Gotha Ursinus G.I
| Gotha G.I | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Bomber |
| Manufacturer | Gotha |
| Designer | Oskar Ursinus and Friedel |
| First flight | 30 Jan 1915 [1] |
| Introduction | July 1915 [2] |
| Primary user |  Germany
|
| Number built | 18 + prototype |
| Variants | Gotha WD.4 (UWD) |
| Wingspan | 20.3 m (66 ft 6 in) [3][4][5] |
| Engine | 2×160hp Mercedes D.III inlines or 2×150hp Benz Bz.III inlines [note 1] |
| Armament | 1-2 flexible Parabellum 250–350 kg (550–770 lb) of bombs[6][7][note 2] |
| Crew | 2-3[8][4] |
| Max Speed | 119 km/h (74 mph)[3] - 130 km/h (81 mph)[6][4][5] |
| Climb | 2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 47:00[5] |
| Ceiling | 2,700 m (8,860 ft)[4]-2,750 m (9,020 ft)[6][3] |
| Range | 540 km (335 mi) [3] |
| Endurance | 4:00 [6][4] |
The Gotha G.I started life as the Friedel-Ursinus B.1092/14, a concept for a highly armed "aerial cruiser". They were found to be too slow to be of any use as a battleplane, so they found new life as bombers. Ordered in three batches of six, the last delivered in March 1916. Only the last batch had two machine guns (and gunners), the rest carried only one gunner and the pilot. [9]
200 kg (440 lb) of armor protected the crew and engines in the prototype (B.1092/14). Though the high fuselage gave superb upwards vision and the close-mounted engine design maintained flight even with one engine out, it was difficult to land and found dangerous to the crew in case of a nose-over. The prototype saw trials on the Eastern Front (Germany's first twin-engine bomber) and it was found useful enough to lead to a small production run with Gotha.[10]
The original designs were modified by Ing. Burkhard of Gotha. The armor was moved to the load-bearing structure (and eventually eliminated). The first factory unit was finished in July 1915, and a set of them were built through the end of 1915. They were used in the latter part of 1915 and early 1916, with the last of them retiring in autumn 1916.[10]
For more information, see Wikipedia:Gotha G.I.
Timeline
Game Data
Wings of Glory
| Availability | Maneuver | Damage | Dmg Points | Max Alt. | Climb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15Q3-16Q4 | XB | (S) | 15 | 7 | 8 |
Plane and Crew Cards
Miniatures and Models
1:144 Scale
- Shapeways
- B.1092/14: Columbia Aerodrome
- with bombs: Columbia Aerodrome
- Production: Columbia Aerodrome
- Resin Kit: Sram 144/026 (company defunct)
1:200 Scale
- Shapeways: Columbia Aerodrome
References
- Notes
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Peter Gray and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. Great Britain, Putnam, 1962, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
- Peter M. Grosz, Profile Publications 115: The Gotha GI-GV. Great Britain: Profile Publications, Ltd., 1966.
- Jack Herris, Gotha Aircraft of WWI. USA, Aeronaut Books, 2013. ISBN 978-1-935881-14-8
- Jack Herris, German G-Type Bombers of WWI. Aeronaut Books, 2014. ISBN 978-1-935881-26-1.
- W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Reconnaissance & Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Ltd., 1962. ISBN 9780900435027