Halberstadt CL.IV

Infobox Aircraft
name = Halberstadt CL.IV
type = Ground Attack Aircraft
manufacturer = Halberstädter Flugzeugwerke

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caption =
designer = Karl Thies
first flight =
introduced = 1918
retired =
status =
primary user = "Luftstreitkräfte"
more users =
produced =
number built =
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variants with their own articles = The Halberstadt CL.IV was a German ground attack aircraft of the First World War.

Design and development

Karl Thies, chief designer of the Halberstädter Flugzeugwerke, G.m.b.H., designed the CL.IV as a replacement for the Halberstadt CL.II. As the CL.II had proven to be particularly effective in the ground support role, the focus of an improved version was to create a specific ground attack aircraft.

The new CL.IV featured a shorter, strengthened fuselage and a horizontal stabilizer of greater span and higher aspect ratio than that of the CL.II. These changes, along with a one-piece, horn-balanced elevator, gave the CL.IV much greater maneuverability than its predecessor. After tests were completed of the prototype in April 1918, at least 450 were ordered from Halberstadt, and an additional 250 aircraft from a subcontractor, LFG (Roland).

Operational history

The Halberstadt CL.IV was one of the most effective ground attack aircraft of the First World War, relying on its good maneuverability to avoid ground fire. It appeared on the Western Front towards the end of the German offensives in 1918. Flights of four to six aircraft flew close support missions, at an altitude of less than one hundred feet, suppressing enemy infantry and artillery fire just ahead of the advancing German troops. After these late German offensives stalled, Halberstadt CL.IVs were used to disrupt advancing Allied offensives by striking at enemy troop assembly points and night sorties were also made against Allied airfields.

Towards the end of the war, on bright, moonlit nights, CL.IV squadrons attempted to intercept and destroy Allied bombers as they returned from their missions.

Operators

;EST
*Estonian Air Force [Gerdessen 1982, p.76] ;flag|German Empire
*"Luftstreitkräfte"

pecifications

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=
crew=two
capacity=
length main=6.54 m
length alt=21 ft 5.5 in
span main=10.74 m
span alt=35 ft 2.75 in
height main=2.67 m
height alt=8 ft 9 in
area main=28.96 m²
area alt=311.7 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main=728 kg
empty weight alt=1,605 lb
loaded weight main=1,068 kg
loaded weight alt=2,354 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)=Mercedes D.III
type of prop=6-cylinder inline engine
number of props=1
power main=120 kW
power alt=160 hp
power original=
max speed main= 186 km/h
max speed alt= 104 mph
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
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loading main=
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thrust/weight=
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more performance=
* Endurance: 3.25 hours
armament=
* 1 × 7.92 mm Spandau LMG 08/15 machine gun, synchronized
* 1 × 7.92 mm Parabellum LMG 14 machine gun, on ring mount for observer
* Grenades
* Up to 5 × 10 kg bombs

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Gerdessen, F. "Estonian Air Power 1918 - 1945". "Air Enthusiast" No 18, April - July 1982. Pages 61-76. ISSN 0143-5450.

External links

* [http://collections.nasm.si.edu/code/emuseum.asp?profile=objects&newstyle=single&quicksearch=A19840660000 Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Halberstadt CL.IV]
* [http://www.luftfahrtmuseum.com]

ee also