В.Кондратьев Самолеты первой мировой войны
"КОДРОН" R-11 / Caudron R-11
Крупногабаритный трехстоечный двухмоторный биплан с деревянным каркасом и полотняной обшивкой. Двигатели "Испано-Сюиза" 8Ва по 200 л.с. в обтекаемых мотогондолах треугольного сечения с алюминиевой обшивкой и лобовыми водорадиаторами. Экипаж три человека - пилот и двое стрелков. Вооружение - пять подвижных пулеметов "Льюис": четыре - в двух спарках на передней и задней турелях "Скэрф" и один - в нижней люковой установке. Первый полет прототипа состоялся в мае 1917 г.
Самолет разработан инженером Полем Девиллем на базе многоцелевого самолета "Кодрон" R-4, созданного авиаконструктором и предпринимателем Гастоном Кодроном в 1915 году. R -11 создавался в соответствии с заданием на ночной бомбардировщик для французских ВВС, в связи с чем он мог нести до 120 кг. бомбовой нагрузки. Однако его летные данные оказались настолько многообещающими, а стрелковое вооружение - таким сильным, что машину решили использовать в качестве истребителя сопровождения одномоторных бомбардировщиков "Бреге-14". Это являлось отражением распространенной в те годы концепции тяжелого неманевренного эскортного истребителя (иногда его называли "воздушный крейсер"), ведущего бой за счет многочисленных подвижных огневых установок.
R-11 имел ряд интересных конструктивных особенностей, направленных на повышение боевой живучести. Топливные баки, размещенные в задних частях мотогондол, можно было сбросить в полете при возгорании. Управление сделали дублированным, благодаря чему в случае гибели или тяжелого ранения пилота самолет мог вести стрелок из задней кабины.
Осенью 1917 г. компаниям "Кодрон", "Реджи Фререс" (Regy Freres) и "Гремон" (Gremont) заказали постройку 1000 экземпляров R-11 в истребительном варианте. Однако из-за нехватки двигателей, которые, в основном, шли на одноместные истребители "Спад", производство разворачивалось крайне медленно. К апрелю 1918-го заводы сдали всего 20 машин.
За месяц до этого первые серийные R-11 поступили в эскадрилью R.46 на западном фронте. К началу июля уже восемь французских бомбардировочных эскадрилий имели в своем составе эти машины, которые сопровождали и защищали бомбардировщики в их рейдах на вражескую территорию. По скорости самолет практически не уступал одномоторным истребителям противника. Отдельная эскадрилья "кодронов" была придана иностранному легиону.
Всего до конца войны выпущено около 370 R-11, после чего производство было остановлено. Эти машины состояли на вооружении французской авиации до 1922 года.
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А.Шепс Самолеты Первой мировой войны. Страны Антанты
Кодрон R.11 1917 г.
Несмотря на гибель брата, Рене Кодрон продолжил работы над двухмоторным фронтовым бомбардировщиком. После небольшой серии машин R.6, ставших как бы полигоном для отработки схемы фюзеляжного бомбардировщика (оказалась недостаточной мощность двигателей "Рено" 130 л. с.), фирма начала строить следующий самолет этого типа. В нем были учтены все проблемы, возникшие при эксплуатации предшественников. Фюзеляж деревянный, монококовой конструкции, имел каркас из бруса. Овальную форму обеспечивали стрингеры и дополнительный каркас из реек. Вся конструкция обтягивалась полотном. В носовой части размещался стрелокбомбардир в турельной установке двух 7,71-мм пулеметов "Льюис", пилот размещался в кабине на уровне задней кромки крыла, а за его спиной была турельная установка с двумя пулеметами "Льюис" второго стрелка. Двухлонжеронное крыло имело лонжероны из стальных труб и нервюры из бруса и фанеры. Обтягивалось полотном. Элероны были только на верхнем крыле, имевшем большую хорду и несколько больший размах. Стойки бипланной коробки - стальные трубы в деревянных обтекателях. Растяжки - стальной трос или профилированная лента. На нижнем крыле в развале стоек устанавливались мотогондолы двух двигателей "Испано-Сьюиза" HS 8 Вbа мощностью 215 л. с., а позднее - HS 8 Веb (235 л. с.). В мотогондолах располагались топливные и маслобаки. В передней части они покрывались алюминиевыми панелями, а в хвостовой - полотном. Радиаторы лобовые, сотовые, треугольной формы.
Оперение имело конструкцию, аналогичную крылу. Стабилизатор регулируемый, крепился системой растяжек. Киль треугольный. Руль поворота с роговой весовой компенсацией и с большой площадью поверхности. Шасси "фармановского" типа с двумя парами колес на коротких осях, установленных на V-образных стойках. Управление тросовое, от штурвальной колонки и педалей. Для обеспечения необходимой жесткости центроплана гондолы двигателей и фюзеляж соединялись дополнительными раскосами. Под нижним крылом подвешивались бомбы калибра от 5 до 50 кг общим весом около 300 кг.
Машина первый раз взлетела весной 1917 года, и все лето первый самолет проходил испытания, причем две машины были переданы для испытания в RFC. В 1918 году машины поступили на вооружение эскадрилий R46, R239, R240 и R246.
Модификации
R.11 A3 - дальний разведчик, отличался от базовой модели отсутствием бомбового вооружения, строился серийно.
R.11 ВN 3 - ночной бомбардировщик, с теми же двигателями, небольшая серия.
R.11 B3 - фронтовой бомбардировщик, серийная машина. Всего до конца войны должно было быть построено 145 экземпляров R.11, однако на фронт попало только 49, еще две машины были переданы Американскому экспедиционному корпусу. Машина строилась и после войны.
ЛЕТНО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ
R-11 1917г.
Размах, м 17,92
Длина, м 11,22
Высота, м 2,80
Площадь крыла, кв.м 54,25
Сухой вес, кг 1422
Взлетный вес, кг 2167
Двигатель "Испано-Сьюиза"
число x мощность, л.с. 2 x 220
Скорость максимальная, км/ч 183
Скорость подъема на высоту
2000 м, мин.сек 8,10
Дальность полета, км 500
Потолок, м 5950
Экипаж, чел 2
Вооружение 2 пулемета
300 кг бомб
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J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)
Caudron R.11
There is some confusion over the true origin of the R.11. Some French sources suggest the prototype was originally designed to participate in the concours des avions puissants of 1916. This would suggest that the R.11 was a development of the R.5 long-range bomber. Other sources state that the R.11 evolved from a special version of the R.4 that had been equipped with two 150-hp Hispano-Suiza engines; the increased power was said to result in such a dramatic improvement in the R.4's performance that Caudron's chief designer, Paul Deville, created a heavily modified version of the R.4 and equipped it with even more powerful engines.
The Caudron R.11 was probably intended from its inception to meet the Aviation Militaire's requirement for a three-seat long-range escort fighter; the C 3 specification for such a plane was formulated in November 1916. It called for an aircraft to carry light-weight armor as well as two machine guns with 500 rounds each. The fighter was to have a maximum speed of 170 km/h at 2,000 meters and be able to reach an altitude of 3,000 meters in 15 minutes. Some sources credit Capitaine Le Cour Grandmaison with formulating the requirement for a long-range fighter to accompany formations of medium bombers. It is possible that the SPAD SA.3 and Ponnier twin-engine fighters were also developed to meet this requirement.
The new aircraft was initially powered by two Hispano-Suiza 8Ba engines of 200-hp. Its landing gear was similar to the R.4 and G.6, but it dispensed with the nose wheel of the R.4. As with the R.4, the upper wing was longer than the lower. The fuel tanks were located at the rear of the engine nacelles and, in later aircraft, could be jettisoned in flight. To minimize the aircraft's vulnerability, the fuel system was arranged so that either engine could receive fuel from either of the main fuel tanks. The aircraft was well-armed with twin 7.7-mm Lewis guns in the nose and rear fuselage, again as in the R.4. There was an additional machine gun below the nose position to enable that gunner to fire downward. On later aircraft there was provision for dual controls, so that if the pilot was wounded the R.11 could be flown by the observer. Although it could be fitted with a camera for long-range reconnaissance, the R.11's most important role was providing air defense for the Breguet 14 B2s.
