cross & Cockade International, UK, 2011. Vol.42 P.97.
Brandenburg W.23 Specifications
Source Typenschau Branden. 3-View* SVK MN 1647
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 10.70 10.700 10.700
Span, Lower 10.24 10.240 10.130
Chord, Upper 1.80 1.800
Chord, Lower 1.80 1.650
Length 9.13 9.140 9.125
Height 3.600
Hull Length 8.60 8.600
Hull Width 1.00 1.000
Areas in m2
Wings 34.70 34.7
Ailerons 2.25 2.10 2.25
Elevators 1.00 1.04 1.00
Rudder 0.50 0.45 0.50
Weights in kg
Empty 918 918 907
Loaded 1,261 1,261 1,250
Performance
Speed in km/hr 165 165
Time to 800 m 6 min. 6 min.
Time to 1000 m 7 min. 7.7 min.
Time to 1500 m 12 min. 12 min.
Time to 2000 m 18.2 min. 18.2 min.
Time to 3000 m 38.3 min. 38.3 min.
Motor 160-hp Mercedes 105-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes
* 3-view dated 14.01.19
The W.18 was a version of the CC single-seat fighter flying boat. One was supplied to the German Navy in December 1917, as a Class E2MG machine, with MN 2138, and a Benz Bz.III engine. The W.18 reverted to conventional interplane bracing with struts and cables. The wings were equal in chord but the lower wing was swept back. Armament was two Maxim 08/15 machine guns. The German Navy then appear to have had no interest in the machine.
A slightly modified version with a 230-hp Hiero engine went to the Austro-Hungarian Navy. On 14 December 1916, 47 boats were ordered by the kuk Kriegsmarine. Given the serials A50 - A96, the Austro-Hungarian machines differed from the German prototype. The hull was lengthened to provide better stability, and modified to fit 8-mm Schwarzlose machine guns to the nose. The wing cellule was modified as were the tailplane and elevators. All 47 boats were delivered by the end of February 1918, and were in service in the Adriatic. A88 - A96 had been accepted without engines, probably as replacement boats, and were in service by May 1918. The problem with engine supply meant that some W.18 boats were fitted with the 200-hp Hiero.
Phonix built a much-modified version as the Phonix A. Sixty were constructed (A61 - A120). They had a single machine gun as against the two guns of the German model. The type could take on the Italian Nieuport 11 fighters but their short endurance restricted them to operating close to the naval air stations where they were based. They were replaced by Phonix D.I landplanes when the Italians introduced new aircraft towards the end of 1917. The Phonix D series was developed from the Brandenburg D.I fighters built under licence.
The Royal Yugoslav Navy used at least one W.18 flying boat post-war. It was a school machine and carried the serial N9.
The US Navy received ex-Austro-Hungarian W.18 A87 after the war along with Lohner S.3, S26, L126, R9 and Mickl A125. These machines were shipped to the US by the USS Nereus in April 1920. A later listing gives S32 instead of S3 and A126 instead of A125. The W.18 had a 230-hp Hiero engine. None of these boats were considered airworthy and they were given Bureau Nos. A-6049 to A-6054 inclusive in April 1921 for record purposes as they were not considered to be worth the expense of placing them into flying condition. No indication of a connection between the Bureau Numbers and the aircraft has been found. On 5 May 1921, Survey Report 182-21 recommended that they be stricken. This was carried out in September when they were stricken as a group. No photographs of these machines in US hands are known to exist.
Type W.18 Production
Serials Notes
A50 - A51 200-hp Hiero.
A51 - A70 230-hp Hiero. A52 was delivered in German naval hexagon camouflage.
A71 - A72 200-hp Hiero.
A73 - A79 230-hp Hiero.
A80 - A86 200-hp Hiero.
A87 230-hp Hiero.
A88 - A96 Supplied without engine.
Brandenburg W.18 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford SVK MN 2138 George Haddow Data Schupita Data
Dimensions in m
Span 10.70/10.30 10.7 10.700/10.300 10.7/8.92 10.7/10.3
Chord 1.80 - 1.800 - -
Length 8.15 8.15 8.150 8.64 8.15
Hull Length 7.60 - 7.600 - -
Hull Width 0.965 - 0.965 - -
Height - 3.45 3.450 3.45 -
Areas in m2
Wings 34.38 34.38 34.38 - -
Ailerons 1.90 - 1.90 - -
Elevators 1.08 - 1.08 - -
Rudder 0.57 - 0.57 - -
Weights in kg
Empty 875 875 875 812 716
Loaded 1,145 1,145 1,145 1,092 941
Performance
Speed in km/hr 160 160 - 180 -
Time to 800 m 3.9 minutes - 3.9 minutes - -
Time to 1000 m 5 minutes 5 minutes 5 minutes 5 minutes -
Time to 1500 m 8.1 minutes - 8.1 minutes - -
Time to 2000 m 11.2 minutes - 11.2 minutes 11.2 minutes 9 minutes
Time to 3000 m 23.4 minutes 23 minutes 23.4 minutes 23.4 minutes 15 minutes
Ceiling, m - - - 4,000 5,000
Range - - - 400 km -
Motor 200-hp Hiero 150-hp Benz Bz.m 150-hp Benz 230-hp Hiero 200-hp Hiero/230-hp Hiero
Type W.23
The W.23 was a further development of the single-seat fighting flying boat. Three of the experimental Class EMGMK were ordered, MN 1647 - 1649. The machine was to be armed with one machine gun and a 2-cm Becker cannon. The boat was of conventional Brandenburg construction and resembled the other boats in the Brandenburg family with its pusher installation, swept lower wing, single-step hull, and wing floats.
All three were built and delivered. MN 1647 was recorded at the Hage Repair Depot in November 1918. Further details are lacking. One source states that they had poor flight characteristics.(22)
(22) Leaman, P. "The Hansa-Brandenburg Seaplanes Pt.3," Cross & Cockade International, UK, 2011. Vol.42 P.97.
Brandenburg W.23 Specifications
Source Typenschau Branden. 3-View* SVK MN 1647
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 10.70 10.700 10.700
Span, Lower 10.24 10.240 10.130
Chord, Upper 1.80 1.800
Chord, Lower 1.80 1.650
Length 9.13 9.140 9.125
Height 3.600
Hull Length 8.60 8.600
Hull Width 1.00 1.000
Areas in m2
Wings 34.70 34.7
Ailerons 2.25 2.10 2.25
Elevators 1.00 1.04 1.00
Rudder 0.50 0.45 0.50
Weights in kg
Empty 918 918 907
Loaded 1,261 1,261 1,250
Performance
Speed in km/hr 165 165
Time to 800 m 6 min. 6 min.
Time to 1000 m 7 min. 7.7 min.
Time to 1500 m 12 min. 12 min.
Time to 2000 m 18.2 min. 18.2 min.
Time to 3000 m 38.3 min. 38.3 min.
Motor 160-hp Mercedes 105-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes
* 3-view dated 14.01.19
The German prototype W18 before its Marine Number, 2138, was painted on the hull. The German Navy preferred floatplanes and no more W18s were supplied to Germany. Standard late-war naval camouflage was applied.
Brandenburg W.18 A.60. was one of the first batch of W.18 aircraft powered by the 230 hp Hiero for the kuk Kriegsmarine. Was in service in the Adriatic for some 10 months from December 1917, until written off due to age.
Brandenburg W.18 A.78. 'V' was powered by the 230 hp Hiero. Was accepted on 09.07.17. Serving with Banfield's squadron at Trieste, it was captured by the Italians on 4 May 1918 and was written off.
Brandenburg W.18 A.89. The airframes for A.88 - A.96 were built in Germany and delivered without a motor or guns to the kuk Kriegsmarine.
Brandenburg W.18 A.91. was captured by the Italians. It was one of the first batch of W.18 aircraft powered by the 230 hp Hiero for the kuk Kriegsmarine.
Developed from the CC, the W18 used conventional interplane struts, which weighed less than the star-struts of the CC. Only one was supplied to the German Navy, but fitted with two guns and either the 200 hp or 230 hp Hiero engine, it was a great success operating with the Austro-Hungarian Navy, which liked flying boats. Its Marine Number 2138 is chalked on the side of the fuselage. The machine has the late-war hexagonal camouflage painted on the hull turtledeck. Note the location of the twin machine guns.
This W.18 is in the hexagonal camouflage to wings and hull. It has a small unbalanced rudder. It may be MN 2138 but late production boats for Austro-Hungary were in this color scheme.
W.18 fighters of Banfield's unit at Trieste, May 1918. Aircraft V (A78) and VI, appear to being readied for a sortie.
Flieger Quartiermeister Reinhold Haschke (four victories) poses with A.89 at Gjenovics, July 1918.The Schwarzlose machine gun can be seen mounted alongside the cockpit.The cartridge ejection chute can be seen above the "8" of the serial. This was to catch shells and prevent them striking the pusher propeller. This W.18 has the upper wing striped red and white as well as the tailplane, otherwise it is in plain finish. The bombs are for show as the machine was not equipped to carry bombs.
Brandenburg W.25
Another attempt to find a replacement to the KDW, the W.25 was an elegant single seat fighter floatplane in Class C2MG. Unusually only a single example, MN 2258, of the 150-hp Benz Bz.III powered fighter was constructed. The reason may have been that the Navy was now interested in two-seat fighters. The W.25 had conventionally braced wings of equal span and chord initially with ailerons only on the upper wing. Manoeuvrability must have been unsatisfactory as the machine was modified with ailerons, connected by a link strut, on both wings. It was retested in this form and this is how it was illustrated in the Atlas. Armament was a pair of synchronised Maxim 08/15 machine guns. The SVK tested the machine in February 1918. Nothing further is known of this machine which must have tested as unsatisfactory, however one source indicates that it was fitted with a 160-hp Maybach engine and used as a school machine. It was recorded at the Hage Repair Depot in November 1918.
Brandenburg W.25 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brandenburg 3-View SVK MN 2258
Span, m 10.40/10.40 10.4 10.400/10.400 10.400/10.400
Chord, m 1.80 - 1.800 1.800
Length, m 8.80 8.8 8.791 8.800
Height, m - 3.45 - 3.450
Areas, m2
Wings 30.53 36.53 36.118 30.53
Ailerons 1.80 - 4x0.85 1.80
Elevators 1.20 - 1.3 1.20
Rudder 0.55 - 0.47 0.55
Empty Wt, kg 912 918 840 912
Loaded Wt, kg 1,182 1,182 1,160 1,182
Performance
Speed in km/hr 160 160 16 160
Time to 800 m 4.7 minutes - - 4.7 minutes
Time to 1000 m 6.5 minutes 6.5 minutes - 6.5 minutes
Endurance - 2.5 hours - -
Engine - - 150-hp Benz 150-hp Benz
Another attempt to find a replacement to the KDW, the W.25 was an elegant single seat fighter floatplane in Class C2MG. Unusually only a single example, MN 2258, of the 150-hp Benz Bz.III powered fighter was constructed. The reason may have been that the Navy was now interested in two-seat fighters. The W.25 had conventionally braced wings of equal span and chord initially with ailerons only on the upper wing. Manoeuvrability must have been unsatisfactory as the machine was modified with ailerons, connected by a link strut, on both wings. It was retested in this form and this is how it was illustrated in the Atlas. Armament was a pair of synchronised Maxim 08/15 machine guns. The SVK tested the machine in February 1918. Nothing further is known of this machine which must have tested as unsatisfactory, however one source indicates that it was fitted with a 160-hp Maybach engine and used as a school machine. It was recorded at the Hage Repair Depot in November 1918.
Brandenburg W.25 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brandenburg 3-View SVK MN 2258
Span, m 10.40/10.40 10.4 10.400/10.400 10.400/10.400
Chord, m 1.80 - 1.800 1.800
Length, m 8.80 8.8 8.791 8.800
Height, m - 3.45 - 3.450
Areas, m2
Wings 30.53 36.53 36.118 30.53
Ailerons 1.80 - 4x0.85 1.80
Elevators 1.20 - 1.3 1.20
Rudder 0.55 - 0.47 0.55
Empty Wt, kg 912 918 840 912
Loaded Wt, kg 1,182 1,182 1,160 1,182
Performance
Speed in km/hr 160 160 16 160
Time to 800 m 4.7 minutes - - 4.7 minutes
Time to 1000 m 6.5 minutes 6.5 minutes - 6.5 minutes
Endurance - 2.5 hours - -
Engine - - 150-hp Benz 150-hp Benz
The final development of the KDW configuration was the W.25. It has three-color naval hexagonal fabric on the upper surfaces; conventional interplane struts replaced the 'star-strut' arrangement of the KDW.
