Hannover CL.III

__NOTOC__ Infobox Aircraft
name=CL.III


caption=
type=Ground attack aircraft
national origin=Germany
manufacturer=Hannover
designer=Hermann Dorner
first flight=avyear|1917
introduced=
retired=
status=
primary user=
more users=
produced=
number built=537
variants with their own articles=The Hannover CL.III was a German military aircraft of World War I. It was a two-seat multi-role aircraft, primarily used as a ground attack machine. [ [http://www.constable.ca/HannoveranerC.htm "Hannover CL Escort Fighter" at "Canadian Aces" website] ] Like other Hannover aircraft, it included an unusual biplane tail, allowing for a greater firing arc for the tail gunner. [ [http://www.csd.uwo.ca/Elevon/gustin_military/db/ger/HANNOV01.html "Hannover CL.III" at "Military Aircraft Database" website] ] Until the introduction of the aircraft, such tails had only been used on larger aircraft. [ [http://home.earthlink.net/~scottbeth/Redbaron/planes/hannover.htm "Hannover CL.III" at "Red Baron II" website] ]

Compared to the preceding CL.II, the CL.III had redesigned ailerons with aerodynamic balance areas that overhung the wingtips, a modification that provided greater maneuverability, especially at the low levels that the CL.III was expected to be operating at in its new ground-attack role as the "Schutzstaffeln" (escort squadrons) were reassigned as "Schlactstaffeln" (battle squadrons). It was also intended that it should use the excellent Mercedes D.III engine, but the "Idflieg" gave priority for these engines to fighter production, and most CL.IIIs were produced with the same Argus engine that the CL.II had used.

The CL.III was also produced under licence by LFG, although these were designated Hannover CL.IIa.

Variants

;Hannover CL.III:Powered by a 119-kW (160-hp) Mercedes D.III engine.;Hannover CL.IIIa:CL III powered by a 134-kW (180-hp) Argus As.III engine;Hannover CL.IIIb:One CL III aircraft was redesignation CL III. It was powered by a 142-kW (190-hp) NAG C.II engine. ;Hannover CL.IIIc:Experimental model of the CL.III, with a two-bay wing.

Operators

;flag|German Empire
*"Luftstreitkräfte"

pecifications (CL.IIIa)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= prop
ref=Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft [Jackson, Robert, "The Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft", Parragon, 2002. ISBN 0-75258-130-9]
crew=Two, pilot & observer/gunner
capacity=
length main= 7.58 m
length alt= 24 ft 10 in
span main= 11.70 m
span alt= 38 ft 5 in
height main= 2.80 m
height alt= 9 ft 2 in
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main=
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main= 1,081 kg
loaded weight alt= 2,378 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)= Argus As.III
type of prop=6-cylinder inline engine
number of props=1
power main= 134 kW
power alt= 180 hp
power original=
max speed main= 165 km/h
max speed alt= 90 knots, 103 mph
max speed more= at 5,000 m (16,400 ft)
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main= 7,500 m
ceiling alt= 24,600 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
* Endurance: 3 hours
armament=
* 3 × 7.92 mm (0.323 in) LMG 08/15 machineguns (two ring-mounted in observer's cockpit, one fixed forward)
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=

similar aircraft=

lists=
* List of military aircraft of Germany
* List of fighter aircraft
see also=

References