LFG Roland C.II

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LFG Roland - Stahl-Taube - 1913 - Германия LFG Roland - G.I - 1915 - Германия

Страна: Германия

Год: 1915

Two-seat reconnaissance and escort duties

В.Кондратьев Самолеты первой мировой войны

РОЛАНД C-II / ROLAND C-II

   Цельнодеревянный одностоечный биплан. Фюзеляж - полумонокок эллиптического сечения с обшивкой, выклеенной из шпона. "Роланд" - первая в мире серийная машина с фюзеляжем подобного типа. В дальнейшем эта конструкция широко применялась (главным образом - в СССР) до конца тридцатых годов. Крылья и оперение покрыты полотном. Вырезы кабин экипажа размещены над плоскостями для улучшения обзора верхней полусферы и обеспечения кругового обстрела из турельного пулемета.
   Самолет разработан конструкторским коллективом фирмы Роланд (ранее - LFG) в октябре 1915 года. Выпускался серийно на заводах фирмы-разработчика и Линке-Хоффман. За характерную форму аппарат сразу получил кличку "Валь" - "Кит".
   К моменту поступления на фронт весной 1916-го С-П оказался лучшим немецким самолетом в своем классе. Очень аэродинамичный, с хорошими скоростными данными и эффективным вооружением, он применялся не только как разведчик и корректировщик, но и в роли истребителя. В летних боях 1916 года пилоты союзников считали "Роланд" самым грозным противником.
   Однако немецкие летчики относились к "Киту" неоднозначно. Высоко ценя его боевые возможности, они резко осуждали плохой обзор вперед-вниз, из-за которого сажать машину приходилось чуть ли не вслепую. Кроме того, несмотря на противокапотажную раму, опрокидывание "Роланда" грозило его экипажу гораздо большими неприятностями, чем на других германских бипланах.
   Тем не менее, самолет воевал на западном и восточном фронтах довольно долго. Отдельные машины можно было увидеть на полевых аэродромах еще осенью 1917-го.


ДВИГАТЕЛЬ

   "Мерседес"D.III, 160 л.с.


ВООРУЖЕНИЕ

   1 синхр. "Шпандау", 1 турельный "Парабеллум", 70 кг. бомб.


ЛЕТНО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ

   Размах, м 10,3
   Длина, м 7,7
   Площадь крыла, кв.м 26,0
   Сухой вес, кг 764
   Взлетный вес, кг 1284
   Скорость максимальная, км/ч 165
   Время набора высоты, м/мин 1000/6
   Потолок, м 4000