The new aircraft was found to have substantially better performance than the preceding R.4s and R.5s. A total of 1,000 were ordered by the Aviation Militaire (of which approximately 370 were built by the end of the war). The R.11s were built by Caudron and under subcontract by Regy and Gremont. The STAe designation for the R.11 was Caudron 11 A3 but this was rarely used in wartime reports. Why the three-seat fighter should be designated as a reconnaissance plane is a mystery, but it suggests that the type may originally been planned as a multiplace de combat to be used in the long-range reconnaissance, light bombing, and escort fighter roles. Support for this can be seen in a memo dated 28 November 1917 stating that it was anticipated that Caudron R.11s would replace the Letord series in early 1918.
As with so many other French designs of the period, the type's entry into service was delayed by production difficulties. In this case, the main problem seems to have been secondary to the 215-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Bba or 8Bda engines. In later aircraft a 235-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Beb was fitted. Even though the first R.11 had been completed in 1916, only two were in existence by 1 January 1918. Three months later the total had risen to only 34. At the time of the Armistice there were 54 in service.
Operational Service
Tactics evolved so that these large aircraft could be used in conjunction with both the day bomber forces and the single-seat escort fighters. Originally, the R.11s were to be used to watch for oncoming enemy formations and possibly engage them ahead of the bomber formations. The commander of the First Air Division stated that the R.11s were given to it to serve as a "plane lookout service." The same source stated that because of the increasing threat of the German fighters to the day bomber formations, the R.11s were assigned to provide close-in fighter escort. When SPAD fighter units were available, they were used to provide top cover for the mixed Breguet 14 and Caudron R.11 formations. This meant that the R.11s could travel with the bombers all the way to the target. Because of their fore and aft guns, the R.11s could bring considerable firepower to bear without having to maneuver. The SPADs, on the other hand, could attack the enemy fighters using their superior speed and maneuverability. While this combination proved effective, there were still heavy losses when the formations attempted bombing missions without the SPAD escort. An example of this was the September 1918 raid on the Conflans-Jarny railroad station when Breguet 14s of GB 4 and the R.11s of R 46 encountered heavy opposition over the target. While the aircraft did reach the target and eight German fighters were claimed as destroyed, seven French aircraft were lost.
There was an undeniable elan within the R.11 units, the crews being told that their mission to protect the bombers was "one of sacrifice." It was also noted that specific R.11 crews were associated with specific groupes de bombardement, thus providing a "real moral bond between them." It is interesting to note that some French air service officers predicted that all fighters of the future would be two-seaters whose "mission spirit" would eliminate the concept of aces.
It is not known how successful the R.11s were in combat against German fighters. Nevertheless, the type was felt to be quite useful in the long-range escort fighter role. At the Armistice R.11s equipped six escadrilles: R 46, R 239, R 240, R 241, R 242, and R 246. Each unit had between 15 and 18 aircraft.
R 46 was the first unit to receive R.11s, being re-equipped in February 1918. This unit was assigned to protect the bombers of Escadre 13 (GB 3 with BR 107, 126, and 128 and GB 4 with BR 131, 132, and 134). R 46 was active over the Aisne and the Marne while protecting units of the 2nd Brigade d'Aviation. It was credited with 37 official victories at the cost of 26 killed and 35 wounded crewmen. The unit was decorated with three citations. R 46 become escadrille 204 of the 3rd RB (Jour) at Avord in 1920.
R 239 was created in May 1918 under command of Lieutenant de Vercheres and assigned to the 4th Armee on the Champagne front. In July it was assigned to protect Escadre 12 (GB 6 with BR 66, 108, and BR 111; GB 5 with BR 117, 120, and 127; and GB 9 with BR 29, 123, and 129). R 239 was credited with four aerial victories. R 239 became the 204th escadrille of the 1st RB (Jour) at Metz in 1920.
R 240 was formed in July 1918 and assigned to protect Escadre 12. The escadrille was under the command of Lieutenant de Durat. R 240 became the 208th Escadrille of the 1st RB (Jour) at Metz in 1920.