This front view of the W.25 shows the careful attention to minimum frontal area and streamlined nose entry to minimize drag.
The W25 had the fixed upper vertical fin of the late-production KDW, but differed in having ailerons on all four wings, which also featured increased span and area. These changes likely improved its handling characteristics, but not enough for a production order.
Brandenburg W.19
The W.19 was a larger and more powerful two-seat naval fighter that followed the W.12. It had been found from operational experience that a machine with more endurance was required and the W.19 was designed to meet this specification. The usual three prototypes were ordered, MNs 1469 - 1471. Aircraft 1469 is reported to have crashed on its first flight, sometime in August 1917. Another source indicates that MN 1469 was used for static testing and not delivered. Research by Ron Kintner has established that MN 1469 was deleted without being allotted to any naval air station, while MNs 1470 and 1471 are recorded in the Daily Orders of the Chief of Naval Aviation. Although at least 77 of the 115 W.19 biplanes ordered are confirmed built, pictorially the W.19 remains one of the least photographed Brandenburg floatplanes that entered active service. The type was operated with the W.12 and was not reported by their opponents as a new type.
The W.19 with a larger wing span than the W.12 featured two-bay wings. On the prototypes these had cable bracing in each bay; however, on production machines the inner bay was wireless. Of similar configuration and construction to the W.12 it was considerably larger and possessed a greater endurance and radius of action. When equipped with the more powerful 260-hp Maybach engine(54) performance did not suffer and the two types could operate effectively together, although it appears that the Brandenburg Kastas gave up their W.12 fighters and were entirely equipped with the W.19 as numbers allowed. The W.19 was reportedly easier to fly than the earlier 150-hp Brandenburg but not as manoeuvrable.
Borkum flew large patrols of the W.19 from August to early October. On 8 October the W.19 fighters at Borkum were transferred to Norderney and they were replaced by the W.29. Details of the operations of the W.19 from other naval air stations are sketchy. Despite this the W.19 was an effective fighter and did enable the German naval aviators to keep up the pressure on their British opponents until they were replaced by the W.29. A total of 115 W.19 fighters were ordered; however, only 77 can be confirmed. It is not known if all the machines of the last batch were delivered. The Japanese expressed interest in the type and obtained MN 2690 post-war.
Operational Use of the W.19(55)
It appears orders for the distribution of the W.19 were issued in February 1918. Aircraft were to be shipped to Zeebrugge and Borkum. The later received its first W.19 biplanes by May. The first operational use of the Borkum's W.19 fighters was on 10 May. A formation comprising two W.19 and a Friedrichshafen FF49C floatplane left on a morning patrol. W.19 MN 2208 was forced to alight at sea, the Friedrichshafen, MN 1825, also landing. The other W.19, MN 2211, returned and reported. A rescue flight was sent out but did not locate the downed aircraft. The Friedrichshafen was located and towed in but the crew of the W.19 had to sink their aircraft and were interned in the Netherlands.
The British discovered that the Germans accompanied their mine-sweeping vessels with light vessels, and support capital shops were sometimes patrolling or even anchored in the inner Bight. Coastal Motor-Boats (CMBs) being of shallow draft and equipped with torpedoes could be carried to near the mine-field and released for a dash across to the inner part of the Bight and attack any capital targets of opportunity. It was proposed that flying boats from Yarmouth and Felixstowe would patrol off the Dutch islands to distract the attention of German seaplanes from the CMBs. A number of such operations were carried out with limited or no success. During one such operation on 1 August, a Zeppelin made a bombing attack on the naval forces. As it appeared that the Zeppelin commanders were losing their sense of caution it was determined to carry a fighter on the next excursion.
On the evening of 10 August the Harwich Force set out again with the CMBs and a Sopwith 2F.1 Camel on a towed lighter. A few minutes after the CMBs started their run the Force was sighted by some German seaplanes that kept the Force under reconnaissance. These were probably those from Kasta 5 that was making the first patrol of the day. At 7.10am the Yarmouth flying boats arrived and were directed to the position of the German seaplanes. The weather conditions allowed the surface ships to easily view the German machines but they were not visible from the flying boats that set off in the wrong direction. They returned and asked for more information and were directed to seek out the CMBs that should have been returning. No sighting of the motor-boats was made. While this was in progress the L.53 made an appearance and Lt. Stuart D Culley took off in his Sopwith 2F1 Camel N6812 and soon after the remains of the Zeppelin fell into the sea. The CMBs were now overdue and the destroyers and light cruisers were ordered to sweep in search of them. Flying boats from Yarmouth were dispatched but no sign of the missing boats was found.
After being launched from the cruisers, the motorboats had moved towards the Dutch coast and then turned and ran along the coastline outside Dutch territorial waters. Six seaplanes were sighted but were thought to be British until they were close enough for the black crosses to be made out. These were Brandenburg W.29 biplanes of Kasta 5. The CMBs closed up to concentrate the fire of their Lewis guns and were soon in a running duel with the German seaplanes that bombed and strafed the motor-boats. After about half an hour the leader decided to return to the Harwich Force, and then four fast fighting seaplanes with twin forward-firing guns arrived. Actually Brandenburg W.19 biplanes of Kasta 1 and Norderney W.12 and W.29 aircraft arrived, and continued the attack. Keeping the sun at their backs the Germans dived on the motorboats, "defined in clear detail, and the fire from the seaplanes, opened with fair accuracy at long range, was maintained without break and with increasing sureness of aim as they neared the luckless crews." The fight took place four miles off the Dutch coast. One boat managed to reach the shore. Another caught fire but managed to get within half a mile of the shore before it blew up. Two were sunk by their crews when they ran out of ammunition and fuel. They were picked up after three hours in the water by a Dutch torpedo boat. Two others drifted into Dutch waters and were salvaged by the Dutch. All the crew survived to be interned but four officers and two men had been wounded.
Three Borkum W.19 crews were credited with a motor-boat each. Two Norderney W.12 crews and one W.29 crew also received credit for one motorboat each. One Norderney W.29 had been shot down in the action and its crew killed. Also a Norderney W.12 had to alight with a bullet in the radiator and had to be towed in by a torpedo boat. Activity continued all day with all six Borkum Kastas flying a mission and Kasta 5 flying two.
On 30 May 1918, two flying boats from Great Yarmouth were making a reconnaissance over the Borkum area when Curtiss H.12 convert 8660 was forced to alight with engine trouble. The accompanying flying boat was notified by Aldis lamp that the trouble was repairable, and it circled the downed boat until after about 50 minutes two German fighting seaplanes appeared and a combat ensued. The two forward guns on the flying boat jammed after a few rounds; however, the German seaplanes turned and flew off in the direction of Borkum with the evident intent of bring back reinforcements. The British boat pursued the Germans until he realized he was too far from his damaged comrade and he turned back but could not locate the Curtiss boat. Finding nothing after a long and careful search, he flew home at 4.45pm with only about twenty minutes fuel left. At 6pm Capt. R. Leckie took another boat out to search for the missing boat. Not long after he departed a pigeon message arrived stating that 8660 was on the water and being attacked by three "Huns."
H.12 8660's engine had been fixed and the boat had left the water and continued on its patrol. After three-quarters of an hour the machine was again forced to alight with engine trouble. In the meantime the Borkum station had sent out four seaplanes, three Brandenburg W.19 fighters and an accompanying Friedrichshafen FF49C MN 1830. This was Kasta 1 that had been equipped with the W.19 from 25 May, flying its last patrol in the W.12 on 3 May. The Germans found 8660 on the water and immediately attacked, circling the boat and letting their observers fire on the machine on the water. MN 2213 had to break off the attack due to engine trouble. Two diving attacks were made when the attackers noted that three men had left the boat and were swimming away from it and so they ceased their attack and landed to pick up the swimmers. Two were taken captive and the other drowned. The Friedrichshafen taxied up to the boat and the observer went onboard to find the mechanic wounded in the head by splinters and the pilot, Capt. Charles L. Young, DFC, dead at the controls. As the flying boat could not be towed back to Borkum the boat was set on fire and the Germans left with their three POWs.
W.19 Engines
There were numerous engine, armament, and equipment variations within W.19 production. For example, airplanes through the first three production batches were generally scheduled to receive the 240-hp Maybach Mb.IVa engine, but when struck off charge some individual airplanes had the high-compression 260-hp Maybach Mb.IVa engine. It is not known if the more powerful engine was installed during production or retrofitted after delivery. The fourth production series was scheduled to have the 260-hp Maybach Mb.IVa. On 12 August 1918 this series was allotted between Kofl F (North Sea) and Kofl Marinekorps (Flanders).
Confusingly, both the Maybach 240-hp and 260-hp engines apparently shared the designation Mb.IVa. The engine rated at 240-hp had cast iron pistons, produced a maximum of 245-hp, and weighed 400 kg. The engine rated at 260-hp had aluminum pistons, produced a maximum of 300-hp, and weighed 390 kg. Both engines had six cylinders of 165mm bore and 180mm stroke and developed their rated power at 1,400 RPM. From these similarities it appears they were essentially the same engine with different pistons, power ratings, and compression ratios, but with little or nothing to distinguish between them visually. The reduced reciprocating mass of aluminum pistons allows the engine to rev more easily, and the improved thermal conductivity enables a higher compression ratio before knocking/pinging.
(54) The prototypes, and many early machines, were powered by the 240-hp Maybach.
(55) This section is based on the research of R. Kintner. See "The Brandenburg W.19 - Operational History", Over the Front Journal, Vol.26, No.4,2011.
Brandenburg W.19 Production
Marine Numbers Class Engine Delivered Notes
1469 - 1471 C2MG Mb.IVa The engine used in 1469 is unknown, the machine was destroyed on its first flight August 1917. The other two had the 240-hp Maybach.
2207 - 2216 C3MG Mb.IVa Apr. - May 1918 2215 cancelled 2 Apr. 18, due to faulty workmanship
2237 CK Mb.IVa Apr. 1918 20mm Becker Kannon test installation
2238 - 2257 C3MG Mb.IVa Jan. - June 1918
2259 - 2278 C3MG Mb.IVa Feb. - June 1918 2267 accepted in second half of June 1918 had a 260-hp Maybach. 2278 MGMK. Some aircraft CHFT2MG
2537 C3MG Mb.IVa May 1918 Replacement for 2215
2544 - 2563 CK Mb.IVa Also 1MG1MK. Most found at Warnemunde by Allied Armistice Naval Commission (See Appendix in Vol.3).
2683 - 2722 C3MG Mb.IVa 2687 &. 2688 to Italy post-war
Brandenburg W.19 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brandenburg 3-view SVK MN 1470 SVK MN 2208
Dimensions in m
Span 13.80/13.80 13.80 13.800/13.800 13.800/13.800 13.800/13.800
Chord 8.470 9.450 8.690 9.600 9.600
Length 3.230 3.550 3.300 3.300 3.300
Height 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.800
Areas in m2
Wings 57.80 57.8 - 50.46* 57.80
Ailerons 5.00 - 2.28 5.00 -
Elevators 2.27 - 1.62 2.25 -
Rudder 1.25 - 0.75 1.25 -
Empty Wt, kg 857 977 959 997 1,056
Loaded Wt, kg 1,314 1,434 1,230 1,454 1,550
Performance
Speed in km/h 151 150.5 - - 150.5
Time to 800 m 6.7 minutes - - - 6.7 minutes
Time to 1000 m 8.4 minutes 6.4 minutes 8.4 minutes 6.7 minutes 8.4 minutes
Time to 1500 m 13.8 minutes - 13.8 minutes 10.2 minutes 13.8 minutes
Time to 2000 m 18.9 minutes 18.9 minutes 18.9 minutes 14.2 minutes 18.9 minutes
Time to 3000 m 23 minutes 23.0 minutes 28.7 minutes 25.1 minutes 23 minutes
Endurance - 5 hours (approx) - - -
Engine 260-hp Maybach 260-hp Maybach Mb.IV 260-hp Maybach 240-hp Maybach -
* This discrepancy cannot be explained as the span and chord are the same for both Atlas entries.