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

L.F.G. Roland C II

   Luftfahrzeug Gesellschaft (L.F.G.) was the successor of the Flugmaschine Wright G.m.b.H., an offspring of the L.F.G. Bitterfeld, which, in turn, had stemmed from the Motorluftschiff Studiengesellschaft founded for airship manufacture at the instigation of Wilhelm II in 1906. The Wright firm at Adlershof went into liquidation in 1912 after losing their patents claim. The firm was then revived by Krupp and other financiers for the manufacture of aircraft, as L.F.G, with Herr Kiefer as chief engineer. It was then that "Roland" was registered as a trade name to avoid confusion with the L.V.G. firm. The factory at Adlershof was gutted by fire on 6th September 1916, due, it is said, to action by the British Secret Service. The factory was then transferred to the exhibition halls at Charlottenburg, where manufacture continued.
   One of the most original trends of thought in aircraft design during 1915 was seen in the L.F.G. Roland C II, which had been evolved by Dipl. Ing. Tantzen, who had recently joined Luftfahrzeug Gesellschaft as a design engineer. Earlier the Albatros B I, B II and C I (Rol), which so patently typified current thought on two-seat reconnaissance machines, had been license-built by L.F.G.
   Tantzen's ambition was to present a drastically cleaned-up airframe, eliminating as much as possible of the "built-in" drag of interplane, centre-section strut arrangements and attendant bracing. He employed a deep fuselage which had the two-fold objective of eliminating the drag of centre-section struts and, by joining the top wing direct to the fuselage, presenting the crew with an unparalleled all-round field of view. There was some restriction of downward view, but cut-outs in the wing roots and the arrangement of the stagger mitigated this. A further refinement was the simplification of the bracing to a single-bay format and the utilisation of single I-type interplane struts.
   An interesting fact about the Roland C II is that the designer foresaw that the deep fuselage might precipitate difficulty in ensuring adequate control, and a series of experiments was conducted with the airframe mounted on a flat-topped railway wagon. Fast runs were made over a long, straight stretch of track between Schoneberg and Juterbog. The prototype appeared in October 1915 and was lost due to engine failure, but a second machine soon under test, and it was found necessary to revise the originally triangular-shaped horizontal fins. Still later it was found that the machine lacked directional stability, tending to hunt and demanding constant vigilance from the pilot; subsequent increase in the vertical fin area improved this shortcoming. The main deficiency of the C II was that the very thin wings tended to distort after any length of time on active service and the climb performance became very poor.
   C IIs began to equip the Fl. Abt. units for reconnaissance and also for escort duties by the beginning of 1916. Usually the reconnaissance machines were armed only with a Parabellum gun for the observer, and a radio transmitter also formed part of his equipment. Later a forward-firing Spandau gun was added to the armament.
   Eduard von Schleich, who later became well known as C.O. of one of the Bavarian Jagdstaffeln, for a time flew these Roland two-seaters when with Fl. Abt. 4. Frequently C IIs operated in considerable numbers, the reconnaissance machines being protected by the escorts. Capt. Albert Ball, V.C., often reported combats with large numbers of Rolands during the Battle of the Somme in the summer of 1916. Ball's first officially confirmed victory in fact over a Roland C II. Flying a Nieuport scout in company with four F.E. 8s during the late afternoon of the 2nd July, a formation of six Rolands was attacked at 10,000 ft. Immediately the German formation broke up, but after briefly manoeuvring for a favourable position to attack, Ball was able to put in a whole drum of Lewis at almost full deflection. The two-seater was seen to crash on the Mercatel-Arras road, and confirmation subsequently given by a Vickers Gunbus crew which happened to be in the vicinity.
   The story is told, probably apocryphal, that when the officials attended upon the trials of the C II one member was heard to remark, "Truly this machine is a whale!" and the type certainly became unofficially known as the Walfisch.
   Construction of the fuselage represented a revolutionary departure from standard practice, and was one of the first semi-monocoque structures. The shell was built up on a basic skeleton of ply formers and longerons, with main "key" formers positioned fore and aft of the pilot's cockpit. To this was pinned and glued the thin three-ply covering, which was applied in narrow strips and spirally wound on to the basic frame; this in turn was covered with linen fabric and doped. The root attachment fairings for both upper and lower wings were built integral with the fuselage. The 160 h.p. Mercedes D III engine was almost completely buried in the deep nose, only the first two cylinders being partially exposed. The exhaust pipes were led mostly into an occarina-shaped manifold, and "ear" type radiators were located on the fuselage sides just aft of the engine. Only the section of the fuselage immediately aft of the large spinner was of metal panelling, and this was generously slotted with cooling vents. Hinged metal access panels were fitted where necessary to facilitate servicing. In the vicinity of the cockpit were large celluloid-covered panels which considerably improved visibility. However, it is doubtful if they were large enough to serve as escape hatches, as has often been claimed. The pylon on the centre-section was a safeguard against decapitation of the crew in the event of a capsized crash-landing.
   Of composite construction, the empennage featured wooden, fabric-covered fins, while the unbalanced control surfaces were of steel tube with fabric covering. When later the area of the vertical fin was increased it was braced to the tailplane with two light steel struts in addition to the usual struts underneath.
   Construction of the wings was orthodox in that they were based on two hollow box-spars - with the rear (main) spar at approximately mid-chord - and three steel-tube compression members to each panel. Ribs were of ply webs, with softwood capping and reinforcing strips. They were interspersed with false ribs, which extended right back to the rear spar. All four panels were of identical span and chord, with angularly raked tips and wire trailing edges which gave the characteristic scalloped profile. The unbalanced ailerons were inversely tapered, and their oblique mounting preserved the straight trailing edge. They were of steel tube construction: actuation was through cables attached to a crank and connected to a torque tube which ran through the forward edge of the lower wing. In a later model this torque tube ran through the top wing. The unique I interplane struts were covered with a double layer of three-ply and connected all four wing spars in ball-and-cup joints.
   The conventional undercarriage chassis consisted of streamline steel-tube vees with tubular axle and twin spreader bars. Wheels were sprung with elastic shock cord. On aircraft fitted with radio an airscrew-driven dynamo was attached to the top of the front starboard undercarriage strut. A large hockey-stick type tailskid of ash completed the landing gear.
   Although exact figures are not known, several hundred C IIs were built, and the type was also manufactured under licence by the Linke-Hofmann concern.

TECHNICAL DATA
   Description: Two-seat reconnaissance and escort duties.
   Manufacturers: Luftfahrzeug Gesellschaft m.b.H. Berlin-Charlottenburg (Rol.).
   Sub-contractors: Linke-Hofmann Werke A.G. (Li.).
   Power Plant: One 160 h.p. Mercedes D III 6 cylinder in-line water-cooled engine.
   Dimensions: Span, 10.3 m . (33 ft. 9 1/2 in.). Length, 7.7 m. (25 ft. 3 1/4 in.). Height, 2.9 m. (9 ft. 6 1/8 in.). Area, 26 sq.m. (280.8 sq.ft.).
   Weights: Empty, 764 kg. (1,680.8 lb.). Loaded, 1,284 kg. (2,824.8 lb.).
   Performance: Maximum speed, 165 km.hr. (103.12 m.p.h.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 6 min., 2,000 m. (6,560 ft.) in 12 min., 4,000 m. (13,120 ft.) in 45 min. Duration, 4-5 hr. according to fuel load carried.
   Armament: One manually operated Parabellum machine-gun in rear cockpit. Later a Spandau machine-gun firing forward was additionally fitted.

L.F.G. Roland C III
   Development of C II Walfisch with orthodox two-bay wings. All-wooden aircraft with ply-covered fuselage. This machine existed as a prototype only and was destroyed when the Adlershof factory was burnt out on 16th September 1916. Engine, 200 h.p. Benz Bz IV. Armament, one Spandau and one Parabellum machine-guns.

