Hansa-Brandenburg GDW

GDW
Role Torpedo bomber
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Hansa-Brandenburg
First flight 1916
Primary user Imperial German Navy
Number built 1

The Hansa-Brandenburg GDW was a floatplane torpedo bomber built in Germany during World War I for the Imperial German Navy.

Design and development

Although similar to the Hansa-Brandenburg GW, it was larger and used Benz Bz.IV engines. Although a prototype was built in the second half of 1916, the German Navy lost interest in the slow-moving torpedo bomber idea, so the GDW did not enter production on order from German command.

Specifications (GDW)

Data from German Aircraft of the First World War[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3
  • Length: 15.8 m (51 ft 10 in)
  • Wingspan: 24.5 m (80 ft 5 in)
  • Height: 5 m (16 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 134 m2 (1,440 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 2,936 kg (6,473 lb)
  • Gross weight: 4,851 kg (10,695 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Benz Bz.IV 6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engine, 150 kW (200 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 130 km/h (81 mph, 70 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 105 km/h (65 mph, 57 kn)
  • Range: 750 km (470 mi, 400 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 19 minutes 30 seconds

Armament

  • Guns: 2 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine guns
  • Bombs: 1 × 1,825 kg (4,023 lb) torpedo

References

  1. ^ Gray, Peter; Thetford, Owen (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. p. 310. ISBN 0-370-00103-6.

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hansa-Brandenburg GDW.
  • Owers, Colin A. (2015). Hansa-Brandenburg Aircraft of WWI: Volume 2–Biplane Seaplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 18. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-32-2.
  • Schmeelke, Michael (2020). "Torpedo Los!": The German Imperial Torpedo-Flieger. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-953201-17-1.