The W.19 was a larger and more powerful two-seat naval fighter that followed the W.12. It had been found from operational experience that a machine with more endurance was required and the W.19 was designed to meet this specification. The usual three prototypes were ordered, MNs 1469 - 1471. Aircraft 1469 is reported to have crashed on its first flight, sometime in August 1917. Another source indicates that MN 1469 was used for static testing and not delivered. Research by Ron Kintner has established that MN 1469 was deleted without being allotted to any naval air station, while MNs 1470 and 1471 are recorded in the Daily Orders of the Chief of Naval Aviation. Although at least 77 of the 115 W.19 biplanes ordered are confirmed built, pictorially the W.19 remains one of the least photographed Brandenburg floatplanes that entered active service. The type was operated with the W.12 and was not reported by their opponents as a new type.
The W.19 with a larger wing span than the W.12 featured two-bay wings. On the prototypes these had cable bracing in each bay; however, on production machines the inner bay was wireless. Of similar configuration and construction to the W.12 it was considerably larger and possessed a greater endurance and radius of action. When equipped with the more powerful 260-hp Maybach engine(54) performance did not suffer and the two types could operate effectively together, although it appears that the Brandenburg Kastas gave up their W.12 fighters and were entirely equipped with the W.19 as numbers allowed. The W.19 was reportedly easier to fly than the earlier 150-hp Brandenburg but not as manoeuvrable.
Borkum flew large patrols of the W.19 from August to early October. On 8 October the W.19 fighters at Borkum were transferred to Norderney and they were replaced by the W.29. Details of the operations of the W.19 from other naval air stations are sketchy. Despite this the W.19 was an effective fighter and did enable the German naval aviators to keep up the pressure on their British opponents until they were replaced by the W.29. A total of 115 W.19 fighters were ordered; however, only 77 can be confirmed. It is not known if all the machines of the last batch were delivered. The Japanese expressed interest in the type and obtained MN 2690 post-war.
Operational Use of the W.19(55)
It appears orders for the distribution of the W.19 were issued in February 1918. Aircraft were to be shipped to Zeebrugge and Borkum. The later received its first W.19 biplanes by May. The first operational use of the Borkum's W.19 fighters was on 10 May. A formation comprising two W.19 and a Friedrichshafen FF49C floatplane left on a morning patrol. W.19 MN 2208 was forced to alight at sea, the Friedrichshafen, MN 1825, also landing. The other W.19, MN 2211, returned and reported. A rescue flight was sent out but did not locate the downed aircraft. The Friedrichshafen was located and towed in but the crew of the W.19 had to sink their aircraft and were interned in the Netherlands.
The British discovered that the Germans accompanied their mine-sweeping vessels with light vessels, and support capital shops were sometimes patrolling or even anchored in the inner Bight. Coastal Motor-Boats (CMBs) being of shallow draft and equipped with torpedoes could be carried to near the mine-field and released for a dash across to the inner part of the Bight and attack any capital targets of opportunity. It was proposed that flying boats from Yarmouth and Felixstowe would patrol off the Dutch islands to distract the attention of German seaplanes from the CMBs. A number of such operations were carried out with limited or no success. During one such operation on 1 August, a Zeppelin made a bombing attack on the naval forces. As it appeared that the Zeppelin commanders were losing their sense of caution it was determined to carry a fighter on the next excursion.
On the evening of 10 August the Harwich Force set out again with the CMBs and a Sopwith 2F.1 Camel on a towed lighter. A few minutes after the CMBs started their run the Force was sighted by some German seaplanes that kept the Force under reconnaissance. These were probably those from Kasta 5 that was making the first patrol of the day. At 7.10am the Yarmouth flying boats arrived and were directed to the position of the German seaplanes. The weather conditions allowed the surface ships to easily view the German machines but they were not visible from the flying boats that set off in the wrong direction. They returned and asked for more information and were directed to seek out the CMBs that should have been returning. No sighting of the motor-boats was made. While this was in progress the L.53 made an appearance and Lt. Stuart D Culley took off in his Sopwith 2F1 Camel N6812 and soon after the remains of the Zeppelin fell into the sea. The CMBs were now overdue and the destroyers and light cruisers were ordered to sweep in search of them. Flying boats from Yarmouth were dispatched but no sign of the missing boats was found.
After being launched from the cruisers, the motorboats had moved towards the Dutch coast and then turned and ran along the coastline outside Dutch territorial waters. Six seaplanes were sighted but were thought to be British until they were close enough for the black crosses to be made out. These were Brandenburg W.29 biplanes of Kasta 5. The CMBs closed up to concentrate the fire of their Lewis guns and were soon in a running duel with the German seaplanes that bombed and strafed the motor-boats. After about half an hour the leader decided to return to the Harwich Force, and then four fast fighting seaplanes with twin forward-firing guns arrived. Actually Brandenburg W.19 biplanes of Kasta 1 and Norderney W.12 and W.29 aircraft arrived, and continued the attack. Keeping the sun at their backs the Germans dived on the motorboats, "defined in clear detail, and the fire from the seaplanes, opened with fair accuracy at long range, was maintained without break and with increasing sureness of aim as they neared the luckless crews." The fight took place four miles off the Dutch coast. One boat managed to reach the shore. Another caught fire but managed to get within half a mile of the shore before it blew up. Two were sunk by their crews when they ran out of ammunition and fuel. They were picked up after three hours in the water by a Dutch torpedo boat. Two others drifted into Dutch waters and were salvaged by the Dutch. All the crew survived to be interned but four officers and two men had been wounded.
Three Borkum W.19 crews were credited with a motor-boat each. Two Norderney W.12 crews and one W.29 crew also received credit for one motorboat each. One Norderney W.29 had been shot down in the action and its crew killed. Also a Norderney W.12 had to alight with a bullet in the radiator and had to be towed in by a torpedo boat. Activity continued all day with all six Borkum Kastas flying a mission and Kasta 5 flying two.
On 30 May 1918, two flying boats from Great Yarmouth were making a reconnaissance over the Borkum area when Curtiss H.12 convert 8660 was forced to alight with engine trouble. The accompanying flying boat was notified by Aldis lamp that the trouble was repairable, and it circled the downed boat until after about 50 minutes two German fighting seaplanes appeared and a combat ensued. The two forward guns on the flying boat jammed after a few rounds; however, the German seaplanes turned and flew off in the direction of Borkum with the evident intent of bring back reinforcements. The British boat pursued the Germans until he realized he was too far from his damaged comrade and he turned back but could not locate the Curtiss boat. Finding nothing after a long and careful search, he flew home at 4.45pm with only about twenty minutes fuel left. At 6pm Capt. R. Leckie took another boat out to search for the missing boat. Not long after he departed a pigeon message arrived stating that 8660 was on the water and being attacked by three "Huns."
H.12 8660's engine had been fixed and the boat had left the water and continued on its patrol. After three-quarters of an hour the machine was again forced to alight with engine trouble. In the meantime the Borkum station had sent out four seaplanes, three Brandenburg W.19 fighters and an accompanying Friedrichshafen FF49C MN 1830. This was Kasta 1 that had been equipped with the W.19 from 25 May, flying its last patrol in the W.12 on 3 May. The Germans found 8660 on the water and immediately attacked, circling the boat and letting their observers fire on the machine on the water. MN 2213 had to break off the attack due to engine trouble. Two diving attacks were made when the attackers noted that three men had left the boat and were swimming away from it and so they ceased their attack and landed to pick up the swimmers. Two were taken captive and the other drowned. The Friedrichshafen taxied up to the boat and the observer went onboard to find the mechanic wounded in the head by splinters and the pilot, Capt. Charles L. Young, DFC, dead at the controls. As the flying boat could not be towed back to Borkum the boat was set on fire and the Germans left with their three POWs.
W.19 Engines
There were numerous engine, armament, and equipment variations within W.19 production. For example, airplanes through the first three production batches were generally scheduled to receive the 240-hp Maybach Mb.IVa engine, but when struck off charge some individual airplanes had the high-compression 260-hp Maybach Mb.IVa engine. It is not known if the more powerful engine was installed during production or retrofitted after delivery. The fourth production series was scheduled to have the 260-hp Maybach Mb.IVa. On 12 August 1918 this series was allotted between Kofl F (North Sea) and Kofl Marinekorps (Flanders).
Confusingly, both the Maybach 240-hp and 260-hp engines apparently shared the designation Mb.IVa. The engine rated at 240-hp had cast iron pistons, produced a maximum of 245-hp, and weighed 400 kg. The engine rated at 260-hp had aluminum pistons, produced a maximum of 300-hp, and weighed 390 kg. Both engines had six cylinders of 165mm bore and 180mm stroke and developed their rated power at 1,400 RPM. From these similarities it appears they were essentially the same engine with different pistons, power ratings, and compression ratios, but with little or nothing to distinguish between them visually. The reduced reciprocating mass of aluminum pistons allows the engine to rev more easily, and the improved thermal conductivity enables a higher compression ratio before knocking/pinging.
(54) The prototypes, and many early machines, were powered by the 240-hp Maybach.
(55) This section is based on the research of R. Kintner. See "The Brandenburg W.19 - Operational History", Over the Front Journal, Vol.26, No.4,2011.
Brandenburg W.19 Production
Marine Numbers Class Engine Delivered Notes
1469 - 1471 C2MG Mb.IVa The engine used in 1469 is unknown, the machine was destroyed on its first flight August 1917. The other two had the 240-hp Maybach.
2207 - 2216 C3MG Mb.IVa Apr. - May 1918 2215 cancelled 2 Apr. 18, due to faulty workmanship
2237 CK Mb.IVa Apr. 1918 20mm Becker Kannon test installation
2238 - 2257 C3MG Mb.IVa Jan. - June 1918
2259 - 2278 C3MG Mb.IVa Feb. - June 1918 2267 accepted in second half of June 1918 had a 260-hp Maybach. 2278 MGMK. Some aircraft CHFT2MG
2537 C3MG Mb.IVa May 1918 Replacement for 2215
2544 - 2563 CK Mb.IVa Also 1MG1MK. Most found at Warnemunde by Allied Armistice Naval Commission (See Appendix in Vol.3).
2683 - 2722 C3MG Mb.IVa 2687 &. 2688 to Italy post-war
Brandenburg W.19 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brandenburg 3-view SVK MN 1470 SVK MN 2208
Dimensions in m
Span 13.80/13.80 13.80 13.800/13.800 13.800/13.800 13.800/13.800
Chord 8.470 9.450 8.690 9.600 9.600
Length 3.230 3.550 3.300 3.300 3.300
Height 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.800 1.800
Areas in m2
Wings 57.80 57.8 - 50.46* 57.80
Ailerons 5.00 - 2.28 5.00 -
Elevators 2.27 - 1.62 2.25 -
Rudder 1.25 - 0.75 1.25 -
Empty Wt, kg 857 977 959 997 1,056
Loaded Wt, kg 1,314 1,434 1,230 1,454 1,550
Performance
Speed in km/h 151 150.5 - - 150.5
Time to 800 m 6.7 minutes - - - 6.7 minutes
Time to 1000 m 8.4 minutes 6.4 minutes 8.4 minutes 6.7 minutes 8.4 minutes
Time to 1500 m 13.8 minutes - 13.8 minutes 10.2 minutes 13.8 minutes
Time to 2000 m 18.9 minutes 18.9 minutes 18.9 minutes 14.2 minutes 18.9 minutes
Time to 3000 m 23 minutes 23.0 minutes 28.7 minutes 25.1 minutes 23 minutes
Endurance - 5 hours (approx) - - -
Engine 260-hp Maybach 260-hp Maybach Mb.IV 260-hp Maybach 240-hp Maybach -
* This discrepancy cannot be explained as the span and chord are the same for both Atlas entries.
This unmarked W.19 was certainly the first prototype. A key indication this was the first prototype W.19 is the lack of ailerons on the lower wing; all other W.19s had ailerons on both upper and lower wings for improved maneuverability. The horn exhaust extends horizontally from the engine cowling.
This front view shows the very clean lines of the W.19 despite its two-bay wing bracing. The shape of the exhaust manifold is the same as in the photo of the unmarked W.19. This could be that same aircraft after modification; unlike that aircraft, it has ailerons on both upper and lower wings. Alternatively, it might be the third prototype. The lack of a second fixed gun for the pilot on the port side is a key indication this aircraft is one of the first three prototypes.