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J.Herris Roland Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 9)

Roland C.II

   The Roland C.II was a completely new, original design by Roland. When building the Albatros B.II and C.I under license, Roland engineers became concerned about the high drag created by the multitude of bracing wires in these designs. The engineers started exploring methods to reduce drag to increase speed using the same engines currently employed. A wide field of fire for the gunner was also a design priority. This work led to the Roland Walfisch, or Whale, as the C.II was nicknamed in Germany.
   Much of the engineering was based on the work of Professor Ludwig Prandtl at the Gottingen University wind tunnel. Prandtl had taught Roland chief designer Dipl.-Ing. Tantzen and consulted on aerodynamics for Roland. Like many significant advances in aeronautics, the Roland C.II combined new construction methods with superior aerodynamics to achieve its jump in performance. In this case, the Roland engineers used their revolutionary Wickelrumpf technology, which combined layers of veneer strips wrapped diagonally around a mold at an angle to each other, and glued and reinforced with fabric. This method resulted in a robust, streamlined shell that carried the structural loads. Using this new technology, the Roland C.II was designed by Tantzen, Ober-Ing. Cammerer, Ing. Sonntag, and Ing. Richter.
   Powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine, the Roland C.II prototype first flew on 24 or 25 October, 1915. Engine failure soon after takeoff damaged the prototype, which had to be repaired. In speed trials the C.II demonstrated a speed advantage of about 30 km/h (19 mph) over contemporary German two-seaters. The excellent speed of the Roland C.II was good enough for an initial production order for 50 aircraft, awarded 23 December 1915.
   The type-tests and static load tests were performed in mid-February 1916 on airframes C.4415/15 (work #550) and C.4423/15 (work #558). During testing it was determined that the wing cellule was not strong enough, and an additional drag wire had to be installed. After that minor delay, the first five production aircraft were ready to leave the factory on 7 March 1916.
   The streamlined Roland C.II arrived at the front in March 1916, where it created a sensation, and served on operations until June 1917. At the time, it was the smallest and fastest German two-seater, and certainly looked fast. Its aerodynamic shape and 160 hp Mercedes engine gave it excellent performance for the time. It was as fast as the opposing Nieuport and Sopwith Pup fighters, making it an effective combat aircraft. Because they were so much faster than the other German two-seaters, the Rolands generally operated in groups so as not to be slowed by their contemporaries.
   Speed, while especially important in a combat aircraft, is not everything, and the Roland C.II's flight characteristics needed improvement. Probably the most significant shortcoming of the C.II was its limited visibility for the pilot forward and downward, making it difficult for pilots to judge their landing flair and making touch-down and landing rollout somewhat tricky and hazardous. Although landing accidents were distressingly common for WWI aircraft, the Roland C.II suffered disproportionately more than its peers.
   To improve its combat effectiveness, a fixed, synchronized gun for the pilot was fitted to the C.II starting with the second production batch. The roll-over structure had to be redesigned to accommodate the addition of the gun. Additional changes to the wing structure were made mid-way through the third production batch to improve flight characteristics. The changes, which included moving the interplane I-struts inboard and reducing the wing span slightly, strengthened the wing. It is thought the modified version was designated the C.IIa, whose static test took place in late April or early May 1916. These aircraft reached the front in the summer.
   The final significant improvement to the C.IIa was an enlarged vertical tail to improve flight stability and control. The last Roland-built production batch of 40 aircraft, ordered in June 1916, had this feature. The C.II had needed this improvement from the beginning of its service, and the change should have been made during flight testing before the C.II went into production.
   Linke-Hoffman was given an initial production order for the Roland C.IIa(Li) in July 1916 and a final production order for 40 aircraft in September. The type test took place in November 1916 and the production aircraft reached the front in early 1917. By the time these aircraft arrived at the front new German and Allied aircraft had improved performance; the C.II had lost its performance advantage and its operational service was nearing an end. After being withdrawn from the front, the rugged C.II served with flight schools into 1918.

Roland C.II Specifications (1st Production Version)
Engine: 160 hp Mercedes D.III
Wing: Span 10.33 m
Chord 1.5 m
Gap 1.32 m
Area 27.96 m
General: Length 7.70 m
Wheel Track 1.75 m
Empty Weight 789 kg
Useful Load 520 kg
Loaded Weight 1309 kg
Maximum Speed: 165 kmh
Climb: 1000m 7 min
2000m 14 min
3000m 26 min

Roland C.II Production
Ordered Qty Serial Numbers Designation Remarks
Dec. 23, 1915 50 C.4413-4462/15 Rol. C.II One MG, round rollover structure
Mar. 16, 1916 24 C.999-1023/16 Rol. C.II Two MGs, angular rollover structure
Apr. 16, 1916 45 C.1600-1644/16 Rol. C.II
Apr. 16, 1916 19 C.1645-1663/16 Rol. C.II/C.IIa
Apr. 16, 1916 36 C.1664-1699/16 Rol. C.IIa Aileron control in top wing
June 16, 1916 40 C.2700-2739/16 Rol. C.IIa Large fin, aileron control in top wing
July 16, 1916 12 C.1851-1862/16 Rol. C.IIa(Li) Aileron control in top wing
Sep.16, 1916 40 C.3624-3663/16 Rol. C.IIa(Li) Aileron control in top wing
Notes:
   1. All aircraft after the first production batch had a fixed, synchronized gun for the pilot and angular rollover structures. A total of 267 production aircraft were ordered and built.
   2. The production batch ordered June 16, 1916 had the large fin. All others had the original small fin.
   3. The first 4 production batches used the ocarina radiator type,- radiators varied on the last 4 batches.
   4. The first 3 production batches had their aileron controls in the bottom wing. The last 4 batches had the aileron control in the top wing; location of the aileron control in the 4th batch is not known.

