Gotha G.I

infobox Aircraft
name = Gotha G.I
type = Bomber
manufacturer = Gothaer Waggonfabrik AG

---

caption =
designer = Oskar Ursinus and Helmut Friedel [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=3 ]
first flight = 30 January 1915 [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=7 ]
introduced =
retired =
status =
primary user = "Luftstreitkräfte"
more users =
produced =
number built = 20 [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=11-12 ]
unit cost = M 32,000 without engines [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=11 ]
variants with their own articles =

The Gotha G.I was a heavy bomber used by the "Luftstreitkräfte" (Imperial German Air Service) during the First World War.

Design and development

In mid-1914, Oskar Ursinus, the founder and editor of the German flying magazine "Flugsport", began designing a large twin-engine seaplane of unconventional configuration [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=3 ] . While most biplane designs have the fuselage attached to the lower wing, Ursinus had a snub-nosed fuselage attached to the upper wing, and twin engine nacelles mounted on the lower one [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=3 ] . The purpose of this arrangement was to allow the engines to be kept close together thereby minimizing asymmetrical thrust in the event of an engine failure [cite book |last= Chant |first= Chris |title=The World's Great Bombers: From 1914 to the Present Day |year=2000 |publisher=Silverdale Books |location=Wigston, Leicester |pages=25 ] , although Ursinus later also claimed that this design balanced out the lowering of the centre of pressure as speed increased, and minimised the drag on the upper wing caused by turbulence from the fuselage [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=5 ] .

Ursinus was conscripted into the army on 1 August 1914 and little over a week later, presented his commanding officer, Major Helmut Friedel, with the seaplane design adapted into a "Kampfflugzeug" ("battle aircraft") intended for ground attack duties [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=2 ] . Apart from the aerodynamic benefits claimed by Ursinus, the aircraft's unorthodox layout provided excellent views for the three crewmen and broad fields of fire for the gunner [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=3 ] . The design also matched the specifications that the "Idflieg" had issued in March that year for a "Type III" large military aircraft [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=1 ] , and Friedel ordered the construction of a prototype.

This aircraft was built by the men his unit, "Fliegerersatz Abteilung 3" ("Aviator Replacement Unit 3") [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=9 ] and received the "Idflieg" designation B.1092/14, although it was generally known as the FU for "Friedel-Ursinus" [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=3 ] . It was powered by two 75 kW (100 hp) Mercedes D.I engines, and in keeping with the "Type III" requirement, it was armed with a machine-gun in the nose and the engines and crew were protected by 200 kg (440 lb) of chrome-nickel armour [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=3 ] .

The prototype first flew on 30 January 1915 [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=7 ] and was inspected by an "Idflieg" engineer on 20 February [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=7 ] . His report confirmed that the aircraft conformed to the specification, and Ursinus' claims about the excellent field of fire and advantages of the design in single-engine operation [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=7 ] . However, he also noted that the aircraft was difficult to fly, lacking in structural integrity, dangerous to the crew in the event of a crash landing, and underpowered [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=8 ] . Despite its shortcomings, the FU was sent to the front, assigned to "Feld Fliger Abteilung 28" reconnaissance unit [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=3 ] at Ujatz on the Russian Front in early 1915 [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=8 ] .

With the design proved under service conditions, the "Idflieg" issued a contract on 1 April [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=9 ] for series production to Gothaer Waggonfabrik AG, which acquired a license from Ursinus, who held the patent to the design [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=4 ] . Gothaer chief engineer Hans Burkhard simplified and refined the design [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=3 ] , which was originally known as the "Gotha-Ursinus-Heeresflugzeug," or "GUH," [cite book |last= Cooksley |first= Peter |title=German Bombers of World War I in Action |year=2000 |publisher=Squadron/Signal| location=Carrollton, Texas |pages=22 ] later known as the Gotha G.I or Gotha-Ursinus G.I. The first production aircraft was completed on 27 July 1915 [cite book |last= Cooksley |first= Peter |title=German Bombers of World War I in Action |year=2000 |publisher=Squadron/Signal| location=Carrollton, Texas |pages=22 ] . These aircraft were powered by two 112 kW (150 hp) Benz Bz.III engines [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=9 ] . Gothaer Waggonfabrik built 18 G.I aircraft in three batches of six before production ceased at the end of the year [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=11-12 ] . The final batch was powered by 120 kW (160 hp) Mercedes D.III engines and featured an extra defensive machine gun and nearly double the armour of previous examples [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=11 ] .

A single example of a seaplane version was also built, ordered by the Navy in April 1915 and delivered in February 1916 [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=5 ] . During a test flight, six men climbed aboard to take the place of ballast. When they emerged after landing, a nearby naval officer likened the aircraft to the Trojan Horse, and this nickname stuck [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=14 ] . It was used operationally until 2 October [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=24 ] when it was written off after a hard landing [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=5 ] .

Operational history

Today, little is known of the G.I's service history [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=12 ] . "Idflieg" records show only small numbers ever in service on the Front at any one time (the most being five in October and six in December 1915 [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=35 ] ). At this stage of the war, Type G aircraft were being used for a variety of duties, including defensive patrols, reconnaissance, and only rarely for bombing [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=5 ] . By the time it reached the front, the Gotha G.I was already an easy target for faster and more maneuverable fighters [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=5 ] , and the few pilot recollections that have survived are largely unfavourable to the type [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=12-13] .

The UWD seaplane is known to have participated in a successful air-raid on Dover sometime in 1916, bombing Langton Fort and the Shoulder of Mutton battery, but the exact date is not now known [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=14] .

Variants

* FU - (Friedel-Ursinus) - single prototype [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=3 ]
* G.I - standard production version
* UWD - ("Ursinus Wasser Doppeldecker" - Ursinus Water Biplane) - seaplane variant with twin floats (1 only built) [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=6 ] , also known as the WD.4.

= Operators [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=The Gotha GI - GV |year=1966 |publisher=Profile Publications |location=Leatherhead, Surrey |pages=4 ] [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=11-12] =

*flag|German Empire
**"Armeeabteilung Falkenhausen"
**"Fliegerersatz Abteilung 1"
**"Fliegerersatz Abteilung 3"
**"Fliegerersatz Abteilung 5"
**"Fliegerersatz Abteilung 7"
**"Fliegerersatz Abteilung 37"
**"Fliegerersatz Abteilung 46"
**"Kagohl 1"
**"Kagohl 2", "Staffel 8"
**"Prüfanstalt und Werft"
**"Sonderstaffel S"

pecifications (Gotha G.I)

Aircraft specification

ref= [cite book |last= Grosz |first= Peter M. |title=Gotha G.I |year=2000 |publisher=Albatros Productions|location=Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire|pages=35]

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=3
length main=12.00 m
length alt=39 ft 4 in
span main=20.30 m
span alt=66 ft 7 in
height main= 3.9 m
height alt=12 ft 10 in
area main=82.0 m²
area alt=882 ft²
empty weight main=1,800 kg
empty weight alt=3,970 lb
max takeoff weight main=2,966 kg
max takeoff weight alt=6,539 lb
more general=
engine (prop)=Benz Bz.III
type of prop=inline engine
number of props=2
power main=112 kW
power alt=150 hp
max speed main=130 km/h
max speed alt=80 mph
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=0.7 m/s
climb rate alt=140 ft/min
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
* 3 x 7.92 mm Parabellum LMG 14 machine guns

References

ee also

aircontent
sequence=G.I -
G.II -
G.III -
G.IV

similar aircraft=
*Caproni Ca.1 (1914)
lists=
* List of military aircraft of Germany
* List of bomber aircraft
see also=
Gotha Raids