This side view of Marine Number 1470, the second prototype W.19, emphasizes its clean lines for a biplane. An actuating strut connects the ailerons on upper and lower wings.
The Brandenburg W.19 seaplane two-seat fighter had a tail design similar to the Phonix C.I for the same reason, to give the gunner a clear field of fire. Not needing a tail skid, the rudder could be extended below the fuselage, giving an even better field of fire to the gunner. The W.19 was an enlarged development of the original W.12 two-seat biplane fighter; the larger airframe carried more fuel for greater range and endurance. To maintain maneuverability despite its larger size, the W.19 had ailerons on all four wings; the smaller W.12 had upper-wing ailerons only. Speed of the two types was similar due to the more powerful engine in the W.19
The Brandenburg W.19 seaplane two-seat fighter had a tail design similar to the Phonix C.I for the same reason, to give the gunner a clear field of fire. Not needing a tail skid, the rudder could be extended below the fuselage, giving an even better field of fire to the gunner. The W.19 was an enlarged development of the original W.12 two-seat biplane fighter; the larger airframe carried more fuel for greater range and endurance. To maintain maneuverability despite its larger size, the W.19 had ailerons on all four wings; the smaller W.12 had upper-wing ailerons only. Speed of the two types was similar due to the more powerful engine in the W.19
Marine Number 1470 was the second prototype W.19. The aircraft is painted and marked and the engine cowling appears to be designed for individual exhaust pipes. The float bracing appears very sturdy. Only the over-wing radiator spoils its clean lines.
The clean appearance and small spinner are shown in this view of Marine Number 2207, the first production W.19 aircraft. The two-bay W19 was an enlarged, more powerful development of the single-bay W12 with more equipment and longer range. Compared to earlier airframes the exhaust manifold has been lengthened and angled nearly vertically to exhaust the gases over the wing and away from the crew.
This side view of Marine Number 2207 emphasizes the gunner's clear field of fire. The actuating strut between the ailerons on upper and lower wings has now been streamlined to reduce drag.
Using the 240-260 hp Maybach Mb.IVa, the Brandenburg W19 was an enlarged, more powerful derivative of the W12 for longer range and greater payload. Its larger size required two bays of struts for structural strength, and it used ailerons on all wings for improved maneuverability; the strut connecting the upper and lower ailerons is clearly visible in this view. Its excellent design and additional power gave it essentially the same speed and maneuverability of the smaller W12 and it was equally successful on operations early in 1918.
Using the 240-260 hp Maybach Mb.IVa, the Brandenburg W19 was an enlarged, more powerful derivative of the W12 for longer range and greater payload. Its larger size required two bays of struts for structural strength, and it used ailerons on all wings for improved maneuverability; the strut connecting the upper and lower ailerons is clearly visible in this view. Its excellent design and additional power gave it essentially the same speed and maneuverability of the smaller W12 and it was equally successful on operations early in 1918.
Front view, probably of Marine Number 2207, showing its over-wing radiator and twin forward-firing machine guns.
This view of Marine Number 2207 emphasizes its streamlined fuselage and the robust float bracing. The fairing over the pilot's left gun shows dedication to streamlining and protecting the gun mechanism from the airflow and especially salt-water spray. The W.19s were finished in the standard late-war naval camouflage specified by the Navy; the three-color naval lozenge fabric covering the upper surfaces of the wings and fuselage are just visible. This camouflage fabric was also used on the top of the tailplane.
Brandenburg W19 from Norderney showing the white chevron unit marking on the rear fuselage. This aircraft was an enlarged, more powerful version of the W12 with an extended radius of action, but before it reached the front in any numbers it, in its turn, had been outdated by the Brandenburg W29 monoplane.
W19 Marine Number 2237 photographed at Warnemunde on 25 April 1918 during ground firing of the 20mm Becker cannon. The gunner appears somewhat cramped, which led to the recommendation to enlarge the gun ring diameter from 900mm to 1000mm.
Another view of the 20mm Becker mounted in W19 Marine Number 2237 on 25 April 1918 showing details of the gun ring.
A modified 20mm Becker cannon mounted in W19 Marine Number 2237 on 25 April 1918. The cannon now has a shoulder stock and a bag to catch empty shells.
This view of the 20mm Becker cannon mounted in W.19 Marine Number 2237 shows the gun elevation available to the observer. The hexagonal naval camouflage is clearly visible.
Type W.20 and Submarine-Borne Aeroplanes
In the last half of 1917 and the first half of 1918, three Brandenburg W.20 flying boats were delivered to the German Navy. The W.20 was a small reconnaissance flying boat designed as Class Bu, to be carried by a submarine. The history of the decision to build such an aircraft has not been uncovered to date, but aircraft had liaisoned with submarines and the submarine-borne aircraft was a logical way to develop a means to widen the range of vision of a U-boat on patrol. The success of the raider SMS Wolf was due in no small part to the use of the Friedrichshafen 33E floatplane that had been carried by that ship. While the Wolf returned to Germany on 24 February 1918, and the development of a submarine-borne aircraft was already proceeding, it seems logical to infer that the use of an aircraft by a ship or submarine was not lost to the German Navy, indeed it would have reinforced the desire to produce a successful machine to be capable of being used with the large U-Boat cruisers being developed.
Brandenburg received an order on 30 April 1917, for three floatplanes (MNs 1478 - 1483) and three flying boats (MNs 1551 - 1553) to meet the requirement for a submarine-borne aircraft. The floatplanes were cancelled on 9 November. The flying boat was given the designation W.20 and was a single-seat reconnaissance flying boat designed to be dismantled to fit into a 20 foot x 6 foot space in order to enable it to be carried by a submarine. It took 2 3/4 minutes to reassemble the aircraft and 1 3/4 minutes to dismantle. Part of the specification was that no tool other than a hammer should be used to assemble/disassemble the aircraft. This was to prevent delays that could prove disastrous to a submarine if tools were mislaid. A full-sized mockup was built to check that the proposed machine would fit into the cylinder that would be carried outside the submarine's pressure hull.
It appears from the testimony of Ernst Rothenburg, who had come to Brandenburg from Dornier as chief engineer in charge of metal construction, that the W.20 series were used to develop the concept and once the ideal machine was derived, an all-metal aircraft would be built for active service.
Apart from its small size the W.20 was a conventional Brandenburg construction aircraft with wooden hull and fabric-covered wooden wings. A Brandenburg three-view drawing of 22 June 1917, shows the W.20 with the upper wing of lesser span than the lower wing and interplane struts. On the first boat, MN 1551, the upper wing was supported by the centre-section struts with two long struts from the hull to about one third span. The upper wing was of greater span than the lower wing. The lower wing would have been of cantilever construction similar to that of the W.17. This arrangement proved insufficient in practice. MN 1551 suffered severe damage in October 1917, possibly during trials. The second version of the W.20 had the upper and lower wing increased in span and interplane struts for a greater margin of safety. Two of these flying boats were built, MNs 1552 - 1553, and 1551 was modified with interplane struts to a similar configuration. MN 1552 was delivered to the SVK in March 1918. Tested during the period 1 to 15 April, 1552 was flown several times but could not perform the trials required as modifications requested had not been carried out by the factory. Nevertheless, the W.20 was accepted by the Navy and the aircraft was modified by Brandenburg and the repaired Marine Numbers 1551 and 1553 were shipped to Warnemunde.(9)
It appears that nothing further was done with these aircraft. The three W.20 boats were stored at Warnemunde when inspected by the Allied Naval Armistice Commission on 7 December 1918. The machines were dismissed as "an abandoned experimental design". Only the US appears to have acknowledged the advanced concept that the Germans were working on with regards to submarine borne aircraft.(10)
Heinkel states that the W.20 was very important to himself as it enabled him to re-enter the aviation industry and eventually to set up his own company.
Brandenburg received a contract for three all-metal monoplanes in June 1918, (MNs 2590 - 2592). Ernst Rothenburg was actively working on these aircraft that were apparently built and tested; however he does not describe whether they were flying boats or floatplanes, nor is their designation known. Work stopped in November 1918. There were two orders for monoplanes for submarine service that fit Rothenburg's recollections:
Orders for Monoplanes for Submarine Service
Marine No. Class Engine Notes
2590 - 2592 Bu Ur.II Work stopped November 1918
2790 - 2791 Bu Ur.II Work stopped November 1918
(9) The only known photograph showing 1551 after modification appeared in the German magazine Flugzeug, No.6,1991, P.67.This shows the wing cellule was modified to match that of 1552, confirming the Atlas drawings relating to the three machines, MNs 1551 - 1553.
(10) The British had sent out Sopwith Schneider floatplanes on the deck of the submarine E.22 in April and May 1916. They were launched and flew back to Felixstowe. The idea was not pursued owing to the difficulty of hoisting the aircraft when the submarine needed to submerge.
Brandenburg W.20 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford MN 1551 Gray & Thetford MN 1552 - 1553 SVK MN 1552 (1551 -1553)
Span, m 6.80/6A0 5.8 6.8 6.800/6.400
Chord, Upper, m 1.19 - - 1.190
Chord, Lower, m 1.51 - - 1.510
Length, m 5.93 5.91 5.925 5.925
Height, m - - - 2.900
Hull Length, m 5.45 - - 5.450
Hull Breadth, m 0.80 - - 0.800
Areas in m2
Wings 15.82 14.95 15.82 15.82
Ailerons 1.25 - - 1.25
Elevators 0.64 - - 0.64
Rudder 0.375 - - 0.375
Weights in kg
Empty 395 - 396 395
Loaded 567 - 568 567
Performance
Speed in km/hr 117 - - -
Time to 800 m 11.4 minutes - - 11.4 minutes
Time to 1000 m 14.9 minutes - 14.9 minutes 14.8 minutes
Endurance - - 1 1/4 hour -
Motor 80-hp Oberursel 80-hp Oberursel U.O 80-hp Oberursel U.O 80-hp Oberursel
In the last half of 1917 and the first half of 1918, three Brandenburg W.20 flying boats were delivered to the German Navy. The W.20 was a small reconnaissance flying boat designed as Class Bu, to be carried by a submarine. The history of the decision to build such an aircraft has not been uncovered to date, but aircraft had liaisoned with submarines and the submarine-borne aircraft was a logical way to develop a means to widen the range of vision of a U-boat on patrol. The success of the raider SMS Wolf was due in no small part to the use of the Friedrichshafen 33E floatplane that had been carried by that ship. While the Wolf returned to Germany on 24 February 1918, and the development of a submarine-borne aircraft was already proceeding, it seems logical to infer that the use of an aircraft by a ship or submarine was not lost to the German Navy, indeed it would have reinforced the desire to produce a successful machine to be capable of being used with the large U-Boat cruisers being developed.
Brandenburg received an order on 30 April 1917, for three floatplanes (MNs 1478 - 1483) and three flying boats (MNs 1551 - 1553) to meet the requirement for a submarine-borne aircraft. The floatplanes were cancelled on 9 November. The flying boat was given the designation W.20 and was a single-seat reconnaissance flying boat designed to be dismantled to fit into a 20 foot x 6 foot space in order to enable it to be carried by a submarine. It took 2 3/4 minutes to reassemble the aircraft and 1 3/4 minutes to dismantle. Part of the specification was that no tool other than a hammer should be used to assemble/disassemble the aircraft. This was to prevent delays that could prove disastrous to a submarine if tools were mislaid. A full-sized mockup was built to check that the proposed machine would fit into the cylinder that would be carried outside the submarine's pressure hull.
It appears from the testimony of Ernst Rothenburg, who had come to Brandenburg from Dornier as chief engineer in charge of metal construction, that the W.20 series were used to develop the concept and once the ideal machine was derived, an all-metal aircraft would be built for active service.