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

Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft mbH, Berlin-Charlottenburg (Rol)

Aircraft Development:

<...>
  Although Roland monoplanes and biplanes had already been delivered to the Army Administration, these types were not yet sufficiently war-tested to send them to the front. Therefore, on the advice of the Army Administration, LFG decided to build the proven Albatros aircraft under license. License construction then began rapidly at the beginning of 1915 under the type designation Alb B.II(Rol), equipped with 120 hp Mercedes engines. In further development, a reconnaissance aircraft without armament was built, and later a more powerful two-seater biplane Alb C.I(Rol), also an Albatros design, but with a rotating machine gun.
  As a result of extensive tests conducted by the Gottingen Experimental Institute, the company produced an aircraft under the designation “Roland-Walfisch”, which was characterized in particular by increased speed (by 30 km/h), improved field of fire and climbing ability. The Rol C.II “Whale” aircraft achieved an epoch-making reduction in propulsive drag. This Roland C.II biplane (Walfisch) began its test flights in October 1915. However, the first plane already had an accident, because forced to land quickly by engine failure, it rolled against a bollard and broke the wing.
<...>
  Above all, efforts were made to reduce the harmful frontal drag of the aircraft to a minimum. This problem could not be solved with the practical experience of the aircraft builders alone. It was now necessary to apply the findings of science, in particular those of the Gottingen Aviation Research Institute. The low-drag drop shapes developed here were to form the basis of future aircraft fuselage shapes. Thus, the Rol C.IIa “Whale” developed by LFG was the first to emerge, which allowed the top speed to shoot up by 30 km/h.
  At that time (1916), the emerging shortage of metals, especially steel, was already foreseeable. Skilled metal workers were tied up in other industries, such as the munitions industry. In contrast, carpenters and wood were freely available, which led to the “Whale” being made predominantly of wood. Even the stems, the basic framework of the hull, the frames, for which steel had also been used exclusively up to then, were now made of wood. This required a completely new strength determination for the entire aircraft. As a result, the Rol C.IIa was structurally better and lighter. External features, such as the propeller hub and ear cooler and the teardrop-shaped muffler, promised aerodynamic progress.
  Four weeks after the catastrophic fire at the Adlershof plant (September 6, 1916), the move to the hangars on Kaiserdamm (Charlottenburg) was completed. On October 9, 1916, the first aircraft left the factory there. Several hundred “Walfische”, now no longer built solely by LFG itself but under license from several major aircraft factories, reached the front. The German aircraft industry made the most imaginable efforts to catch up with LFG’s lead. The shape of the Rol C.IIa became the model for most of all subsequent aircraft designs.
<...>

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Описание:Description:

В.Кондратьев Самолеты первой мировой войны
O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)
J.Herris Roland Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 9)
M.Dusing German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 84)
Журнал Flight

J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.ll of Kasta 8, Kagohl 2.
В.Кондратьев - Самолеты первой мировой войны

"Роланд" C-II, 8 эскадрилья, 2 бомбардировочная эскадра ВВС Германии, май 1916г.
В.Обухович, А.Никифоров - Самолеты Первой Мировой войны

LFG Роланд C II
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II of Kasta 8, Kagohl 2. This aircraft may have been flown by Manfred von Richthofen because he was in that unit when this aircraft served there.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.ll of Kasta 8, Kagohl 2.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II flown by Hptm. Eduard Ritter von Schleich of Schusta 28 in original configuration.
J.Herris - Development of German Warplanes in WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (1)

Early C.II aircraft lacked a synchronized gun for the pilot, but once this was provided, the C.II Walfisch (Whale) became a two-seat fighter, presaging the later CL-category aircraft. It used the 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine. This Roland C.II is in typical early factory finish with the name Meerkatze on the aft fuselage.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II Meerkatze of FFA 18.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II flown by Lt. Otto Czermack of Schusta 28 after a forward-firing gun was fitted in a crude mount.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II of Lt. Rudolf Windisch of Feldflieger-Abteilung 62; it has unit-applied colors painted on the fuselage, upper surfaces, and interplane struts for camouflage.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II of Schusta 27.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II with shark mouth of Flieger-Abteilung 62.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II with shark mouth of Flieger-Abteilung 62.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.IIa(Li), unit unknown.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.IIa with large tail, Schusta 27.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.IIa with large tail of an unknown unit.

Сайт - Pilots-and-planes /WWW/

Roland C.II prototype on the occasion of roll-out on October 24, 1915.
M.Dusing - German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 /Centennial Perspective/ (84)

A Roland C.II prototype rests in front of the L.F.G. factory at Adlershof. A similar photo was taken on October 24, 1915, and this photo was probably taken at the same time. An anemomenter airspeed indicator is mounted on the upper left wing for speed measurements. The aileron controls were led through the upper wing but early production aircraft ran the aileron controls through the lower wing. Although all production C.II aircraft used the 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine, at least two prototypes were tested with a 150 hp Benz Bz.III. The Walfisch design was patented by Ing. R. Richter on October 7,1915, and the Wickelrumpf technology was a closely-held industrial secret until 1918 when publicity photos of the Pfalz factory revealed some details of the process.
Сайт - Pilots-and-planes /WWW/

The Roland C.II prototype on October 24, 1915.
Сайт - Pilots-and-planes /WWW/

Roland C.II prototype with the 160hp Mercedes D.III engine.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The first Roland C.II series production aircraft with company test pilot Hptm. Freiherr von Thuna in the cockpit on February 4, 1916.The fin and rudder were slightly increased in area compared to the prototypes, but needed to be even larger for better flying qualities, something finally addressed in the last production batch ordered from LFG. No rollover cage is fitted to this early production aircraft.
Сайт - Pilots-and-planes /WWW/

