Hannover CL.III

The Hannover CL.III was a two-seat, single-bay biplane built by the Hannoversche Waggonfabrik during the First World War for the Imperial German Army's (Deutsches Heer) Imperial German Air Service (Luftstreitkräfte). It was a multi-role aircraft derived from the CL.II, used to escort reconnaissance aircraft and as a ground-attack machine. It entered service early in 1918.

CL.III
A German Hannover CL.III shot down by American machine gunners in the First World War.
General information
Type	Ground attack aircraft
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Hannoversche Waggonfabrik
Designer	Hermann Dorner
Primary user	Luftstreitkräfte
Number built	617
History
First flight	1917
Developed from	Hannover CL.II

Development

A crash-landed Hannover CL.III on the Western Front about September 1918

The CL.III (factory designation Typ 3b) was derived from the CL.II; its airframe was lightened and strengthened to improve performance and it was designed to use the water-cooled 160-horsepower (120 kW) Mercedes D.III straight-six engine rather than the 180-horsepower (130 kW) Argus As.III engine even though most D.III engines were reserved for fighters. In the event most aircraft used the readily available As.III engines. The Argus-engined variant was designated CL.IIIa. The aircraft had redesigned ailerons with aerodynamic balances that overhung the wingtips, a modification that provided greater manoeuvrability, especially at the low levels that it was expected to be operating at in its new ground-attack role as the Schutzstaffeln (escort squadrons) were reassigned as Schlachtstaffeln (battle squadrons). Like the other Hannover "light-C-class", or "CL" designated aircraft designed by Hermann Dorner, it included an unusual tail structure, with two horizontal stabilizers which allowed a wider field of fire for the observer.^[1][2][3]

The CL.IIIb was an experimental aircraft that that was used to evaluate the 190-horsepower (140 kW) NAG C.III engine. After the war, a single CL.III was developed into the HaWa F.3, a limousine aircraft with seats for two passengers in an enclosed cabin where the gunner's cockpit had been.^[4]

Variants

Hannover CL.III

Powered by a Mercedes D.III engine.

Hannover CL.IIIa

CL III powered by an Argus As.III engine

Hannover CL.IIIc

Experimental model of the CL.III, with a two-bay wing.

HaWa F.3

A post-war limousine conversion of CL.III aircraft, with a 2-seat limousine cabin behind the pilot's cockpit.

Operators

 German Empire

• Luftstreitkräfte

 Latvia (Postwar)

• Latvian Air Force – 2 CL.IIIa^[5]

 Poland

• Polish Air Force – 1 CL.IIIa (1919-1920)^[6]

 Soviet Union

• Soviet Air Force

Specifications (CL.IIIa)

Hannover CL.III Baubeschreibung drawing, required by IdFlieg submission regulations

Data from Hannover CL.III;^[7] Hannover Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes.^[8]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 7.58 m (24 ft 10 in)
• Upper wingspan: 11.7 m (38 ft 5 in)
• Lower wingspan: 11.02 m (36 ft 2 in)
• Height: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 32.7 m² (352 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 760 kg (1,676 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,120 kg (2,469 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Argus As III water-cooled straight-six piston engine, 130 kW (180 hp) (CL.IIIa)
  

or 1x 160 hp (120 kW) Mercedes D.III (CL.III)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 165 km/h (103 mph, 89 kn)
• Time to altitude: 3.2 minutes to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
• 7.1 minutes to 2,000 m (6,600 ft)

Armament

• Guns: 2 × 7.92 mm (0.323 in); one synchronized LMG 08/15 machine gun firing forward, single ring-mounted Parabellum MG 14 in observer's cockpit
• Bombs: 4 × small bombs

See also

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of Germany
• List of fighter aircraft