Apart from its small size the W.20 was a conventional Brandenburg construction aircraft with wooden hull and fabric-covered wooden wings. A Brandenburg three-view drawing of 22 June 1917, shows the W.20 with the upper wing of lesser span than the lower wing and interplane struts. On the first boat, MN 1551, the upper wing was supported by the centre-section struts with two long struts from the hull to about one third span. The upper wing was of greater span than the lower wing. The lower wing would have been of cantilever construction similar to that of the W.17. This arrangement proved insufficient in practice. MN 1551 suffered severe damage in October 1917, possibly during trials. The second version of the W.20 had the upper and lower wing increased in span and interplane struts for a greater margin of safety. Two of these flying boats were built, MNs 1552 - 1553, and 1551 was modified with interplane struts to a similar configuration. MN 1552 was delivered to the SVK in March 1918. Tested during the period 1 to 15 April, 1552 was flown several times but could not perform the trials required as modifications requested had not been carried out by the factory. Nevertheless, the W.20 was accepted by the Navy and the aircraft was modified by Brandenburg and the repaired Marine Numbers 1551 and 1553 were shipped to Warnemunde.(9)
It appears that nothing further was done with these aircraft. The three W.20 boats were stored at Warnemunde when inspected by the Allied Naval Armistice Commission on 7 December 1918. The machines were dismissed as "an abandoned experimental design". Only the US appears to have acknowledged the advanced concept that the Germans were working on with regards to submarine borne aircraft.(10)
Heinkel states that the W.20 was very important to himself as it enabled him to re-enter the aviation industry and eventually to set up his own company.
Brandenburg received a contract for three all-metal monoplanes in June 1918, (MNs 2590 - 2592). Ernst Rothenburg was actively working on these aircraft that were apparently built and tested; however he does not describe whether they were flying boats or floatplanes, nor is their designation known. Work stopped in November 1918. There were two orders for monoplanes for submarine service that fit Rothenburg's recollections:
Orders for Monoplanes for Submarine Service
Marine No. Class Engine Notes
2590 - 2592 Bu Ur.II Work stopped November 1918
2790 - 2791 Bu Ur.II Work stopped November 1918
(9) The only known photograph showing 1551 after modification appeared in the German magazine Flugzeug, No.6,1991, P.67.This shows the wing cellule was modified to match that of 1552, confirming the Atlas drawings relating to the three machines, MNs 1551 - 1553.
(10) The British had sent out Sopwith Schneider floatplanes on the deck of the submarine E.22 in April and May 1916. They were launched and flew back to Felixstowe. The idea was not pursued owing to the difficulty of hoisting the aircraft when the submarine needed to submerge.
Brandenburg W.20 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford MN 1551 Gray & Thetford MN 1552 - 1553 SVK MN 1552 (1551 -1553)
Span, m 6.80/6A0 5.8 6.8 6.800/6.400
Chord, Upper, m 1.19 - - 1.190
Chord, Lower, m 1.51 - - 1.510
Length, m 5.93 5.91 5.925 5.925
Height, m - - - 2.900
Hull Length, m 5.45 - - 5.450
Hull Breadth, m 0.80 - - 0.800
Areas in m2
Wings 15.82 14.95 15.82 15.82
Ailerons 1.25 - - 1.25
Elevators 0.64 - - 0.64
Rudder 0.375 - - 0.375
Weights in kg
Empty 395 - 396 395
Loaded 567 - 568 567
Performance
Speed in km/hr 117 - - -
Time to 800 m 11.4 minutes - - 11.4 minutes
Time to 1000 m 14.9 minutes - 14.9 minutes 14.8 minutes
Endurance - - 1 1/4 hour -
Motor 80-hp Oberursel 80-hp Oberursel U.O 80-hp Oberursel U.O 80-hp Oberursel
W.20 Marine Number 1551 with the wing support structure that proved unsafe. It was to be modified to that used on Marine Numbers 1552 and 1553.
Marine Number 1552 was the subject of the SVK test and drawings. This machine has conventional wing bracing and represented the final configuration for the type.
Three examples of the Brandenburg W20 single-seat flying-boat were built, the so-called 'type' aircraft which was the example of any new design evaluated by the seaplane experimental centre (SVK) at Warnemunde before being accepted for naval use (by the SAK). 1552 is seen on 14 March 1918. Intended to be carried as an aerial scout on submarines, it did not see operational service. The W20 was designed to be assembled and dismantled very quickly, using the minimum of hand tools; individual components were stowed in watertight air tubes on the submarine's deck.
Three examples of the Brandenburg W20 single-seat flying-boat were built, the so-called 'type' aircraft which was the example of any new design evaluated by the seaplane experimental centre (SVK) at Warnemunde before being accepted for naval use (by the SAK). 1552 is seen on 14 March 1918. Intended to be carried as an aerial scout on submarines, it did not see operational service. The W20 was designed to be assembled and dismantled very quickly, using the minimum of hand tools; individual components were stowed in watertight air tubes on the submarine's deck.
Marine Number 1552 was the subject of the SVK test and drawings. This machine has conventional wing bracing and represented the final configuration for the type. Power was from an 80-hp Oberursel U.O rotary engine.
W.20 MN 1552 had the its upper surfaces of wings, tail and hull in hexagonal camouflage. This was the standard German naval aircraft camouflage specified in April 1917.
This is thought to be 1551 with the upper wing of less span than the lower. It appears to have a large amount of dihedral to the lower wing. Note the wing support struts conform to those shown on the Brandenburg three-view drawing. Alternatively it may be the full size mock-up built to test the feasibility of the proposal. (third version with "I" struts)
This is thought to be 1551 with the upper wing of less span than the lower. The machine appears to have a large amount of dihedral to the lower wing. The wing support struts conform to those shown on the Brandenburg three-view drawing. Alternatively it may be the full size mock-up built to test the feasibility of the proposal.
Type W.26
The W.26 was a long-range reconnaissance seaplane in the CMGHFT category designed for an endurance of eight hours. This machine showed Friedrichshafen influences. This biplane was one of the first assignments that Hanns Klemm had with Brandenburg.(34) A large two-bay biplane, it could carry transmitting and receiving wireless apparatus. The state of the naval air war meant that it was soon converted to a C2MGHFT machine. The pilot was equipped with a synchronised Maxim 08/15 machine gun while the observer had a ring-mounted Parabellum. The upper wing was constructed in three pieces. The outer panels were swept back. The now standard Brandenburg float strut arrangement was used, leaving the inner bay devoid of cable bracing. It could also carry small bombs. The W.26 was delayed as Klemm was placed in charge of developing the revolutionary W.29 monoplane, the former project being shelved in the interim.
The usual three prototypes were ordered, receiving MNs 1739-1741. No further development took place. One source states that they were used for medium-range reconnaissance in the North Sea. The three prototypes were discovered at the Warnemunde Testing Station by the Allies on 14 December 1918.
(34) Hanns Klemm had gone to school with Heinkel. A civil engineer, he served in the Army on the outbreak of war. Wounded, he was discharged and went to work for Dornier in April 1917 as a specialist in metal construction and load calculation. He worked on the Dornier metal aircraft before being lured away by Heinkel
Brandenburg W.26 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Branden. 3-View
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper m 18.80 18.8 18.800
Span, Lower m 18.80 - 18.800
Chord, m 2.450*
Length, m 12.79 13.015 -
Wing Area, m2 86.30 86.3 -
Empty Wt., kg 1,675 1,675 1,675
Loaded Wt., kg 2,490 2,490 2,490
Performance
Speed in km/hr 135 135 Ca. 135
Endurance - 8 hours -
Motor 260/275-hp Mercedes 260-hp Mercedes D.IVa 275-hp Mercedes
* Both upper and lower wings
The W.26 was a long-range reconnaissance seaplane in the CMGHFT category designed for an endurance of eight hours. This machine showed Friedrichshafen influences. This biplane was one of the first assignments that Hanns Klemm had with Brandenburg.(34) A large two-bay biplane, it could carry transmitting and receiving wireless apparatus. The state of the naval air war meant that it was soon converted to a C2MGHFT machine. The pilot was equipped with a synchronised Maxim 08/15 machine gun while the observer had a ring-mounted Parabellum. The upper wing was constructed in three pieces. The outer panels were swept back. The now standard Brandenburg float strut arrangement was used, leaving the inner bay devoid of cable bracing. It could also carry small bombs. The W.26 was delayed as Klemm was placed in charge of developing the revolutionary W.29 monoplane, the former project being shelved in the interim.
The usual three prototypes were ordered, receiving MNs 1739-1741. No further development took place. One source states that they were used for medium-range reconnaissance in the North Sea. The three prototypes were discovered at the Warnemunde Testing Station by the Allies on 14 December 1918.
(34) Hanns Klemm had gone to school with Heinkel. A civil engineer, he served in the Army on the outbreak of war. Wounded, he was discharged and went to work for Dornier in April 1917 as a specialist in metal construction and load calculation. He worked on the Dornier metal aircraft before being lured away by Heinkel
Brandenburg W.26 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Branden. 3-View
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper m 18.80 18.8 18.800
Span, Lower m 18.80 - 18.800
Chord, m 2.450*
Length, m 12.79 13.015 -
Wing Area, m2 86.30 86.3 -
Empty Wt., kg 1,675 1,675 1,675
Loaded Wt., kg 2,490 2,490 2,490
Performance
Speed in km/hr 135 135 Ca. 135
Endurance - 8 hours -
Motor 260/275-hp Mercedes 260-hp Mercedes D.IVa 275-hp Mercedes
* Both upper and lower wings
The early crosses on this W.26 indicates that it is the first machine, MN 1739, of the order for three.
Another photograph of W.26 MN 1739 in full Marine camouflage but with the Marine Number marked on the fuselage forward of the cross.
These photographs show a W.26 in full Marine camouflage but with the Marine Number marked on the fuselage forward of the cross. The MN can be made out on the original print on the interplane struts as 1739.
These photographs show a W.26 in full Marine camouflage but with the Marine Number marked on the fuselage forward of the cross. The MN can be made out on the original print on the interplane struts as 1739.
Type W.27
The W.27 was a 1917 development of the W.12 two-seat fighting floatplane. The machine was powered by the 195-hp Benz Bz IIIb Vee-eight engine. The fuselage was virtually the same as that of the W.12 but the wings were different and featured "I" interplane struts. The Brandenburg three-view drawing of the Seekampf-Flugzeug-Type WXXVII shows a neatly cowled engine with a spinner to the propeller similar to the W.32. Performance was not improved enough to warrant production. All three were constructed but only photographs of MN 2202 appear to have survived. The type ended its days as a training machine. Unlike the Allies, Germany had problems with developing a Vee-eight engine during the war years and the failure of the W.27 may have been attributed to its engine.
Brandenburg W.27 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brand. 3-View
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 11.20 11.2 11.200
Span, Lower 10.50 - 10.500
Length 8.32 9.23 8.320
Height - 3.057 -
Wing Area, m2 36.6 36.6 36.06
Empty Wt., kg 1,109 1,109 1,109
Loaded Wt., kg 1,619 1,619 1,619
Engine 195-hp Benz 195-hp Benz Bz.inb 200-hp Benz V- form
Brandenburg W.27 Production
Marine Numbers Class Engine Notes
2201 - 2203 C3MG Benz Bz.IIIbo One machine had a Benz Bz.IIIbm
Brandenburg W.32
The W.32 was an early 1918 development of the W.27 with the standard straight-six 160-hp Mercedes engine, the Typenschau stating that the machine was a conversion of the W.27. It would seem from the allocation of the Marine Numbers that the W.32 was Brandenburg's attempt to salvage the effort that went into the development of the W.27. Five W.32 biplanes were ordered but only the first three were built, the last two being cancelled in April 1918 so that Brandenburg could concentrate on the superior W.29 monoplane. MNs 2282 - 2286 were allotted to these Class C3MG machines. They were delivered to Kiel-Holtenau in early 1918.
Brandenburg W.32 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford SVK MN 2282
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 11.20 11.2 11.200
Span, Lower 10.50 - 10.500
Stagger - - 1.300
Length 8.32 9.23 9.500
Height - 3.25 3.250
Wing Area, m2 36.06 36.06 -
Empty Wt., kg 1,063 1,063 1,063
Loaded Wt., kg 1,544 1,544 1,544
Performance
Time to 800 m 8.9 min. - 8.9 min.
Time to 1000 m 11.6 min. 11.6 min. 11.6 min.
Time to 1500 m 19.8 min. - 19.8 min.
Engine 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes D.III 160-hp Mercedes
Brandenburg W.32 Production
Marine Numbers Class Engine Notes
2282 - 2286 C3MG Mercedes D.III Delivered early 1918.
The W.27 was a 1917 development of the W.12 two-seat fighting floatplane. The machine was powered by the 195-hp Benz Bz IIIb Vee-eight engine. The fuselage was virtually the same as that of the W.12 but the wings were different and featured "I" interplane struts. The Brandenburg three-view drawing of the Seekampf-Flugzeug-Type WXXVII shows a neatly cowled engine with a spinner to the propeller similar to the W.32. Performance was not improved enough to warrant production. All three were constructed but only photographs of MN 2202 appear to have survived. The type ended its days as a training machine. Unlike the Allies, Germany had problems with developing a Vee-eight engine during the war years and the failure of the W.27 may have been attributed to its engine.
