Zeppelin-Staaken R.XV

From Wings of Linen
Zeppelin-Staaken R.XV
Role Bomber
Manufacturer Zeppelin-Staaken
First flight 25 July 1918[1]
Introduction 1918
Primary user Germany
Number built 3 [2]
Wingspan 42.0 m (137 ft 8 in)[3]-42.2 m (138 ft 5 in)[4]
Engine 5×245hp Maybach Mb.IVs[4]
Armament 5-6 MGs [5]
2,000 kg (4,500 lb)[3] of bombs
Max Speed 130 km/h (81 mph)[6]
Climb 3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 70:00[5]

The three Zeppelin-Staaken R.XV Riesenflugzeug (Giant Aeroplanes) were probably too late to see operational service. Their serial numbers were R.46-R.48/17.[4] Since the engines were mounted in tandem in a push-pull arrangement, the gunners were placed in the fuselage rather than the rear of the engine nacelles.

They were very similar to the Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIVs. R.46/17 was delivered in August 1918 and the other two were accepted on 1 September 1918, and at least two of the aircraft saw active service on the Western Front.[1]

For more information, see Wikipedia:Zeppelin-Staaken R.XV.

Timeline

References

Citations
  1. 1.0 1.1 Haddow'69, pp.273-274.
  2. Munson, p.158.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Lamberton, pp.226-227.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Haddow'69, p.67.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Gray, p.585.
  6. Gray, p.587.
Bibliography
  • Peter Gray and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. Great Britain, Putnam, 1962, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
  • G.W. Haddow and Peter M. Grosz, The German Giants; The German R-Planes 1914-1918. New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 2nd Ed., 1969. ISBN 9780370000374
  • W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Reconnaissance & Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Ltd., 1962. ISBN 9780900435027
  • Kenneth Munson, Bombers: Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft, 1914-1919. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1968, Blandford Press Ltd. ISBN 978-0753721711