The Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 was a two-seat floatplane fighter seaplane design serving the German Empire through the final years of World War 1. The type first flew in early 1917 and entered service shortly thereafter, intending to improve on the base weaknesses of the previous KDW floatplane. Amazingly, the design withstood the test of time and saw future service with the Dutch Naval Air Service up until 1933 before being retired. Some 181 total examples were produced during the aircraft's tenure.
W.12 Origins
The W.12 maintained its origins in the Hansa-Brandenburg KDW floatplane fighter appearing in 1916. The type was also a design of Ernst Heinkel (his Heinkel firm to became well known in the upcoming World War 2) and some 60 examples were built in all. The KDW itself was a modified conversion form of the land-based Hansa-Brandenburg D.I. One of the major deficiencies in the KDW design lay in defense of the rear quarters. For this, Heinkel took reworked his design and implemented a rear cockpit for an observer machine gunner to help defend the airframe from enemy attacks emerging from the rear. While this gunner operated his machine gun along a trainable mount, special attention was given to provide for a better field of fire as well. This led to the relocation of the vertical tail fin from its dorsal placement to a ventral placement, giving the W.12 a wholly definitive and highly identifiable appearance while - at the same time - providing the rear gunner with an unfettered view of the action to his front and sides. After trials and evaluation, the W.12 entered service with the German Kaiserliche Marine in the middle of 1917.
Power for the W.12 was derived from a single Mercedes D.III series 6-cylinder inline piston engine delivering 160 horsepower. This provided for a maximum speed of 99 miles per hour with a service ceiling of 16,405 feet and a range of 3 hours and 30 minutes. When empty, the W.12 fielded a weight of 2,198kbs and a total of 3,206lbs when fully loaded. She maintained a wingspan of 36 feet, 9 inches with a height of 10 feet, 10 inches and a running length equal to 31 feet, 6 inches.
Armament
Standard armament centered around a combination of offensive and defensive machine guns. The pilot had access to LMG 08/15 series 7.92mm aircraft machine guns in a single or double arrangement. These were fixed, forward-firing systems operating through the spinning propeller by way of an interrupter gear (a key wartime development of Germany so the pilot would not shoot his own prop off). The rear observer/machine gunner had charge of a single (trainable) Parabellum MG14 series machine gun fitted to his cockpit ring. Combined, this arrangement gave the W.12 excellent fighter qualities when on the offensive and chasing down enemy targets while at the same time providing the crew a defensive measure from the rear.
The Dutch Take a Peek
The Netherlands received their first taste of the potential inherent in the German-designed W.12 when, in April of 1918, a single example was forced to make an emergency landing on Dutch territory (the Netherlands was a neutral player in the War at this point). Dutch officials subsequently captured the example and sent the type through an evaluation process to decipher its merits. After the war, the Dutch government purchased a license for local production of the W.12 and this took place under the Van Berkel firm of Rotterdam under the designation of "W-A". The major difference between the Dutch and German models was the use of a Benz engine. Approximately 35 Dutch examples were produced with aircraft service running into 1933.
Additional Notes
German Navy W.12 models were known under the designation of "C3MG". The type remained in frontline service until the middle of 1918, to which it was replaced by the larger and more successful Hansa-Brandenburg W.19.
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AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
MARITIME / NAVY
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
INTELLIGENCE-SURVEILLANCE-RECONNAISSANCE
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
31.5 ft (9.60 meters) Length
36.7 ft (11.20 meters) Width/Span
10.8 ft (3.30 meters) Height
2,198 lb (997 kilograms) Empty Weight
3,206 lb (1,454 kilograms) Maximum Take-Off Weight
+1,008 lb (+457 kg) Weight Difference
1 x Mercedes D.III 6-cylinder, inline piston engine developing 160 horsepower driving a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose. Propulsion
1 OR 2 x 7.92mm LMG 08/15 machine guns in fixed, forward-firing position.
1 x 7.92mm Parabellum MG14 machine gun in rear trainable cockpit position.
0 Hardpoints
W.12 - Base Production Model Designation serving the German Kaiserliche Marine (Navy); 146 examples produced.
W-A - License-produced W.12 models; fitted with Benz engine; 35 examples produced by the Netherlands.
C3MG - German Naval Designation
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