Brandenburg W.27 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford Brand. 3-View
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 11.20 11.2 11.200
Span, Lower 10.50 - 10.500
Length 8.32 9.23 8.320
Height - 3.057 -
Wing Area, m2 36.6 36.6 36.06
Empty Wt., kg 1,109 1,109 1,109
Loaded Wt., kg 1,619 1,619 1,619
Engine 195-hp Benz 195-hp Benz Bz.inb 200-hp Benz V- form
Brandenburg W.27 Production
Marine Numbers Class Engine Notes
2201 - 2203 C3MG Benz Bz.IIIbo One machine had a Benz Bz.IIIbm
Brandenburg W.32
The W.32 was an early 1918 development of the W.27 with the standard straight-six 160-hp Mercedes engine, the Typenschau stating that the machine was a conversion of the W.27. It would seem from the allocation of the Marine Numbers that the W.32 was Brandenburg's attempt to salvage the effort that went into the development of the W.27. Five W.32 biplanes were ordered but only the first three were built, the last two being cancelled in April 1918 so that Brandenburg could concentrate on the superior W.29 monoplane. MNs 2282 - 2286 were allotted to these Class C3MG machines. They were delivered to Kiel-Holtenau in early 1918.
Brandenburg W.32 Specifications
Source Typenschau Gray & Thetford SVK MN 2282
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 11.20 11.2 11.200
Span, Lower 10.50 - 10.500
Stagger - - 1.300
Length 8.32 9.23 9.500
Height - 3.25 3.250
Wing Area, m2 36.06 36.06 -
Empty Wt., kg 1,063 1,063 1,063
Loaded Wt., kg 1,544 1,544 1,544
Performance
Time to 800 m 8.9 min. - 8.9 min.
Time to 1000 m 11.6 min. 11.6 min. 11.6 min.
Time to 1500 m 19.8 min. - 19.8 min.
Engine 160-hp Mercedes 160-hp Mercedes D.III 160-hp Mercedes
Brandenburg W.32 Production
Marine Numbers Class Engine Notes
2282 - 2286 C3MG Mercedes D.III Delivered early 1918.
Only photographs of W.27 MN 2202 have survived. Brandenburg plans show a neatly cowled engine with spinner.
The W 27 (photo) and W 32 were both derived from the W12, with new Benz and Mercedes engine installations respectively.
The W 27 (photo) and W 32 were both derived from the W12, with new Benz and Mercedes engine installations respectively.
Marine #2202 was the second Brandenburg W27 prototype. The W27 was a development of the W12 with streamlined struts and a 195 hp Benz Bz.IIIb V-8 engine. One drawback of the struts was that they blocked some of the crews' field of view. The engine never reached full production and the W27 was limited to only three prototypes.
W.32 MN 2282, presumably at Warnemunde for the SVK testing of the type. The MN is repeated in small numerals on the bottom of the rudder, and on other components. The W.32 was a handsome machine with its neatly cowled engine and spinner.
The W32 was a development of the W27 with a 175 hp Mercedes D.IIIa engine. The aircraft was no improvement over the W12 and was limited to three prototypes.
The W32 was a development of the W27 with a 175 hp Mercedes D.IIIa engine. The aircraft was no improvement over the W12 and was limited to three prototypes.
The W 27 and W 32 (photo) were both derived from the W12, with new Benz and Mercedes engine installations respectively.
Workers and staff of the Hansa-und-Brandenburgische Flugzeugwerke GmbH pose with a W.32. The meaning of the "50" on the display plaque is not understood. There is a model of the W.32 in front of the assembled crowd. Note the solitary woman employee seated on the left with the "office" staff and the woman workers on the far right. Also note the very young boys on the right.
A Brandenburg W.29 monoplane leads two W.12 biplanes off from Zeebrugge. The W.29, MN 2209(7), bears the interim national markings while the W.12 biplanes show the interim crosses marked on an all white rudder and white panel on the fuselage. No white can be detected on the wings of the nearest W.12, MN 2037, the crosses having no outline. (AHT AL0064-08A)
Brandenburg monoplanes and biplanes often flew sorties together. Note how the old wing crosses have been altered to the late narrow type in a more refined manner on the W.12's wings compared with the W.29. (AHT AL0588-015)
Type W.35
The W.35 was a large flying boat, designed around two 300-hp Basse und Selve engines, to counter the large Curtiss and Felixstowe flying boats operated by the British in the North Sea. The Germans admired the "Large America" flying boats with their firepower and found them difficult to bring down. The W.35 was designed to counter the Allies' boats and was a monoplane of modern appearance. The two engines were mounted in the wing that was supported by struts to the hull with additional long bracing struts at about half span. The two pilots sat side by side with a gunner's position located in the bow and at the rear behind the wings. The proposed crew was four and armament included a 2-cm Becker Kanone in additional to bombs. The British experience had shown that flying boats needed better defence to the rear and below and the proposed hull sloped upward similar to that Heinkel had adopted for his successful floatplane fighters. Work was commenced in the former Oertz Works, and it is possible that Oertz designed the hull, but it is referred to as a Brandenburg design in all surviving documents. The boat was designed to fly on one engine and the mahogany planked hull was fitted with flotation tanks. Two hulls were almost complete by the end of October 1918. It appears that the machines were assembled but no further work took place, and the boats were destroyed post-Armistice. The factory three-view drawing is dated 16.1.19, indicating that there was hope that construction could continue post-war.
Type W.35 Orders
Marine #s Class Engine Notes
2306-2307 G Maybach Mb.IVa Two ordered, never delivered.
Brandenburg W.35 Specifications
Source Typenschau Brandenburg 3-View
Span, m 25.00 25.000
Length, m 17.22 17.220
Wing Area, m2 112.00 112
Empty Wt, kg 3,167 3,167
Loaded Wt, kg 4,650 4,650
Speed in km/hr 165 -
Motor 300-hp Basse und Selve 300-hp Basse und Selve
The W.35 was a large flying boat, designed around two 300-hp Basse und Selve engines, to counter the large Curtiss and Felixstowe flying boats operated by the British in the North Sea. The Germans admired the "Large America" flying boats with their firepower and found them difficult to bring down. The W.35 was designed to counter the Allies' boats and was a monoplane of modern appearance. The two engines were mounted in the wing that was supported by struts to the hull with additional long bracing struts at about half span. The two pilots sat side by side with a gunner's position located in the bow and at the rear behind the wings. The proposed crew was four and armament included a 2-cm Becker Kanone in additional to bombs. The British experience had shown that flying boats needed better defence to the rear and below and the proposed hull sloped upward similar to that Heinkel had adopted for his successful floatplane fighters. Work was commenced in the former Oertz Works, and it is possible that Oertz designed the hull, but it is referred to as a Brandenburg design in all surviving documents. The boat was designed to fly on one engine and the mahogany planked hull was fitted with flotation tanks. Two hulls were almost complete by the end of October 1918. It appears that the machines were assembled but no further work took place, and the boats were destroyed post-Armistice. The factory three-view drawing is dated 16.1.19, indicating that there was hope that construction could continue post-war.
Type W.35 Orders
Marine #s Class Engine Notes
2306-2307 G Maybach Mb.IVa Two ordered, never delivered.
Brandenburg W.35 Specifications
Source Typenschau Brandenburg 3-View
Span, m 25.00 25.000
Length, m 17.22 17.220
Wing Area, m2 112.00 112
Empty Wt, kg 3,167 3,167
Loaded Wt, kg 4,650 4,650
Speed in km/hr 165 -
Motor 300-hp Basse und Selve 300-hp Basse und Selve
The Van Berkel WA(49)
Neutral nations in World War I that bordered the warring states had to upgrade their military in order to defend their neutrality. The Netherlands was particularly sited that aircraft of the combatants often overflew its territory, and damaged combat aircraft would head into the Netherlands rather than be captured, and this does not include those that were lost through navigation error, landed and were interned. As a result the Netherlands utilised these aircraft where possible. Landplanes, the majority of internees, were used by the Luchtvaartafdeling (LVA) while the Navy's air arm, the Matineluchtvaartdienst (MLD) received only 17 aircraft that were considered useful enough to warrant serial numbers from this source. Of these 11 were purchased from their former owners.
On 31 October 1917, W.12 MN 1185 (160-hp Benz No. 26849) with crew of Flugobermaat Huthmacher and Ltn.z.S Zapp left Zeebrugge at 07.00. They became lost and ran out of fuel. They alighted on a flooded meadow that had looked like a lake from the air with hardly any damage. The crew then burned their aircraft. Zapp was interned but Huthmacher managed to evade his guards and escape back across the border. The remains were salvaged by the LVA and the motor was acquired by the MLD who most likely used it for spares.
W.12 MN 1398 (160-hp Benz No. 26851) was acquired on 6 December. The crew of Oblt.d.Res F. Hopken and Flugmaat J. Johannsen were returning from a reconnaissance patrol to the UK when they were forced down with engine trouble. The floatplane was badly damaged and the crew clung to the floats until they managed to attract the attention of the gas transport vessel Vlissingen by firing a flare. The Vlissingen transported gas to the lightship Noordhinder. The machine was picked up some 35 km west of Westkapelle after some 22 hours adrift. The floatplane was recovered, the Vlissingen having a relief crew aboard, but only the engine was salvageable and purchased. The crew was released as shipwrecked mariners.
Again, on 16 April 1918, W.12 MN 2035 (150-hp Benz No. 27087), with crew of Flugzeugmeister Hartmuth Frosch (or Trosch) and Flugmechanikermatt Antonie Hansen, was lost in fog and ended up on a beach at Scheveningen and was burned by the crew. The nearby Coast Guard station had not seen the machine due to the fog and arrived too late to save it from being destroyed. The Benz motor was purchased for f4,000.
On 22 April 1918, W.12 MN 2098 (160-hp Mercedes No. 34158), alighted south of Rottum Island due to the crew of Deckoffizier Alfred Walter and Flugobermaat Leonard Wuggazer, losing their way in fog and then suffering engine failure. The Coast Guard informed the MLD base at De Mok of the alighting and a team was sent to salvage the aircraft and bring it back to De Mok. The W.12 was on a sandbank and in full airworthy condition, so OMSD3 H.J. Takens decided to leave the aircraft intact and tow it to De Mok. This was against standing instructions that stated that interned aircraft were to be dismantled; however, Takens had no facilities to dismantle the machine. Fortuitously a sailing vessel came by and Takens commandeered this, the seaplane being hoisted aboard the vessel. The machine gun was removed and the German insignia covered up as much as possible.
Though Takens was praised for his initiative, he also had it pointed out to him that his actions may have had serious international consequences. The open transportation of a seaplane of one of the belligerent powers could have endangered Dutch neutrality. The machine was test flown by LTZ1 D. Vreede, the commanding officer of the MLD, who was impressed with the Brandenburg and as the acquisition of an up-to-date fighter seaplane was too good an opportunity for the MLD to miss, the incident was hushed up.
The machine was purchased from the German Navy for f25,000, and taken into the MLD with the serial W-1. This became the pattern aircraft for the construction of the Van Berkel WA.
A further W.12 identified as MN 2200 crashed near Terschelling on 2 October 1918.
The performance and seaworthiness of the Brandenburg led to a licence being obtained for its construction in the Netherlands.(50) The Trompenburg aircraft factory was fully committed to the production of Spijker trainers, and a new manufacturing concern was necessary in order to undertake the production of the W.12. W.A. van Berkel was the successful owner of the Van Berkel Patents firm(51) and was prepared to undertake the risk of starting an aircraft manufacturing plant. Late in 1918 the factory was established at Keileweg 9, Rotterdam. The company was given a contract for 35 Brandenburg floatplanes on 15 November 1918. The contract signed by the Munitions Office and the Company was for the production of slicing machines according to Van Berkel's Patent and other tools. Why the seaplanes had to be concealed has not been revealed. They were to be equipped with the 200-hp Hispano-Suiza engine, that Van Berkel was also to manufacture under licence and be completely airworthy. The machine had to have provision for mounting two machine guns, one for the observer and a synchronised one for the pilot.
