LVG C.V

History

The LVG C.V was a two-seat general purpose reconnaissance aircraft used by the Luftwaffe during the First World War and became one of the finest German fighter jets of the First World War. Her two-crew combination, offensive and defensive armament, and outstanding performance allow her to transcend her reconnaissance origins and evolve into a deadly combat platform. It first flew in 1917, entered German service the same year, and was eventually mass-produced and used along the Western Front between 1917 and 1918.

Production was taken over by Luft Verkehrs Gesellschaft (aka "LVG").

The design of the C.V is very traditional, characterized by its biplane wing configuration. Each unstaggered wing has two compartments and equal spans, supported by parallel struts.

The lower assembly is attached to the bottom of the fuselage, while the upper assembly is supported on top of the fuselage by a network of struts located in front of the pilot. The distinguishing feature of the wing is the aerodynamic balance attached to the aileron and upper wing assemblies.

The structure consists of a clad semi-monocoque frame. Accommodation for two - a pilot and an observer/rear gunner - sits in an up-to-date tandem open-air cockpit that, while offering unparalleled visibility, is only hindered by the structure of the aircraft itself. Tail gunners have better visibility into key "six" areas behind and to the sides of the aircraft, and are armed with a trainable machine gun for self-defense.

The engine is mounted at the very forward end of the fuselage and drives a two-bladed propeller. The cooler is clearly identifiable by its raised "horn". The front fuselage retains its aerodynamic appearance, while the central fuselage features panel sides. The fuselage tapers at the very end of the tail. The tail system consists of a circular vertical tail with a similar horizontal tail mounted on the fuselage frame.

The landing gear is fixed and consists of two main legs, with large wheels supported by struts under the forward fuselage. The tail is kept off the ground by a simplified tail taxi and functions when the aircraft is stationary.

Power is provided by a Benz Bz. 200 hp IV series engine. This enables the aircraft to reach a top speed of about 106 mph, with a service ceiling of 21,300 feet, while maintaining a climb rate of about 1,100 feet per minute.

Remember, these stats are excellent by World War I standards and place CV at the high end of the fighter spectrum. The Mercedes-Benz powerplant has a reported battery life of about 3.5 hours, which keeps the bird in the "fight" longer than most.

The main armament is concentrated on a fixed forward-firing 7.92mm LMG 08/15 machine gun, controlled by the pilot and aimed at the target by positioning his entire aircraft. The rear observer/gunner is operated by a trainable 7.92mm Parabellum MG14 series machine gun, covering mainly the rear area of ??the aircraft.

When called upon to attack important ground targets, the C.V can use external bombs ranging from 90 lbs to 254 lbs (sources seem to vary widely). Since the C.V was originally a reconnaissance platform, the limited use of bombs was negligible.

About 150 captured samples were used by the Polish army after the war. Several copies (30 copies in total) were distributed to countries such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Russian Empire. Other postwar examples find a "second life" as a civilian porter.

By 1918, the last year of the First World War, the C.V was complemented by the improved C.VI model - 1000 units were built individually.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes