O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)
Gotha Ursinus G.U.H. G I and U.W.D.
This unique aeroplane, to the design of Oskar Ursinus (editor of Flugsport), was built by Gothaer Waggonfabrik A.G., in both land and seaplane versions. The landplane first flew on 27th July 1915 and the seaplane early in 1916. Several of the former version were constructed and designated G I. A crew of three was carried, and the gunner in the front cockpit had an unparalleled field of fire. The idea of raising the fuselage was to enable the engines to be placed as close together as possible - airscrew tips almost touching - in order to retain a good degree of control in asymmetric flight should failure of either engine occur. In both types "handed" airscrews were employed.
Only a single seaplane (No. 120) was built, and was ultimately used as a school machine for torpedo crews.
Engines, two 160 h.p. Mercedes D III. Span, 20.3 m. (66 ft. 7 1/4 in.). Length, 14.2 m. (46 ft. 7 1/8 in.). Area, 82 sq.m. (885.6 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 1,940 kg. (4,268 lb.). Loaded, 2,830 kg. (6,849 lb.). Speed 138 km.hr. (86.125 m.p.h.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 8 min. (U.W.D Seaplane data.)
Armament, two Parabellum machine-guns, both types.
J.Herris Gotha Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 6)
Gotha WD4 (UWD)
The Gotha WD4, more commonly known as the UWD (for Ursinus Wasser Doppeldecker = Ursinus Water Biplane), had an interesting history. It was a floatplane derivative of the Gotha G.I bomber, which was actually designed by Oskar Ursinus, a civil engineer who was founder and editor of Flugsport magazine and not employed by Gotha. After a prototype was built, Gotha built additional aircraft as the Gotha G.I (which see).
On 14 April 1915, only two weeks after the first order for the Gotha G.I Kampfflugzeug was received, the Navy ordered a floatplane version, the UWD, for combat evaluation. Powered by two 160 hp Mercedes D.III engines, the UWD was delivered to the SVK (Seeflugzeug Versuchs Kommando = Seaplane Testing Command) on 30 December 1915. Flight testing began on 5 January 1916 and the UWD was accepted on 6 February.
Assigned Marine Number 120, the UWD arrived at Zeebrugge on 18 February 1916. It was easy to fly and had an endurance of at least 4.5 hours, enabling it to undertake long-range scouting and bombing missions. Nose-overs were not a problem like they were with the G.I landplane version.
The UWD's configuration had advantages; the observer(s) had a clear view and field of fire forward, free of propeller turbulence and exhaust fumes, and the closely-spaced engines minimized asymmetric thrust in case of an engine failure. Starting 10 March 1916 the UWD made several bombing raids along the English coast until it was damaged on 10 July while taxiing for take-off. It was struck from inventory by the Navy on 2 October 1916.
Gotha WD4 / UWD Specifications
Engines: 2 x 160 hp Mercedes D.III
Wing: Span Upper 20.10 m
Span Lower 19.00 m
Chord (Upper &. Lower) 2.20 m
Gap 2.00 m
Sweepback 10 degrees
Area 82 m2
General: Length 14.20 m
Height 4.40 m
Empty Weight 1940 kg
Loaded Weight 2552 kg
Maximum Speed: 138 km/h
Climb: 1000m 8.5 min
2000m 20.5 min
3000m 45 min
Service Ceiling: 4000 m
Gotha Seaplane Production Summary
Type Ordered Marine Numbers Remarks
WD4 1 120 Ursinus design, also known as UWD
M.Dusing German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 84)
Gothaer Waggonfabrik A.-G., Gotha (Go)
Aircraft Development:
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WD7 and UWD represented the first large aircraft ordered by the Navy. Type UWD, also a biplane with fuselage arrangement between the upper wings. As a result of this design, the two 160 hp Daimler engines could be moved together almost to the point where the airscrew circuits touched.
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O.Thetford, P.Gray - German Aircraft of the First World War /Putnam/
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Gotha Ursinus U.W.D.
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Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919 /Jane's/
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The Ursinus GUH G.I. Hydro-Aeroplane at rest.
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M.Dusing - German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 /Centennial Perspective/ (84)
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Gotha WD4 (UWD), Ursinus-Wasser-DD (1916)
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
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The Gotha UWD attracted a crowd during its sea trials in February 1916. So many people rode in it that it was nicknamed the "Trojan Horse".
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
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The Gotha UWD resting on a beaching dolly before the bomb-dropping fairing was added.
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H.Cowin - Aviation Pioneers /Osprey/
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The Naval Air Service's sole Gotha WD-4, 120. This three seat bomber owed much to the earlier Gotha G I built for the Army. First flown on 26 January 1916, the WD-4 typifies the seemingly haphazard procurement policy of the navy towards the purchase of aeroplanes for most of the war. Instead of buying a few types of aircraft and engines to meet their mission requirements, the navy bought a large variety of aeroplanes and engines in often very small quantities, making the maintenance crews' and supply people's lives a nightmare. Few performance details survive for the WD-4 other than that it had two 160hp Mercedes D III, giving it atop level speed of 85.5mph. Used spasmodically during 1916, the Zeebrugge-based WD-4, accompanied by five other seaplanes, was reported to have raided several ports in the south east of England, on 19 March 1916, ranging from Dover to Margate.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
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The Gotha UWD in flight displays its distinctive lines and the clear field of fire for its gunners, especially the nose gunner. The second gunner sat in the middle with the pilot aft as a result of its 'battle-plane' heritage from the Gotha G.I. Only one Gotha Ursinus seaplane was used by the Navy, being allocated number 120. It is shown on 19 March 1916 on one of its operational flights, when in company with five other seaplanes from Zeebrugge it dropped bombs on Dover, Deal, Ramsgate and Margate, causing 14 fatalities among the civilian population.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
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The Gotha UWD shows more of its distinctive profile in this dramatic image. Interestingly, the Iron Cross national insignia was painted on a white background on the tops and undersides of both wings and both sides of the rudders. The protrusion below the nose was a fairing for dropping bombs added after the UWD was built.
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M.Dusing - German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 2 /Centennial Perspective/ (85)
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The Gotha UWD at the factory prior to shipment to the SVK at Warnemunde on 30 December 1915. The Gotha UWD (WD4, Navy No.120) was also equipped with Integral propellers in 1916.
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M.Dusing - German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 /Centennial Perspective/ (84)
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Cover of the magazine "Motor", issue Jan./Feb. 1918.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
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The SVK drawing of the UWD.
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
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Gotha UWD
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J.Herris - Gotha Aircraft of WWI /Centennial Perspective/ (6)
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Gotha UWD
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