Gotha G.IV
The Gotha G.IV was a heavy bomber built by the "Gothaer Waggonfabrik" (roughly 230 from 1916 to 1917) and used by the Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Air Service) during World War I. It was the first mass-produced relatively large airplane. All surviving Gotha aircraft were destroyed in accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The sole known exception was one Gotha G.IV in Polish possession.
Contents
History
The Gothaer Waggonfabrik had been building large aircraft since 1915, which were mainly used for long-range attacks in the strategic bombing squadrons of the Supreme Army Command. The Combat Wings of the Supreme Army Command (Kagohl) or Bomber Wings of the Supreme Army Command (Bogohl) were bomber units of the German Air Force that were set up for long-range operations during the First World War from 1915 onwards and were directly subordinate to the Supreme Army Command (OHL). They were among the first attempts to implement a strategic air war.
Designer Hans Burkhard developed the aircraft from the Gotha G.III. He had covered the fuselage with plywood; in the event of an emergency landing, this was intended to keep the aircraft afloat for a while. The fuselage was now fitted with a tunnel-like shaft that also allowed the gunner to fire downwards. On some aircraft, a fourth machine gun was mounted between the pilot and bombardier for an additional gunner. Burkhard had counteracted the G.III's lack of lateral stability during landing by attaching additional ailerons to the lower wings. However, the flight performance was hardly improved compared to the G.III.
In November 1916, Gotha received an initial order for 35 aircraft, which was increased to 50 in February 1917. The Inspectorate of the Air Force (IdFlieg) ordered a further 100 from the LVG and a further 80 aircraft from the Siemens-Schuckert works. IdFlieg ordered the licensed manufacturers to reinforce the fuselage even further. As this made the aircraft heavier and tail-heavy, LVG changed the wing spacing; Siemens-Schuckert attempted to take this into account with a number of changes; for example, a number of aircraft were built with engines with a pull propeller arrangement instead of pusher propellers. Siemens made a further modification with the pusher chassis, in which an additional pair of wheels was attached to the two chassis mounted under the engine nacelles.
When the last G.IVs were manufactured by LVG and Siemens-Schuckert, they were no longer suitable for front-line use. They were therefore fitted with less powerful Opel Argus As III or NAG C.III engines and, due to a lack of materials, partly with wooden wheels and used as training aircraft. Siemens now fitted the fuel tanks in the fuselage of the later Gotha G.V.
War service
The first Gotha G.IVs were delivered in March 1917 to the Combat Wing of the Supreme Army Command 1 (Kagohl 1), which was soon renamed Bomber Wing (Bogohl) 3 under Captain Ernst Brandenburg and became known as the "England Wing". From May 1917, its squadrons flew strategic day attacks on London and southern England as part of Operation "Turkish Cross" and from September 1917 night attacks, when, given the increased defensive measures and increasing losses, day missions were no longer possible. Additional tanks were later attached for long-distance missions. As a test, a 20 mm Becker cannon was also attached to one aircraft for use as an attack aircraft to attack ground targets.
From the Gotha G.IV series manufactured by LVG, 40 units were equipped with Austrian 230 hp Hiero engines and Schwarzlose machine guns and delivered to the Austro-Hungarian Air Force (kaiserliche und königliche Luftfahrtruppen) as k.u.k. type series 08. They were used from April 1918 during the Piave battles in Italy (with the Flik 101G, 102G and 103G). In October 1917, the G.IV reached its greatest front-line strength with 50 aircraft. Although it was gradually replaced by the more powerful Gotha G.V from September 1917, it remained in use until at least August 1918.
Specifications (early Gotha-built examples)
General characteristics
- Crew: 3 (pilot, nose gunner, dorsal gunner)
- Length: 12.2 m (40 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 23.7 m (77 ft 9 in)
- Height: 3.9 m (12 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 89.5 m2 (963 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 2,413 kg (5,320 lb)
- Gross weight: 3,648 kg (8,042 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Mercedes D.IVa , 193 kW (260 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 135 km/h (83 mph, 72 kn)
- Range: 810 km (506 mi, 440 nmi)
- Endurance: 6 hours
- Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,400 ft)
Armament
- 2 or 3 × 7.92 mm Parabellum LMG 14 MGs (machine guns)
- Up to 500 kg (1,100 lb) of bombs
Further reading
- Peter Michael Grosz: The Gotha GI−GV, in: „Aircraft Profile“, Nr. 115, 1966
- Gotha G.IV instructions (Archive)
