Gotha G.III

From Wings of Linen
Gotha G.III
File:Gotg3.jpg
Role Bomber
Manufacturer Gotha
Introduction May 1917 [1]
Primary user Germany
Number built 25 [2]
Wingspan 23.7 m (77 ft 10 in) [3][4][5]
Engine 2×260hp Mercedes D.IVa inlines
Armament flexible front Parabellum and
flexible rear Parabellum + rear ventral MG
450 kg (1,000 lb)[3]-1,235 kg (2,700 lb)[2] of bombs
Crew 3 [4]
Max Speed 135 km/h (84 mph)[4] - 140 km/h (87 mph)[5] - 148 km/h (92 mph) [6]
Climb 3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 28:00[6]
4,000 m (13,100 ft) in 41:00[6]
Range 700 km (430 mi)[5]
Endurance 3:45[4]-7:00[1]

The greatest limitation of the Gotha G.II -- unreliable engines -- was corrected in the Gotha G.III. Two 260hp Mercedes D.IVa engines powered the G.III. They were delivered between 15 Oct 1916 and March 1917 and served with KG2[2]

The G.III had a separate lower-ventral MG (firing through a hole in the fuselage floor) and the downward tunnel first appeared in the G.IV.[7][5] Beyond the change to the more available and reliable engine, the fin and rudder were modified for the G.III and the exhaust was routed to a cylindrical manifold.

For more information, see Wikipedia:Gotha G.III.

Timeline [note 1]

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Preliminary Stats
Availability Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb
16Q3-17Q3 XD B/B 26 11? 5

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

Resources

Orthographic Drawings

References

Notes
  1. German numbers are from bi-monthly Frontbestand records (Effective Frontline Strength).[8]
Citations
  1. 1.0 1.1 Lamberton, p.148.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Herris'13, p.110.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Lamberton, pp.222-223.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Grosz'66, p.16.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Herris'14, p.110.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Gray, p.411.
  7. Grosz'66, p.7.
  8. Grosz'85, p.60 and Grosz'86, p.66.
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, "Archiv -- Frontbestand". WW1 Aero, № 107, Dec 1985 and № 108, Feb 1986. Poughkeepsie, NY: World War I Aeroplanes, Inc.
  • 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