Article 10 stated that the machine should be able to perform the same requirements of speed, climb, etc., as the seaplane V-3, when both were in the fully loaded condition. The W.12 serial W.1 had crashed and so could no longer be used for comparison purposes, therefore the Friedrichshafen FF33L, ex-MN 1581, that had been interned on 24 September 1917, and given the MLD serial V-3, was to be used instead.
The production of the engines did not proceed well. The processes involved proved to be fraught with problems. The castings for the engines proved highly porous and were rejected. The program was terminated.
The W.12 produced by van Berkel was named the WA after Mr. van Berkel. After a slow start things progressed better when a number of German workmen from Friedrichshafen were engaged. Takens was placed as supervisor for the Navy. The debacle of the Hispano-Suiza engines meant that another source of engines had to be found, and at van Berkel's request Takens went to Germany to obtain suitable engines. With the help of a Mr. Bruno Jablonsky, one hundred second-hand Mercedes D.IIIau engines were obtained at Tempelhof. Sixty were for the Navy with the others going to the LVA. Takens had also obtained a complete test rig from Germany. Apparently Fokker had offered BMW engines but the Mercedes were preferred as they had a better altitude performance. This comment is interesting in the light of future events. The total price including engines and propellers was 35,050 Dutch guilders.
Due to the turmoil in Germany the engines could not be tested there and when the first engine was given a test run in the Netherlands, its output was less than the rated 180-hp. It appeared that the "duramen Hollander" had been sold a bunch of "ill fed horses." However Takens solved the problem by modifying the exhaust collector and the engines performed above their rated horsepower. With the engine problem solved and Mr. Carl Lesch engaged as test pilot, the program got under way in mid-1919.
The first WA was exhibited at the ELTA exhibition in Amsterdam. It was to be used for sand loading testing. The second machine was sent in a dismantled state to the MLD base at Schellingwoude, where it was tested on 6 September 1919, by LTZ1 H. Nieuwenhuis with Takens in the rear cockpit, becoming the first WA to fly. The performance was so good that they decided to fly to Rotterdam that afternoon. Van Berkel, always good for publicity, had notified the populous of the intending flight by placing bulletins in cafes and tobacco shops. Nieuwenhuis made circuits over the ELTA exhibition before flying to Rotterdam. By the time they landed a big crowd had gathered. After refreshing themselves from Van Berkel's Patent's motorboat, the pair took off and returned to Amsterdam.
W-1 and W-2 were accepted in October and in November were crated and sent to the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). The NEI received W-1 to W-12, W-12a, and W-14 to W-20. Although 13 was used in serial designations, for the WA it was not used and 12a substituted instead. The NEI also had W-21c that was built at the MLD station Morokrembangan, Surabaya, from the remains of W-11 and W-19. The wooden floats were not up to the conditions suffered in the NEI and aluminium floats built by the Dornier works at Friedrichshafen replaced them.
The NEI was a vast archipelago comprising many islands spread over many hundreds of square kilometers of sea. These islands with their sheltered bays and inlets were ideal for the operation of seaplanes as the Japanese would demonstrate in World War II. The MLD had tried previously in 1918 to employ seaplanes by shipping a Friedrichshafen and Rumpler seaplane to the area, but both were wrecked and written off in 1920.
Eight destroyers were modified to carry a WA on the stern. All new ships had to be able to carry an aircraft. This greatly extended the range in which the WA floatplanes could operate. The machines were used for hydrographic duties, spotting reefs, medical services by flying needed medical supplies into isolated areas, showing the flag, and giving local leaders flights to increase their local prestige. All this was in addition to their normal naval duties of spotting for the fleet. The only disadvantage of the WA in the NEI was its short range. The floatplanes were based at the old Army seaplane station at Tandjong Priok, and later Surabaya. Due to the fact that the aircraft could not make the trip between the two stations in one flight, an auxiliary base was established at Semarang.
In the Netherlands serials W-51 to W-70 were allocated to WA floatplanes. However, it is thought that W-66 to W-70 were actually built by the MLD. The repair shops at De Kooy would often build complete aircraft from the remains of wrecked aircraft and spares. For example the wreck of W-63 was transported to De Kooy by barge; that same day a brand-new W-63 was transported back from De Kooy.
In October 1924 a steel-tube fuselage was built for the WA at De Kooy, and proved successful. Thereafter all WA biplanes were given a fabric-covered steel fuselage when in for repair. W-67 was written off in July 1930, the last of the wooden fuselage WA biplanes. The type continued to serve until 1934 when they were finally retired. Only three fatal crashes concerned the WA; however, in all cases both crewmen were killed.
- W-57 on 28 September 1925, near Den Helder.
- W-16 on 2 June 1927, in the Java Sea.
- W-54 on 2 September 1930, at the Loosdrecht Lakes.
As in the NEI ships were adapted to carry the WA biplanes, in the Netherlands the ironclads HMS Hertog Hendrick and HMS Jacob van Heemskerk were modified to carry aircraft.
The WA could mount a 7.7 mm Vickers machine gun on the gun ring. This was never carried on fleet exercises. When not in use the gun could be lowered into a slot in the fuselage that was covered by an aluminium panel. Despite the contract calling for a synchronised gun for the pilot this was never fitted to the WA.
During its long service the WA had many modifications. The metal fuselage with fabric covering and metal floats has been mentioned above. From 1927 dural floats were used in the Netherlands.
From 1925 the Mercedes engines were replaced during overhaul with the 185-hp BMW IIIa six-cylinder inline engine. The wing mounted radiator was replaced by a car type radiator mounted in the nose.
Both in the Netherlands and the NEI the tailplane had a double set of supporting struts. No reason is given for their fitting as the original German machines did not require any additional bracing.
A larger rudder was introduced to help with taxying. Following the introduction of the more powerful BMW engine the elevator balance and tailplane area were increased in late 1926 to overcome instability in flight due to the new engine.
The Netherlands Navy requested a two-seat long-range monoplane similar to the Brandenburg W.29. Baumhauer designed a monoplane for Van Berkel that was a completely new design of larger proportions and powered by a Rolls Royce Eagle VIII engine. Six of these WB monoplanes were built and are often referred to as Brandenburgs, but apart from some superficial similarities, the WB was a completely new design. The WB was the last aircraft built by Van Berkel.
(49) This section has been written in the main from the researches of Fritz Gerdessen.
(50) This section has been written in the main from material supplied by the Netherlands Bureau Maritieme Historie, translated by Fritz Gerdessen.
(51) Wilhelmus Adrianos Van Berkel successfully patented, manufactured and sold meat slicing and weighing machines. He was internationally famous and rich by the time of the war. His firm made rifles and ammunition for the Dutch Army after the outbreak of the war. He always produced to specification and had a good reputation with the military.
Van Berkel Patents WA Specifications
Source Bureau Maritieme Historie MLD Type WA 3-View
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 11.17 11.270
Span, Lower 9.60(52) 9.475
Length - 9.475
Height 3.35 4.250 (incl. rad.)
Wing Area, m2 36.20(53) -
Empty Wt., kg 997 -
Mil. Load, kg 230 -
Loaded Wt., kg 1,454 -
Performance
Max. Speed 135 km/h -
Cruise Speed 120 km/h 6 min.
Time to 1000 m 7 min. 8 min.
Time to 1525 m - 13 min.
Time to 2000 m 18.9 min. 20 min.
Time to 3000 m - 38 min.
Service Ceiling 4,500 m -
Range at Cruise 580 km -
Engine Mercedes D.IIIau -
(52) According to "Van Berkel seaplanes" by N. Geldhof, (Air Britain Digest, Summer 1995, P.43), the span of the lower wing was 10.49 m. All other dimensions quoted are the same as those quoted in the Bureau Maritieme Historie paper.
(53) An article in de Modelbouwer gives an area of 35 m2.
Neutral nations in World War I that bordered the warring states had to upgrade their military in order to defend their neutrality. The Netherlands was particularly sited that aircraft of the combatants often overflew its territory, and damaged combat aircraft would head into the Netherlands rather than be captured, and this does not include those that were lost through navigation error, landed and were interned. As a result the Netherlands utilised these aircraft where possible. Landplanes, the majority of internees, were used by the Luchtvaartafdeling (LVA) while the Navy's air arm, the Matineluchtvaartdienst (MLD) received only 17 aircraft that were considered useful enough to warrant serial numbers from this source. Of these 11 were purchased from their former owners.
On 31 October 1917, W.12 MN 1185 (160-hp Benz No. 26849) with crew of Flugobermaat Huthmacher and Ltn.z.S Zapp left Zeebrugge at 07.00. They became lost and ran out of fuel. They alighted on a flooded meadow that had looked like a lake from the air with hardly any damage. The crew then burned their aircraft. Zapp was interned but Huthmacher managed to evade his guards and escape back across the border. The remains were salvaged by the LVA and the motor was acquired by the MLD who most likely used it for spares.
W.12 MN 1398 (160-hp Benz No. 26851) was acquired on 6 December. The crew of Oblt.d.Res F. Hopken and Flugmaat J. Johannsen were returning from a reconnaissance patrol to the UK when they were forced down with engine trouble. The floatplane was badly damaged and the crew clung to the floats until they managed to attract the attention of the gas transport vessel Vlissingen by firing a flare. The Vlissingen transported gas to the lightship Noordhinder. The machine was picked up some 35 km west of Westkapelle after some 22 hours adrift. The floatplane was recovered, the Vlissingen having a relief crew aboard, but only the engine was salvageable and purchased. The crew was released as shipwrecked mariners.
Again, on 16 April 1918, W.12 MN 2035 (150-hp Benz No. 27087), with crew of Flugzeugmeister Hartmuth Frosch (or Trosch) and Flugmechanikermatt Antonie Hansen, was lost in fog and ended up on a beach at Scheveningen and was burned by the crew. The nearby Coast Guard station had not seen the machine due to the fog and arrived too late to save it from being destroyed. The Benz motor was purchased for f4,000.
On 22 April 1918, W.12 MN 2098 (160-hp Mercedes No. 34158), alighted south of Rottum Island due to the crew of Deckoffizier Alfred Walter and Flugobermaat Leonard Wuggazer, losing their way in fog and then suffering engine failure. The Coast Guard informed the MLD base at De Mok of the alighting and a team was sent to salvage the aircraft and bring it back to De Mok. The W.12 was on a sandbank and in full airworthy condition, so OMSD3 H.J. Takens decided to leave the aircraft intact and tow it to De Mok. This was against standing instructions that stated that interned aircraft were to be dismantled; however, Takens had no facilities to dismantle the machine. Fortuitously a sailing vessel came by and Takens commandeered this, the seaplane being hoisted aboard the vessel. The machine gun was removed and the German insignia covered up as much as possible.
Though Takens was praised for his initiative, he also had it pointed out to him that his actions may have had serious international consequences. The open transportation of a seaplane of one of the belligerent powers could have endangered Dutch neutrality. The machine was test flown by LTZ1 D. Vreede, the commanding officer of the MLD, who was impressed with the Brandenburg and as the acquisition of an up-to-date fighter seaplane was too good an opportunity for the MLD to miss, the incident was hushed up.
The machine was purchased from the German Navy for f25,000, and taken into the MLD with the serial W-1. This became the pattern aircraft for the construction of the Van Berkel WA.
A further W.12 identified as MN 2200 crashed near Terschelling on 2 October 1918.
The performance and seaworthiness of the Brandenburg led to a licence being obtained for its construction in the Netherlands.(50) The Trompenburg aircraft factory was fully committed to the production of Spijker trainers, and a new manufacturing concern was necessary in order to undertake the production of the W.12. W.A. van Berkel was the successful owner of the Van Berkel Patents firm(51) and was prepared to undertake the risk of starting an aircraft manufacturing plant. Late in 1918 the factory was established at Keileweg 9, Rotterdam. The company was given a contract for 35 Brandenburg floatplanes on 15 November 1918. The contract signed by the Munitions Office and the Company was for the production of slicing machines according to Van Berkel's Patent and other tools. Why the seaplanes had to be concealed has not been revealed. They were to be equipped with the 200-hp Hispano-Suiza engine, that Van Berkel was also to manufacture under licence and be completely airworthy. The machine had to have provision for mounting two machine guns, one for the observer and a synchronised one for the pilot.
