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LVG C.II

1915 WORLD WAR 1

History

The LVG C. II was a limited edition reconnaissance aircraft used by the German Empire during the First World War. It itself was developed from the unarmed LVG B-series, the two-seat reconnaissance biplane and the proven LVG (Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft) first original aircraft design. Previously, the company was in charge of the airship. The main difference between the two aircraft varieties is the pilot position of the C.II (originally called the C.I), which reverses the pilot and observer/gunner positions - the pilot now holds the front cockpit, while the observer holds the machine gun in the rear turret in the ring.

Originally known as the C.I, the C.II served as a visual and photographic reconnaissance/reconnaissance role and a light bomber.

So far, most reconnaissance planes have their reconnaissance planes and possibly weapons mounted on the front of the fuselage. Only in later drafts was the position of the tail of the aircraft fixed.

This gives the pilot an unobstructed view of the terrain ahead (and potentially any oncoming hazards), while the observer has an unobstructed view of the tail (the key "six" corner) and the sides. This arrangement eventually proved to be the norm at the end of the war, as all reconnaissance aircraft would use this tandem seating configuration.

The C.I proved to be a heavier aircraft design than the B.I series, so it required more engine power output. The solution is to install Benz Bz. The Series III engine has 160 hp in her forward hull. Production started with some orders for the C.I type, and then the C.II surpassed them on the assembly line. The C.II - first flown in 1915 - featured a more powerful 160 hp Mercedes D.III inline-six with liquid cooling and improvements to its underlying structure, which later became the final production aircraft of the series . The C.III proved to be a "one-off" experimental test system, with the observer and his machine gun moved to the front cockpit and the pilot to the rear.

The C.IV was the last of the series, a slightly larger version of the C.II, now powered by a 220-horsepower Mercedes D.IV series engine. C. IV appeared in 1916.

Visually, the C.II benefits from its Mercedes D.III, with a top speed of 81 mph and a service ceiling of about 13,000 feet (some sources go as high as 16,400 feet). They reportedly have an endurance of up to 4 hours, which is critical to the operation of reconnaissance aircraft.

The design was very traditional at the time - of course, the biplane wing assembly was its defining feature. The fuselage takes on a more streamlined shape, especially in the front area where the engines are located.

The engine is embedded in a light-colored frame and drives a two-bladed wooden propeller. The radiator and fuel tank are partially exposed on top of the engine compartment, which somewhat obstructs the pilot's view.

The fuselage is plate-side until it tapers to a conventional fin with a small area vertical fin with a rounded tip and a horizontal fin applied at the bottom of the fin. The landing gear is fixed and supported by struts and cables.

Each main leg was fitted with a large wheel, and the rear of the fuselage was supported by a simple stern rail.

The weapon is centred on a 1 x 7.92mm Parabellum MG14 machine gun mounted on a trainable mount in the stern. Only in later production models did the pilots use the fixed forward-firing 7.92mm LMG 08/15 machine gun. As a light bomber, the C.II could use a 130-pound external gun.

The C.II "made its debut" during the war to end all wars - it was the first fixed-wing aircraft to drop a bomb on London. Until then, this attack came from a clumsy zeppelin. The first attack on the Zeppelin occurred on the morning of June 1, 1915. On November 28, 1915, the C.II followed, dropping at least six 22-pound bombs on the capital, located near Victoria Station in the inner city. However, it should be noted that the exact target of this raid was actually Admiralty and not the station.

The same plane suffered an engine failure on the way back and made an emergency landing near Boulogne, with both crew members captured. It's not uncommon to use the C.II for daring daytime attacks.

It is estimated that 300 prototypes of the aircraft were eventually delivered to the Reich. Reports consider them to be "appropriate" mounts for the role at hand. It was introduced sometime in 1915.