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

A.E.G. G IVk
   Yet another variant of the G IV. Fitted with 2 cm. Becker Cannon in an armoured nose panel, and intended for use with the Schlachtgeschwadern in 1918, it is not thought to have been used operationally. A biplane tail unit was fitted and armour plate panels also enclosed the 260 h.p. Mercedes D IVa engines. Standard G IV wing cellule of 18.4 m. (60 ft. 44 in.) was fitted. A second version with G V wing cellule (G IVk 503/18) also existed.

J.Herris AEG Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 16)

AEG G.IVk

   Another German armored aircraft type designed for ground-attack was the AEG G.IVk, which was developed from the standard AEG G.IV bomber. AEG G.IV G.1096/16 was armed with a 20mm Becker cannon mounted in an experimental rotating chin turret to investigate the feasibility of attacking tanks and other ground targets from the air. The field of fire was 50 degrees vertical and 90 degrees horizontal. Idflieg reported that the aircraft was slated for combat evaluation in December 1917, but further information is lacking. However, ground and air trials demonstrated that the visibility, field of fire, and target acquisition were satisfactory. The cannon installation was reported as "frontline ready", leading to the development of the specialized AEG G.IVk ground-attack aircraft.
   As a result of the progress made with G.1096/16, in March 1918 Idflieg ordered five AEG G.IVk ground-attack aircraft for service trials. Numbered G.500/18 to G.504/18, they were armed with two 20mm Becker cannons, one mounted in the lower nose turret and a second in a rear turret that allowed for firing over the fuselage or downward through a 'Gotha-type' tunnel. For defense against fighters, two Parabellum machine guns were mounted on LVG gun rings (copies of the Scarff) in the nose and rear turrets. Like the rear cannon, the rear Parabellum could also fire downward through the fuselage tunnel. Four 50 kg P.u.W. bombs could be carried under the fuselage. Four vertical magazines in the front cockpit and three in the rear held 12.5 kg P.u.W. fragmentation bombs. Chrome-nickel steel armor plating 5 mm thick covered the floor and sides of the fuselage, extending from the nose around the rear gunner's cockpit. The engine nacelles were armored as well.
   Flight trials of the prototype, G.500/18, in February 1918 demonstrated good results but the biplane tail and armor plating required minor changes. The cannon firing trials performed in April 1918 were satisfactory. Though dispatched to the front in October-November 1918, it is not known if the G.IVk saw operational service. As part of the Armistice stipulations, the Germans turned over the four production AEG G.IVk ground-attack aircraft (G.501/18 - G.504/18) to the British in January 1919.


AEG G-Type Production Orders
AEG G.IVk (5 Total)
G.500-504/18 5 March 1918


AEG Armored Aircraft Specifications
AEG J.I AEG J.II AEG DJ.I Triplane AEG DJ.I Biplane AEG G.IVk
Engine 200 hp Benz Bz.IV 200 hp Benz Bz.IV 195 hp Benz Bz.IIIb V-8 195 hp Benz Bz.IIIb V-8 Two 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa
Span, Upper 13.00m 13.00m 11.20 m 10.00 m 18.00 m
Span, Lower 12.48m 12.48m 10.00 m 9.90 m 17.50 m
Chord, Upper 1.65m/1.85m 1.85m 1.475 m 1.80 m 2.40 m
Chord, Lower 1.65m/1.85m 1.85m 0.825 m 1.60 m 2.40 m
Gap 1.95m 1.95m 1.00 m 2.00 m 2.60 m
Wing Area 39.0 m2/43.6 m2 43.6 m2 31.3 m2 30.5 m2 65 m2
Length 7.20m 7.86m - 6.90 m 9.00 m
Height 3.3m 3.3m - - -
Track 2.19m 2.15m 1.90 m 1.90 m 4.80 m
Empty Weight 1,456 kg 1,480 kg 1,182 kg 1,185 kg 2,700 kg
Loaded Weight 1,876 kg 1,900 kg 1,412 kg 1,375 kg 3,150 kg
Maximum Speed 140 km/h 140 km/h 166 kmh 180 kmh 150 kmh
Climb to 1,000m 6.1 minutes 6 minutes 5.8 minutes 4 minutes 9 minutes
Climb to 2,000m 15.9 minutes 14 minutes - - -
Climb to 3,000m 31.6 minutes 30 minutes - - -
Climb to 4,000m - - 48 minutes - -
Armament 1 flexible machine gun, some had 2 fixed machine guns 1 flexible machine gun, 2 fixed machine guns 2 fixed machine guns, 4 small bombs 2 fixed machine guns, 4 small bombs 2 flexible machine guns, 2 flexible 20mm Becker cannon, small bombs
Notes:
   1. AEG J.I specs are shown as early/late; later production AEG J.I aircraft had 1.85m chord and wing area of 43.6 m2. AEG J.I dihedral = 2°
   2. At least 20 J.II aircraft fitted with a flexible 20mm Becker cannon in place of the 2 fixed machine guns.
   3. The middle wing of the AEG DJ.I Triplane had a span of 10.60 m and a chord of 0.825 m.

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

Allgemeine Elektrizitats-Gesellschaft, Flugzeugfabrik, Hennigsdorf (AEG)

Aircraft Development:

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  In the meantime, the armored J-planes had proven the high value of armor and caused a desire in the troops to also armor G-planes and equip them with machine guns to be able to engage ground targets, such as tanks. In this way, the AEG G.IVk type was born.
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