Article 10 stated that the machine should be able to perform the same requirements of speed, climb, etc., as the seaplane V-3, when both were in the fully loaded condition. The W.12 serial W.1 had crashed and so could no longer be used for comparison purposes, therefore the Friedrichshafen FF33L, ex-MN 1581, that had been interned on 24 September 1917, and given the MLD serial V-3, was to be used instead.
The production of the engines did not proceed well. The processes involved proved to be fraught with problems. The castings for the engines proved highly porous and were rejected. The program was terminated.
The W.12 produced by van Berkel was named the WA after Mr. van Berkel. After a slow start things progressed better when a number of German workmen from Friedrichshafen were engaged. Takens was placed as supervisor for the Navy. The debacle of the Hispano-Suiza engines meant that another source of engines had to be found, and at van Berkel's request Takens went to Germany to obtain suitable engines. With the help of a Mr. Bruno Jablonsky, one hundred second-hand Mercedes D.IIIau engines were obtained at Tempelhof. Sixty were for the Navy with the others going to the LVA. Takens had also obtained a complete test rig from Germany. Apparently Fokker had offered BMW engines but the Mercedes were preferred as they had a better altitude performance. This comment is interesting in the light of future events. The total price including engines and propellers was 35,050 Dutch guilders.
Due to the turmoil in Germany the engines could not be tested there and when the first engine was given a test run in the Netherlands, its output was less than the rated 180-hp. It appeared that the "duramen Hollander" had been sold a bunch of "ill fed horses." However Takens solved the problem by modifying the exhaust collector and the engines performed above their rated horsepower. With the engine problem solved and Mr. Carl Lesch engaged as test pilot, the program got under way in mid-1919.
The first WA was exhibited at the ELTA exhibition in Amsterdam. It was to be used for sand loading testing. The second machine was sent in a dismantled state to the MLD base at Schellingwoude, where it was tested on 6 September 1919, by LTZ1 H. Nieuwenhuis with Takens in the rear cockpit, becoming the first WA to fly. The performance was so good that they decided to fly to Rotterdam that afternoon. Van Berkel, always good for publicity, had notified the populous of the intending flight by placing bulletins in cafes and tobacco shops. Nieuwenhuis made circuits over the ELTA exhibition before flying to Rotterdam. By the time they landed a big crowd had gathered. After refreshing themselves from Van Berkel's Patent's motorboat, the pair took off and returned to Amsterdam.
W-1 and W-2 were accepted in October and in November were crated and sent to the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). The NEI received W-1 to W-12, W-12a, and W-14 to W-20. Although 13 was used in serial designations, for the WA it was not used and 12a substituted instead. The NEI also had W-21c that was built at the MLD station Morokrembangan, Surabaya, from the remains of W-11 and W-19. The wooden floats were not up to the conditions suffered in the NEI and aluminium floats built by the Dornier works at Friedrichshafen replaced them.
The NEI was a vast archipelago comprising many islands spread over many hundreds of square kilometers of sea. These islands with their sheltered bays and inlets were ideal for the operation of seaplanes as the Japanese would demonstrate in World War II. The MLD had tried previously in 1918 to employ seaplanes by shipping a Friedrichshafen and Rumpler seaplane to the area, but both were wrecked and written off in 1920.
Eight destroyers were modified to carry a WA on the stern. All new ships had to be able to carry an aircraft. This greatly extended the range in which the WA floatplanes could operate. The machines were used for hydrographic duties, spotting reefs, medical services by flying needed medical supplies into isolated areas, showing the flag, and giving local leaders flights to increase their local prestige. All this was in addition to their normal naval duties of spotting for the fleet. The only disadvantage of the WA in the NEI was its short range. The floatplanes were based at the old Army seaplane station at Tandjong Priok, and later Surabaya. Due to the fact that the aircraft could not make the trip between the two stations in one flight, an auxiliary base was established at Semarang.
In the Netherlands serials W-51 to W-70 were allocated to WA floatplanes. However, it is thought that W-66 to W-70 were actually built by the MLD. The repair shops at De Kooy would often build complete aircraft from the remains of wrecked aircraft and spares. For example the wreck of W-63 was transported to De Kooy by barge; that same day a brand-new W-63 was transported back from De Kooy.
In October 1924 a steel-tube fuselage was built for the WA at De Kooy, and proved successful. Thereafter all WA biplanes were given a fabric-covered steel fuselage when in for repair. W-67 was written off in July 1930, the last of the wooden fuselage WA biplanes. The type continued to serve until 1934 when they were finally retired. Only three fatal crashes concerned the WA; however, in all cases both crewmen were killed.
- W-57 on 28 September 1925, near Den Helder.
- W-16 on 2 June 1927, in the Java Sea.
- W-54 on 2 September 1930, at the Loosdrecht Lakes.
As in the NEI ships were adapted to carry the WA biplanes, in the Netherlands the ironclads HMS Hertog Hendrick and HMS Jacob van Heemskerk were modified to carry aircraft.
The WA could mount a 7.7 mm Vickers machine gun on the gun ring. This was never carried on fleet exercises. When not in use the gun could be lowered into a slot in the fuselage that was covered by an aluminium panel. Despite the contract calling for a synchronised gun for the pilot this was never fitted to the WA.
During its long service the WA had many modifications. The metal fuselage with fabric covering and metal floats has been mentioned above. From 1927 dural floats were used in the Netherlands.
From 1925 the Mercedes engines were replaced during overhaul with the 185-hp BMW IIIa six-cylinder inline engine. The wing mounted radiator was replaced by a car type radiator mounted in the nose.
Both in the Netherlands and the NEI the tailplane had a double set of supporting struts. No reason is given for their fitting as the original German machines did not require any additional bracing.
A larger rudder was introduced to help with taxying. Following the introduction of the more powerful BMW engine the elevator balance and tailplane area were increased in late 1926 to overcome instability in flight due to the new engine.
The Netherlands Navy requested a two-seat long-range monoplane similar to the Brandenburg W.29. Baumhauer designed a monoplane for Van Berkel that was a completely new design of larger proportions and powered by a Rolls Royce Eagle VIII engine. Six of these WB monoplanes were built and are often referred to as Brandenburgs, but apart from some superficial similarities, the WB was a completely new design. The WB was the last aircraft built by Van Berkel.
(49) This section has been written in the main from the researches of Fritz Gerdessen.
(50) This section has been written in the main from material supplied by the Netherlands Bureau Maritieme Historie, translated by Fritz Gerdessen.
(51) Wilhelmus Adrianos Van Berkel successfully patented, manufactured and sold meat slicing and weighing machines. He was internationally famous and rich by the time of the war. His firm made rifles and ammunition for the Dutch Army after the outbreak of the war. He always produced to specification and had a good reputation with the military.
Van Berkel Patents WA Specifications
Source Bureau Maritieme Historie MLD Type WA 3-View
Dimensions in m
Span, Upper 11.17 11.270
Span, Lower 9.60(52) 9.475
Length - 9.475
Height 3.35 4.250 (incl. rad.)
Wing Area, m2 36.20(53) -
Empty Wt., kg 997 -
Mil. Load, kg 230 -
Loaded Wt., kg 1,454 -
Performance
Max. Speed 135 km/h -
Cruise Speed 120 km/h 6 min.
Time to 1000 m 7 min. 8 min.
Time to 1525 m - 13 min.
Time to 2000 m 18.9 min. 20 min.
Time to 3000 m - 38 min.
Service Ceiling 4,500 m -
Range at Cruise 580 km -
Engine Mercedes D.IIIau -
(52) According to "Van Berkel seaplanes" by N. Geldhof, (Air Britain Digest, Summer 1995, P.43), the span of the lower wing was 10.49 m. All other dimensions quoted are the same as those quoted in the Bureau Maritieme Historie paper.
(53) An article in de Modelbouwer gives an area of 35 m2.
The first van Berkel WA, virtually an exact copy of the Brandenburg W.12. This machine was shown at the 1919 ELTA Exhibition then tested to destruction without ever being flown.
Note how the white serial includes the period - W.3 in Surabaya Harbor. The fabric is doped a dark grey color with the early orange circle national markings applied in the usual positions. The ply horizontal tailplane shows up well in this photograph.
Van Berkel WA serial W 5 with the late type of national markings that were still in use. Note the windscreen to the observer's cockpit, radiator and associated plumbing, and tube under the fuselage with weighted aerial hanging from its end. The first 20 machines were sent to the Dutch East Indies for use by the MLD.
The tracks for launching the seaplanes have points at each intersection where the track crosses the track to the water. W 6 shows the large center section cut-out used on the WA.
W 16 and W 9 are loaded on the stern of a minelayer. The minelayers HMS Siboga and ??? are known to have carried WA aircraft.
"W.52." appears to be in a canal. The upper surfaces of the wings appears to be darkly colored. Note the generator on the top wing.
W 52 taxiing along a Kanall (the Noordhollands Kanaal?).This machine is in the early color scheme with the orange circle national marking applied to fuselage and wings. The rudder is orange. (AHT AL0548-049)
The van Berkel WB monoplane borrowed much from the Brandenburg designs but was a completely new indigenous design. WA 54 floats in the background. Rudders of both seaplanes are orange.
The suspended W 54 is the backdrop to this gathering of guards, with their rifles, naval aviators and two civilians. This floatplane was lost in a fatal accident on 2 September 1930 on the Loosdrecht Lakes. There were only three fatal crashes of the WA and in all cases both crewmen were killed.
W 55 displays the fuselage stringer that indicates that it has a metal tube fuselage. Note the frontal radiator.
This sequence was taken when W 59 was undertaking trials in the Noordhollands Kanaal in 1921. Note the Naval personnel on bicycles. (AHT AL0548-029; -044, -045 & -048)
This sequence was taken when W 59 was undertaking trials in the Noordhollands Kanaal in 1921. Note the Naval personnel on bicycles. (AHT AL0548-029; -044, -045 & -048)
W 60 has the fuselage stringer that indicates that it has a metal tube, fabric covered fuselage. The machine including the pontoons, is painted a light grey color. Wooden pontoons were panted light grey, dural ones were painted black. The dural floats were constructed by Dornier at Friedrichshafen.
W 63 in flight. Note the large rudder. The exact number of WA seaplanes built cannot be accurately determined due to the MLD reconstructing machines. For example when the wreck of W 63 arrived at De Kooyk by barge, on the same day a new W 63 was transported back to De Mook.
W 66 in better condition. Note the position of the later national insignia. It is thought that W 66 was built by the MLD at De Kooy. It has the two tailplane support struts that were not fitted on the prototype and early production aircraft.
No details are known about this accident to W 66. Note the additional two center section struts that were fitted to the front of the machine when they were fitted with the 185-hp BMW IIIA engine with frontal radiator.
Van Berkel W 67 has dark floats and struts. Noteworthy are the position of the radiator high up on the center section, transparent panels under the fuselage and other differences from the Brandenburg factory produced W.12. W 67 was the last WA that had the Brandenburg type ply fuselage. It was lost in a crash in July 1930 before it could receive a new fabric covered, steel tube fuselage.
The Dutch used their WA floatplanes from ships.This scene in the Dutch East Indies shows a van Berkel WA approaching the ship's crane.
This photograph was taken in the Dutch East Indies, probably the KNIL base Morokrembangan, at Surabaya. KNIL van Berkel WA biplanes W 12, W 16, W 4 and W 5 can be identified in the hangar on the original photograph. (AHT AL0548-182)
A Dutch officer sits on the pontoon of a van Berkel WA while the machine is undergoing maintenance. The open cockpit door displays the light internal color, probably white, the same as the German originals used. (AHT AL0548-189)
The Van Berkel WA
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The Netherlands Navy requested a two-seat long-range monoplane similar to the Brandenburg W.29. Baumhauer designed a monoplane for Van Berkel that was a completely new design of larger proportions and powered by a Rolls Royce Eagle VIII engine. Six of these WB monoplanes were built and are often referred to as Brandenburgs, but apart from some superficial similarities, the WB was a completely new design. The WB was the last aircraft built by Van Berkel.
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The Netherlands Navy requested a two-seat long-range monoplane similar to the Brandenburg W.29. Baumhauer designed a monoplane for Van Berkel that was a completely new design of larger proportions and powered by a Rolls Royce Eagle VIII engine. Six of these WB monoplanes were built and are often referred to as Brandenburgs, but apart from some superficial similarities, the WB was a completely new design. The WB was the last aircraft built by Van Berkel.