The first Roland C.II series machine (4413/15) on February 4, 1916.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

This unarmed early-production C.II aircraft is in training service. The windows have been modified to slide down to open.
Сайт - Pilots-and-planes /WWW/

Roland C.II (4437/15)
K.Delve - World War One in the Air /Crowood/

The LFG Roland CII, of which several hundred were built, entered service in early 1916 as a reconnaissance aircraft but was also used as an escort fighter.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A Roland C.II of the first production batch as shown by the lack of a fixed gun for the pilot and the rounded rollover cage.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

An early production Roland C.II shows its clean lines. April 25, 1916.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A curious Roland C.II reconnaissance and escort two-seater biplane of 1916-17, with pilot and passenger above the upper plane. It will be noted that the "single strut" idea is not new in Germany. The engine is a 160 h.p. Mercedes D.III. Its body arrangement recalls Mr. R.F.Macfie's design of 1911.
This streamlined early-production C.II made a good subject for a photo that was made into the Sanke card at left.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

This early-production Roland C.II has been painted with a number of dark (black?) circles for identification.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

An early production Roland C.II with armament supplemented by a captured Lewis on an improvised mount.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

This early-production C.II of Lt. Rudolf Windisch of Feldflieger-Abteilung 62 has unit-applied colors painted on the fuselage, upper surfaces, and interplane struts for camouflage.
Сайт - Pilots-and-planes /WWW/

Roland C.II of Staffel 6 at Mont airdrome
Сайт - Pilots-and-planes /WWW/

Roland C.II of Staffel 6 at Mont airdrome
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

This early-production C.II has a dark (black?) band around the fuselage and on the fin for identification. A rack under the observer's window carries signal flares.The Roland C.II was a very photogenic airplane compared to its peers and represented a significant performance increase.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

This early-production Roland C.II shows the clean lines of this break-through design. Eyes and mouth have been painted on to emphasize the Walfisch design's resemblence to a fish. Unlike the prototypes, the early production aircraft had their aileron cables routed through the lower wing, then rising upward externally to move the ailerons. The streamlined 'ocarina' exhaust was a distinctive feature of many C.II aircraft.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Perhaps in training service, this C.II has its propeller and engine covered by canvas for protection.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The striking Roland C.II was a favorite backdrop for photos.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A Roland C.II of Flieger-Abteilung 62 with shark mouth is photographed with its flight crew in the center (Oblt. Maximilian von Cossel at left, and to his left, Vzfw. Rudolf Windisch) flanked by its ground crew on the Eastern Front.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

This early-production C.II is being readied for flight. Wooden planks prevented getting bogged down in mud.
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C.II early production model.
M.Dusing - German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 /Centennial Perspective/ (84)

Roland C.IIa "Walfisch" (1916)
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The streamlined C.II was a notable advance over contemporary two-seaters. The care taken to minimize drag gave it a speed 30 km/h (19 mph) faster than other German two-seaters when it reached the front.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The LFG Roland C II of exceptionally clean appearance made its debut in October 1915 and stayed in front-line service until the autumn of 1917. Powered by a 160hp Mercedes D II, the C II's top level speed was 103mph at sea level. Thanks to its relatively short span, low aspect ratio wings, its high altitude performance was limited to a modest ceiling of 13,100 feet. This said, it should be noted that the RFC ace, Albert Ball cites this machine as being the best of the German two seaters with very effective fields of fire to the front and to the rear. This is an early production example, serving with Fl Abt A 227 at Lille in the autumn of 1916. The crew members are Lt Stuhldreer, pilot, sitting on the inboard upper wing, along with Lt Allmenroder, observer, astride the port wheel.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Portrait of an early-production C.II aircraft with the flight crew, Oblt. Maximilian von Cossel at left, and Vzfw. Rudolf Windisch second from left, either just before or after their famous raid on a Russian railway line.The ground crew is on the right.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II aircraft of the first Roland production batch.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Kasta 8 of Kagohl 2 lineup with early-production C.II aircraft on the right and other aircraft on the left.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Another photo of the early-production C.II aircraft of Kasta 8 of Kagohl 2. The C.II in the center of the lineup appears to be the aircraft with black circles shown on page 22.
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Roland C.II on March 10, 1916.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

An aircrew is photographed with their early-production Roland C.II.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Another photo of early-production C.II Meerkatze, which means a green or long-tail monkey.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Early-production Roland C.II Meerkatze of Feldflieger-Abteilung 18; some observers preferred a Lewis machine gun to the heavier Parabellum.
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Groschler and Patheiger of Feldflieger-Abteilung (A) 213
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

This early-production Roland C.II of FEA 6 was flown by Lt. Konrad von Bulow and Oblt. Tamm. The windows in the fuselage allowed more light into the cockpits and could also be used as emergency escape hatches in case the aircraft turned upside down from a bad landing or being shot down.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Lt. Otto Czermack's Roland C.II was from the first production batch and lacked a synchronized gun for the pilot. Subsequently a fixed machine gun was mounted to fire above the propeller arc on a crude mount.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The Roland C.II flown by Otto Czernak was equipped with an interesting instrument in the cockpits that enabled the observer to send directions to the pilot.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Lt. Otto Czermack's modified Roland C.II in the snow. A fixed machine gun for the pilot has been added on a crude mount, apparently to fire over the propeller arc, to compensate for the missing pilot's gun installed on later production aircraft.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The Roland C.II arrived at the front when the comparatively primitive Fokker Eindeckers were still the leading German fighters. This early production C.II lacked a fixed, synchronized gun for the pilot so was not yet a two-seat fighter, but it was faster than the Eindeckers. There is a great contrast in production technology between the two aircraft.