R 241 was formed in July 1918. It was active over the 8th Armee's front and was disbanded in December 1918.
R 242 was created in April 1918. It served over the 7th Armee's sector and was disbanded in December 1918.
R 246 was formed from aircraft drawn from R 46, R 239, and R 240 on 2 November 1918. R 246 served along with R 46 in guarding the Breguet bomber units of Escadre 13. R 246, in support of Escadre 13, was active over Rethel and supported the raids on Neufchateau. It became Escadrille 212 of the 3rd RB (Jour) at Avord in 1920.
The last R.11 was withdrawn from service in July 1922.
Foreign Service
United Kingdom
The Royal Flying Corps was interested in using the R.11s as long-range bombers and acquired two examples for evaluation. They were given serials B 8822 and B 8823. The R.11s were evaluated against Sopwith Dolphins. After these tests, one of the R.11s was used as a testbed for various armament installations, the other to test communication systems.
United States
The U.S. Air Service also purchased two R.11s in October 1918. One R.11 was also detached from a French escadrille to serve as an escort fighter for the 88th Aero Squadron in September 1918. The 96th Aero Squadron also had at least one R.11 to escort its Breguet 14 B2s.
Caudron R.11 Three-Seat Long-Range Fighter with Two 200-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Ba Engines (Prototype)
Span 17.92 m; length 11.22 m; height 2.80 m; wing area 54.25 sq. m
Empty weight 1,416 kg; loaded weight 2,188 kg
Maximum speed:
ground level 191 km/h
2,000 m 185 km/h
3,000 m 180 km/h
4,000 m 173 km/h
Climb:
1,000 m 3 minutes 50 seconds
2,000 m 8 minutes 10 seconds
3,000 m 4 minutes 30 seconds
4,000 m 22 minutes 25 seconds
5,000 m 25 minutes
One built
Caudron R.11 Three-Seat Long-Range Fighter with Two 215-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Bda Engines (Production)
Span 17.92 m; length 11.22 m; height 2.80 m; wing area 54.25 sq. m
Empty weight 1,422 kg; loaded weight 2,165 kg
Maximum speed:
2,000 m 183 km/h
3,000 m 178 km/h
4,000 m 173 km/h
5,000 m 164 km/h
Climb:
2,000 m 8 minutes 10 seconds
3,000 m 14 minutes 30 seconds
4,000 m 22 minutes 30 seconds
5,000 m 39 minutes
Ceiling 5,950 m; range 600 km; endurance 3 hours
Armament: five 7.7-mm Lewis guns
Approximately 370 built
Caudron R.12
The Caudron R.12 was a Caudron R.11 re-engined with two 300-hp Hispano Suiza 8Fb engines. This modification was produced at the request of General Duval in 1917 as the new engine was expected to enter production soon, and, assuming it was successful, could endow the R.11 with a much higher performance. The Caudron R.12 first appeared in the summer of 1918. It had a wing area of 52 sq. m, which was identical to the standard R.11 (although some sources give slightly increased wing areas of from 58 to 60 sq. meters). The aircraft had an empty weight of 1,350 kg.
The R.12 first flew in November 1918 and was tested at Issy-les-Moulineaux, where numerous problems were discovered. At least two examples were undergoing testing in July 1919, and although it had been originally intended to equip 12 escadrilles with the R.12, further development was abandoned.
Caudron R.12 Three-Seat Long-Range Fighter with Two 300-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Fb Engines
Wing area 52 sq. m
Empty weight 1,350 kg
Armament: five 7.7-mm Lewis guns
Two built
Caudron R.14
To meet the requirement for a plane capable of carrying a heavy cannon, many companies produced modified versions of heavy bombers. For example, both a Voisin 12 and Farman F.50 were modified to carry cannons. The Caudron R.11 was also fitted with a cannon in August 1918. This new version was designated R.14 Ca3 Canon. Main armament was a 37-mm Hotchkiss cannon, but the five Lewis guns of the standard R.11 were retained for defense. To carry the cannon the new version used the same 300-hp Hispano Suiza 8Fb engines as the R.12. The wings were enlarged with three bays of struts outboard of the engines. Wing area was increased to 63 square meters and the plane had an empty weight of 1,747 kg. An unbalanced rudder was fitted. As with the cannon-armed Voisin 12s and Farman F.50s, development of the R.14 was abandoned soon after the Armistice.
