Brandenburg W.12

From Wings of Linen
Brandenburg W.12
Role Seaplane
Manufacturer Brandenburg
Designer Ernst Heinkel
First flight Jan 1917 [1]
Primary user Germany
Number built 145[2][3]-146 [1]
Wingspan 11.2 m (36 ft 8 in) [4][5]
Engine 150hp Benz Bz.III inline or
160hp Mercedes D.III inline
Armament 1-2×fixed, sync. LMG08/15[note 1] and
rear flexible Parabellum
Crew 2
Max Speed 160 km/h (100 mph)[6][7][4][8][5]
Climb 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 7:00[6]-8:00[4]
2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 18:54[6]-20:00[4]
3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 38:00[4]
Ceiling 5,000 m (16,400 ft)[6][7][5]
Endurance 3:30 [6][7][4][5]

The Brandenburg W.12 was a top-notch seaplane for its time, combining excellent firing arcs with good maneuverability and speed. The wings were strengthened and made single-bay only to dispense with inter-wing bracing and to allow the gunner to fire to the forward arc. The downward-facing rudder increased the gunner's field of fire while adding to controllability while taxiing. Later models featured four ailerons, contributing to its agility.

Two Coastal-class airships were destroyed by the efforts of Christiansen flying the W.12: C27 shot down in flames on 11 Dec 1917 and C26 after taking damage crashed in Holland.[2]

Deliveries started in April 1917 and finished in March 1918.[3] From Feb-June 1918 some seventy or so -- a little less than half of the full production, were built with twin fixed forward guns rather than a single one.[2]

For more information, see Wikipedia:Hansa-Brandenburg W.12.

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Unofficial Stats
Availability Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb
16Q4-18Q2 K A/B 15 11 6

Plane and Crew Cards

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

1:350 Scale

References

Notes
  1. Twin forward guns on about half of the W.12s[2].
Citations
  1. 1.0 1.1 Gray, p.68.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Nowarra, pp.204-205.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Angelucci, p.97.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Lamberton, pp.218-219.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Angelucci, p.89.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Gray, p.70.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Munson, p.93.
  8. Nowarra, p.74.
Bibliography
  • Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. New York: The Military Press, 1983 edition. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
  • Peter Gray and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. Great Britain, Putnam, 1962, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
  • W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1960.
  • Kenneth Munson, Fighters 1914-19, Attack and Training Aircraft. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1976. ISBN 0713707607
  • Heinz J. Nowarra, Bruce Robertson, and Peter G. Cooksley. Marine Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Letchworth, Herts, England: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1966. ISBN 0900435070