Другие самолёты на фотографии: Fokker E.I / E.II / E.III / M.14 - Германия - 1914
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Hptm. Eduard Ritter von Schleich in his Roland C.II.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The Roland C.II aircraft assigned to Hptm. Eduard Ritter von Schleich of Schusta 28 attracts a crowd. New aircraft types always draw the curious, and the radically-streamlined Roland C.II was especially popular, gaining a reputation much larger than its small numbers at the front would indicate.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Hauptmann Eduard von Schleich in his early-production Roland C.II prepares for flight on a snow-covered airfield with the obligatory dog in the foreground.
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Hptm. Eduard Ritter von Schleich in his Roland C.II.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Hptm. Eduard Ritter von Schleich's Roland C.II.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Hptm. Eduard Ritter von Schleich's Roland C.II in the snow.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The Roland C.II aircraft assigned to Hptm. Eduard Ritter von Schleich and others of Schusta 28. The markings of the aircraft are distinctive, as is the fish on the upper left wing in place of an anemometer. An aircraft from the first production batch, it has the early turn-over pylon and no gun for the pilot.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Hptm. Eduard Ritter von Schleich's Roland C.II was from the first production batch and lacked a synchronized gun for the pilot.
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Roland C.II 1615/16
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Roland C.II 1615/16
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II C.1624/16 of the third production batch in embarrassing circumstances. Although Idflieg required serial numbers be painted on the aircraft, Roland-built C.II aircraft are notable for not displaying their serial numbers.
J.Herris - Development of German Warplanes in WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (1)

The streamlined Roland C.II was, in early 1916, the best German warplane at the front. It was much faster than contemporary C-types from other manufacturers and once the pilot was provided with a synchronized gun, it was sometimes used as a two-seat fighters, presaging the CL-types.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The Roland C.II “Walfisch” immediately caught the imagination and creativity of those who flew it. Many photos show fish lips or shark mouths and eyes painted on, as well as scales, or curtains painted over the windows. The crew of this C.II chose a flashy, striped finish showing they weren’t hiding from the enemy.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The LFG Roland C.II was a break-through design for Roland. The exceptional streamlining for the time - it entered service in March 1916 - was developed in conjunction with wind-tunnel testing and full-size testing on a high-speed train. To reduce drag the upper wing was built directly into the fuselage without benefit of cabane struts. The C.II was the smallest, fastest German two-seater when it reached the front, and was faster than most Allied fighters. Initially armed with a single flexible gun for the observer, the second and subsequent production batches included a fixed, synchronized gun for the pilot as shown above. The speed of the C.II coupled with its effective armament made it the first German two-seater that was effective as a two-seat fighter. The relatively high-performance C.II proved a handful for many service pilots and its maneuverability and flying qualities were mediocre.The narrow gap between the wings resulted in airflow interference between them, reducing lift and increasing drag. The view upward was excellent but the view downward and forward was limited, a problem that contributed to numerous landing accidents. Lt. Seitz was the pilot of this C.II.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The mid-production Roland C.II carries the light, single-color scheme originally used in production.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)
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Roland C.II of Flieger-Abteilung 7.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The mid-production Roland C.II's shown carry the light, single-color scheme originally used in production.
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Roland C.IIa(Li) 1859/16 crashed at the Bayerische Flieger Schule 5.
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Roland C.IIa(Li) 1859/16 crashed at the Bayerische Flieger Schule 5.
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Leutnant Hans Joachim von Hippel's Roland C.IIa(Li) 3645/16 trainer.
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Leutnant Hans Joachim von Hippel's Roland C.IIa(Li) 3645/16 trainer.
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Fokker D.II 1533/16 and a Roland C.II 3652/16 share a hangar.

Другие самолёты на фотографии: Fokker D.II / M.17 - Германия - 1916
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Roland C.IIa(Li) 3654/16.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

This closeup of the mid-production C.II shown in full on page 17 shows the armament details. The observer's window has been modified to open by sliding it aft. Lt. Seitz was the pilot.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The aircrew of this mid-production C.II have retained their sense of humor at the front and decorated their aircraft to suit themselves.
Сайт - Pilots-and-planes /WWW/
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Mid-production Roland C.II. The Roland C.II was by far the most famous and significant Roland design. Not only is it the only well-known Roland design, for a time it was the best German aircraft at the front. Its innovative streamlining immediately made other two-seaters obsolete and its patented fuselage structure was used by Pfalz (under license) for all new Pfalz aircraft designed from the time Pfalz built Roland fighters under license.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A Roland C.II of the third production version with standard tail and factory camouflage and markings for mid-production. July 1916.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.IIa(Li) fitted with bomb racks.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A mid-production C.II in the snow displays its dark camouflage. Unfortunately, the unit and crewmen are unknown.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Later production C.II with fixed gun for the pilot and bomb racks under the center section.
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J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A camouflaged Roland C.II of Flieger-Abteilung 62 with tactical number '7' painted on its fin and a shark mouth.
O.Thetford, P.Gray - German Aircraft of the First World War /Putnam/