Caudron R.14 Three-Seat Long-Range Cannon Fighter with Two 300-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Fb Engines
Wing area 63 sq. m
Empty weight 1,747 kg
Armament: one 37-mm Hotchkiss cannon and five 7.7-mm Lewis guns
One built
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Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919
THE CAUDRON R.II TWIN-ENGINED BOMBER.
Type of machine Caudron Twin Tractor.
Name or type No. of machine R. II.
Purpose for which intended Bombing.
Span 17.92 m. top;
16.9 m. bottom plane.
Overall length 11.25 metres.
Maximum height 2.70 metres.
Engine type and h.p. Hispano-Suiza, two 200 h.p.
Weight of machine empty 1,422 kgs.
Tank capacity in litres 220.
Performance.
Speed low down 190 k.p.h. full,
95 k.p.h. throttled.
Speed
at 2,000 metres 185 k.p.h.
at 3,000 metres 180 k.p.h.
at 4,000 metres 173 k.p.h.
at 5,000 metres 167.3 k.p.h.
Climb.
To 2,000 metres in 8-10 minutes.
To 3.000 metres in 14-3 minutes.
To 5.000 metres in 39 minutes.
Disposable load apart from fuel 405 kgs.
Total weight of machine loaded 2,167 kgs.
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W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters
CAUDRON R XI & R XII France
Evolved by Paul Deville from the R IV reconnaissance bomber designed by Rene Caudron, the R XI three-seat biplane was originally intended as a Corps d 'Armee aircraft, but was destined to find its forte as a three-seat escort fighter. Powered by two 215 hp Hispano-Suiza 8Bda eight-cylinder water-cooled engines, the R XI appeared in March 1917, and entered service in February 1918. Armament comprised five 7,7-mm Lewis guns on flexible mounts - two in the nose cockpit, two in the dorsal cockpit and one firing downwards and rearwards beneath the front gunner’s cockpit - and while initial models retained the HS 8Bda engines, later versions were fitted with the 235 hp HS 8Beb. The R XI enjoyed considerable success as an escort for the Breguet 14 during the closing months of WWI and during the summer of 1918. It also served in the fighter-reconnaissance role. At the time of the Armistice, the R XI equipped six 15-aircraft escadrilles of France’s Aviation Militaire. A more powerful version, the R XII with 300 hp HS 8Fb engines, was tested during the summer of 1918, but apparently failed to display significantly better results than those obtained with the R XI. Prototype trials with the R XII were completed in the autumn of 1919, but no further development was undertaken. The following data relate to the HS 8Bda-engined R XI.
Max speed, 114 mph (183 km/h) at 6,560 ft (2 000 m), 108 mph (173 km/h) at 13,125 ft (4 000 m).
Time to 6,560 ft (2 000 m), 8.17 min.
Endurance, 3 hrs.
Empty weight, 3,135 lb (1422 kg).
Loaded weight, 4,777 lb (2167 kg).
Span, 58 ft 9 1/2 in (17,92 m).
Length, 36 ft 9 3/4 in (11,22 m).
Height, 9 ft 2 1/4in (2,80 m).
Wing area, 583.96 sq ft (54,25 m2).
CAUDRON R XIV France
Possessing a strong family resemblance to the R XI but having an increased wing span and area resulting from the introduction of an additional bracing bay on each side, an enlarged rudder and 300 hp Hispano-Suiza 8Fb eight-cylinder water-cooled engines, the R XIV was also a three-seat escort fighter. It had an armament of one 37-mm Hotchkiss cannon on a rotating mounting in the forward gunner’s cockpit and paired Lewis guns in the dorsal gunner’s cockpit. The fuselage was essentially similar to that of the R XI, and one example of the R XIV was completed in August 1918. No details of the subsequent testing of this aircraft have survived and the only data available are as follows:
Empty weight, 3,851 lb (1 747 kg).
Wing area, 678.15 sq ft (63.00 m2).
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