Hannover CL.III

The Hannover CL.III was a two-seat, single-bay biplane built by the Hannoversche Waggonfabrik during the First World War for the Imperial German Army's (Deutsches Heer) Imperial German Air Service (Luftstreitkräfte). It was a multi-role aircraft derived from the CL.II, used to escort reconnaissance aircraft and as a ground-attack machine. It entered service early in 1918.

Development

The CL.III (factory designation Typ 3b) was derived from the CL.II; its airframe was lightened and strengthened to improve performance and it was designed to use the water-cooled 160-horsepower (120 kW) Mercedes D.III straight-six engine rather than the 180-horsepower (130 kW) Argus As.III engine even though most D.III engines were reserved for fighters. In the event most aircraft used the readily available As.III engines. The Argus-engined variant was designated CL.IIIa. The aircraft had redesigned ailerons with aerodynamic balances that overhung the wingtips, a modification that provided greater manoeuvrability, especially at the low levels that it was expected to be operating at in its new ground-attack role as the Schutzstaffeln (escort squadrons) were reassigned as Schlachtstaffeln (battle squadrons). Like the other Hannover "light-C-class", or "CL" designated aircraft designed by Hermann Dorner, it included an unusual tail structure, with two horizontal stabilizers which allowed a wider field of fire for the observer. The CL.IIIb was an experimental aircraft that that was used to evaluate the 190-horsepower (140 kW) NAG C.III engine. After the war, a single CL.III was developed into the HaWa F.3, a limousine aircraft with seats for two passengers in an enclosed cabin where the gunner's cockpit had been.

== Variants == Hannover CL.III Powered by a Mercedes D.III engine. Hannover CL.IIIa CL III powered by an Argus As.III engine Hannover CL.IIIc Experimental model of the CL.III, with a two-bay wing. HaWa F.3 A post-war limousine conversion of CL.III aircraft, with a 2-seat limousine cabin behind the pilot's cockpit.

== Operators == German Empire Luftstreitkräfte Latvia (Postwar) Latvian Air Force – 2 CL.IIIa Poland Polish Air Force – 1 CL.IIIa (1919-1920) Soviet Union Soviet Air Force

Specifications (CL.IIIa)

Data from Hannover CL.III; Hannover Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes.General characteristics Crew: 2 Length: 7.58 m (24 ft 10 in) Upper wingspan: 11.7 m (38 ft 5 in) Lower wingspan: 11.02 m (36 ft 2 in) Height: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) Wing area: 32.7 m2 (352 sq ft) Empty weight: 760 kg (1,676 lb) Gross weight: 1,120 kg (2,469 lb) Powerplant: 1 × Argus As III water-cooled straight-six piston engine, 130 kW (180 hp) (CL.IIIa) or 1x 160 hp (120 kW) Mercedes D.III (CL.III) Performance

Maximum speed: 165 km/h (103 mph, 89 kn) Time to altitude: 3.2 minutes to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) 7.1 minutes to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) Armament

Guns: 2 × 7.92 mm (0.323 in); one synchronized LMG 08/15 machine gun firing forward, single ring-mounted Parabellum MG 14 in observer's cockpit Bombs: 4 × small bombs

See also

Related lists

List of military aircraft of Germany List of fighter aircraft

References

Bibliography

Gray, Peter & Thetford, Owen (1987) [1970]. German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-809-7. Grosz, Peter M. (1990). Hannover CL.III. Windsock Datafile. Vol. 23. Berkhampstead, UK: Albatros Publications. ISBN 0-948414-27-8. Klaauw, Bart van der (March–April 1999). "Unexpected Windfalls: Accidentally or Deliberately, More than 100 Aircraft 'Arrived' in Dutch Territory during the Great War". Air Enthusiast (80): 54–59. ISSN 0143-5450. Owers, Colin A. & Herris, Jack (2020). Hannover Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 43. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-84-1.