A well-decorated L.F.G. Roland C IIa.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

An elephant and a “whale” appear together in this photo. Hagenbeck’s Tierpark (zoo) traveled the country visiting various aviation units and schools, including the Fliegerschule at Thorn where this photo was taken to commemorate a good will visit by the animals to the student pilots and observers stationed there.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A Roland C.II and a visiting elephant from Hagenbeck's Tierpark in Hamburg during a visit to the Flieger-Beobachterschule Thorn on 17 August 1917. Hagenbeck's Tierpark (Zoo) was world famous and would tour units for morale purposes with some of their animals.
J.Herris - Weird Wings of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (70)

The Roland C.II had a fish-shaped fuselage for streamlining with oval cross section, making it faster than its competitors, due to its better streamlining. This late-production C.IIa had a larger rudder and a synchronized gun for the pilot, who sat in front. When it arrived at the front it was one of the fastest aircraft and, when fitted with a synchronized gun, served as a two-seat fighter in addition to reconnaissance airplane. A single-bay design, its I-struts reduced drag.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II with Lt. Boes in the observer's cockpit and Oblt. Dostler at right. Lt. Boes is complaining to the Waffenmeister Lademacher at left about gun stoppage problems.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

This view of a Roland C.IIa(Li) shows the two-color Linke-Hoffman factory camouflage scheme applied to these aircraft.The light-colored rudder and fin are either white or light blue, a signature of C.II aircraft built by Linke-Hoffman.
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Linke-Hoffmann built Roland C.IIa(Li)
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

This Roland C.IIa(Li) is ready for its next mission. The light-colored fin and rudder on a camouflaged aircraft indicates it was built by Linke-Hoffman, who built only the C.IIa version.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II aircraft of Kampfstaffel 36 wear the unit's chevron marking over their factory camouflage.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Mid-production Roland C.II in flight.
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Later production aircraft had the two-color factory camouflage scheme like the C.IIa shown here.
J.Herris - LVG Aircraft of WWI. Volume 2: Types C.II-C.V /Centennial Perspective/ (35)

German two-seater units often had a variety of different aircraft types for different missions, and FAA 292b's aircraft line up is shown here. From left to right the aircraft are AEG C.IV, Roland C.II, LVG C.IV, another Roland C.II, a DFW C.V, and an Albatros C.V. This photo was taken at the same time as the other FAA 292b photos above. (Bruno Schmaling)

Другие самолёты на фотографии: AEG C.IV/C.IVA/C.V/C.VI - Германия - 1916 Albatros C.V - Германия - 1916 DFW C.V - Германия - 1916 LVG C.IV - Германия - 1916
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A portrait of Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 292 (Artillery cooperation aviation unit 292) with two Roland C.II aircraft in the lineup behind the aircrew. The aircraft on the left is an AEG C.IV, and in the center is an LVG C.IV. Like the Roland C.II, the AEG C.IV used the 160 hp Mercedes D.III.The LVG used the rare 220 hp Mercedes D.IV engine, an 8-cylinder engine created by adding two more cylinders to the 6-cylinder Mercedes D.III. Most German two-seater units were equipped with a variety of types optimized for the different roles they performed.

Другие самолёты на фотографии: AEG C.IV/C.IVA/C.V/C.VI - Германия - 1916 LVG C.IV - Германия - 1916
M.Dusing - German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 /Centennial Perspective/ (84)

LVG C.IV with Daimler geared D.IV (8 cylinder in-line engine) and wooden propeller from Gebr. Niendorf GmbH; right: LFG Roland C.IIa Walfisch.
Oblt. Franz Hailer (center, hands on hips) with aircrew posing in front of an LVG C.IV at left (with late-production exhaust pipe) and Roland C.II at right. Hailer was the CO of FFA 9b (from 30 May 1915 to 21 June 1916), but this photo probably shows him as CO of FA(A) 292b in May 1917.

Другие самолёты на фотографии: LVG C.IV - Германия - 1916
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.IIa aircraft of a Kampfstaffel are lined up. The nearest aircraft has a shark mouth painted on it. The tactical numbers are painted on the vertical fins, and some aircraft have bomb racks. Aircraft "3" through "6" in the lineup have the large tail from the last C.II production batch built by Roland.
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Roland C.IIa Staffel.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.IIa aircraft of a Kampfstaffel are lined up. The nearest aircraft has a shark mouth painted on it. The tactical numbers are painted on the vertical fins, and some aircraft have bomb racks. Aircraft "3" through "6" in the lineup have the large tail from the last C.II production batch built by Roland.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Large-tail Roland C.IIa 2701/16 of Feldflieger-Abteilung (A) 292b in the spring of 1917 at Houplin airfield in northern France. It has had the aft fuselage repaired; external stringers for additional strength have been added to the aft fuselage. The pilot is Lt. Otto Fuchs, who later became a fighter pilot and served with Jastas 30, 35b, and 77b. The observer is his brother Lt.d.R. Rudolf Fuchs, who later became a fighter pilot who served with Jastas 77b and 35b.
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Курсовой пулемет был установлен между трубами предохранительной пирамиды, возвышаясь над фюзеляжем, а на ее верхушке крепилось зеркало заднего вида.
This closeup of a camouflaged, mid-production C.II 2731/16 shows the crew and armament. The observer has signal flares mounted in a rack aft of his window and the pilot has a rear-view mirror mounted on the turnover pylon.
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Roland C.IIa 2828/16
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A large-tail Roland C.IIa of the last Roland production batch with tactical number '3'.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.IIa from the final Roland production batch with the large fin needed for greater stability. It is camouflaged and the pilot's machine gun has been raised well above the normal position.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A large-tail Roland C.IIa of the last Roland production batch.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A camouflaged Roland C.II in flight.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Transporting a Roland C.IIa to the front by truck from Charlottenburg on November 28, 1916.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A dismantled mid-production Roland C.II gets a ride to its next airfield.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A Roland C.II is dismantled for transportation. Moving aircraft by train was very common during WWI because it was more reliable than flying the airplanes to their destination.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Four mid-production C.II aircraft dismantled for transportation. The fixed machine gun for the pilot was fitted to all but the first production batch and required the rollover structure to be redesigned. The ear radiators, clearly visible here, detracted from the streamlined fuselage lines.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland D.I and late (large fin) C.IIa airframes being built on November 8, 1916 in the Kaiserdamm factory.

