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Hannover CL.III

1917 WORLD WAR 1

Hannover CL. Three Stories

Also CL. During the First World War (1914-1918), from Hannoversche Waggonfabrik AG to the II of the German Squadron (detailed elsewhere on this page), the company was already developing a design called "CL. III". The engine of choice has been changed from the original Argus As.

The 180 hp III to the proven 160 hp Mercedes D. III water-cooled engine - a change that promises more power at high altitudes. In addition, several measures were taken to reduce the operating weight of the model, and various parts were strengthened or modified.

The resulting biplanes produced a total of 617 aircraft in the German Empire and were used by the Latvian state and the newly formed Soviet part in the post-war period.

This aircraft inherits the other established qualities of the CL. II, before it: wing elements of an unequal-span biplane (single cabin, parallel struts), tail-tow landing gear and tandem seats for two crew members (pilot in front, gunner/observer in back).

Armament increased from two 7.92mm machine guns (one front, one rear) to three machine guns: 2 x 7.92mm machine guns now mounted in the rear cockpit position.

Dimensions include a barrel length of 24.9 feet, a wingspan of 38.4 feet, and a height of 9 feet. The curb weight reaches 1,580 pounds and the MTOW is 2,400 pounds.

CL. The III was approved on February 23, 1918, and the Luftwaffe subsequently received an order for mass production of 200 aircraft, with first deliveries in March of that year. However, it turned out that the popular Mercedes D. III engine was in short supply, resulting in only 80 aircraft equipped with the engine in service - the rest were equipped with the original Argus As.

III with 180 hp, these entered service as "CL. IIIa". These engines are manufactured under license from Opel and are designated "As. III (O)" to indicate origin.

Using this engine, the aircraft could reach a top speed of 103 miles per hour, reach an altitude of 24,600 feet, and climb at 620 feet per minute while maintaining a mission duration of three hours.

CL. The IIIa proved to be the series' final production icon, and entered combat duty from April 1918 until the end of the war ("armistice") in November 1918although at this time capable fighters were used in ground assault roles to keep the Advance to delay the Allies.

At least one other name appears as "CL. IIIb", and it comes with a 185-horsepower NAG C. III engine. For this work, a single experimental model, "CL. IIIc", was used as the test bed, with both a two-piece biplane wing arrangement.

Although the signing of the armistice in 1918 ended the war entirely, Hanover resumed mass production of the aircraft for a short time, adding another 100 CL. III and another 38 CL. Form IIIa.