Другие самолёты на фотографии: LFG Roland D.I - Германия - 1916
M.Dusing - German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 /Centennial Perspective/ (84)

Two Rol D.I and C.IIa in the production hall in Charlottenburg (former airship hangar).

Другие самолёты на фотографии: LFG Roland D.I - Германия - 1916
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The final Roland production batch of large-tail C.II aircraft under construction at the Kaiserdamm factory.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Completed Roland C.II aircraft in front of the LFG factory ready for delivery.
M.Dusing - German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 /Centennial Perspective/ (84)

Rol C.II muffler, ear radiator, propeller spinner.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The nose of the Roland C.II was very streamlined. Even the exhaust manifold was streamlined. Because the crewmen's heads extended above the wing, the pilot had a turn-over struture for protection.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The Roland C.II featured a simple, low-drag landing gear.
M.Dusing - German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 /Centennial Perspective/ (84)

Fuselage structure of the Roland C.II "Whale", 1915/16.
The simple wood frame of the Roland C.II was covered by a streamlined, two-part Wickelrumpf shell.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The streamlined interplane strut had internal 'X' bracing connecting the two spars in both wings.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A virtually unknown Roland private venture design of 1915 is this rotary-engine aircraft similar in concept to the C.II. No details are known, not even if it had one or two seats.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The Roland C.II flown by Otto Czernak was equipped with an interesting instrument in the cockpits that enabled the observer to send directions to the pilot. The pilot's receiver is shown behind the control wheel
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

The Roland C.II flown by Otto Czernak was equipped with an interesting instrument in the cockpits that enabled the observer to send directions to the pilot. Here is a closeup of the sender in the observer's cockpit. The German text and apparent meanings are: Pumpen - Pump (the elevators up and down?), text obscured by arrow, Feind - Enemy, Gleitflug - Glide or cruise slowly, Gut - Good (apparently sent when the pilot was following directions), Links - To the left, Hafen - Head for home, Rechts - To the right, Druckn - Dive.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Wireless installation in the front of the observer's cockpit of a Roland C.II.

J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Flairing for landing too high above ground was not the only way to have a landing accident; this Roland C.II ended its career landing in a canal.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Yet another Roland C.II pilot has misjudged his landing. This is graphic evidence of the absolute need for the rollover pylon to protect the crew in case of an accident, although one wonders if the observer survived.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Still more Roland C.II landing fun.
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Roland C.II of Feldflieger Abteilung (A) 292b
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

More Roland C.II landing fun, this time an aircraft of Schusta 6.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Although many WWI aircraft were destroyed in bad landings, the Roland C.II was notorious for being difficult to land due to the poor field of view forward and downward. This early-production C.II of FeldfliegerAbteilung 292b wrecked in a landing accident on April 22, 1916 shows its underside details. The two holes are for the camera and bombs. Although mechanical parts like the engine and machine guns could often be salvaged from a wreck, if the engine was running when the aircraft was wrecked, as evident here by the shattered propeller blades, the crankshaft was typically broken during impact.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Another view of the same Roland C.II landing accident.
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Roland C.II of Feldflieger Abteilung (A) 292b
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

An example of why transportation by train was often preferred; a Roland C.II of Bavarian Kampfstaffel 36 has come to grief in during landing. A shark mouth and eye have been painted on the nose and the wheel covers have been quartered, perhaps in Bavarian blue and white. The light interplane strut and lack of a distinct camouflage pattern indicate the dark camouflage may have been applied at the unit.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.IIa of Schutzstaffel 27 crashed May 27, 1917. This aircraft is from the final Roland production batch and finally has the large fin needed for greater stability, something the aircraft needed from the beginning. It is camouflaged and has a chevron in front of the fuselage cross; the numeral '1' is in front of the chevron.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

A Roland C.II wrecked in a landing accident was hardly a rare event; however, this photo is included to show the interesting fish scales painted on the fuselage. The windows could be used as emergency exits when needed.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Closeup of yet another Roland C.II landing debacle showing the need for the rollover pylon.
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Taxi accidents are more likely when aircraft have no brakes, and most WWI aircraft lacked brakes.

Журнал - Flight за 1917 г.

The Roland two-seater.
O.Thetford, P.Gray - German Aircraft of the First World War /Putnam/
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II
J.Herris - Roland Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (9)

Roland C.II
В.Кондратьев - Самолеты первой мировой войны

"Роланд" C-II

Фотографии