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Rumpler G (Series)

1915 WORLD WAR 1

History

Bombers found value on the battlefields of World War I (1914-1918) and quickly took over strategic bombing missions from low-speed zeppelins and related airships. Germany's Rumpler is known for his many contributions to biplanes during the conflict, which he developed in the middle of the war - this is the G series. About 222 large aircraft were completed, with the first flight in 1915.

Deutsche Flugdienst is its sole operator.

The G-series bomber exists as a prototype "4A15", the design of which is based on a unequal-span biplane wing configuration. The crew consists of three people (seats in a row) and is powered by a pair of Mercedes-Benz Bz. III engine. Multiple wheels are used in fixed tricycle landing gear to keep the weight of large aircraft on the ground.

As was tradition at the time, the crew sat in an open-air cockpit, with local defense provided by machine guns (trainable 7.92mm Parabellum MG14) placed in various positions on the aircraft. A conventional airdrop store with a bomb load of 550 lbs.

The 4A15 laid the foundation for the follow-up 5A15, and the final design was adopted for service as a GI. The plane was carrying Bz. III engine or Mercedes D. IIII series, defended by only one machine gun. About 60 of the brand's were completed before attention shifted to the more refined G.II model (5A16). These received Mercedes-Benz Bz.

The IV engine has more power (and transportability) and carries a pair of machine guns for self-defense. Got seventy-two points.

The final production form became the G.III (6G2), which was powered by 2 x 260hp Mercedes D.IV engines (detached from the lower wing assembly) and a pair of machine guns for local defense. Top speed reaches 103 mph, range is up to 440 miles, and service is capped at 16,000 feet.

About 90 brands were produced by the end.

Specification

Basic

Year:

1915

Status:

Retired, out of service

Staff:

Production

[220 units]:

Rumpler Flugzeugwerke - German Empire

Roles

- Ground Attack

Dimensions

Length:

39.37 ft (12 m)

Width:

63.32 ft (19.3 m)

Height:

14.76 ft (4.5 m)

Weight

Curb Weight:

2,365 kg

MTOW:

3,600 kg

(difference: +2,723 pt)

Performance

2 x Mercedes D. IV engines, 260 hp each.

Performance

Maximum Speed:

103 mph (165 km/h; 89 knots)

Service Limit:

16,404 ft (5,000 m; 3.11 mi)

Maximum range:

435 miles (700 km; 378 nautical miles)

Armor

Standard (G.III):

1 x 7.92mm Parabellum MG14 machine gun mounted on a flexible bracket in the bow cockpit.

1 x 7.92mm Parabellum MG14 machine gun mounted on a flexible bracket in the rear cockpit.

Optional (G.III):

Conventional ammunition up to 550 lbs.

Changes

Rumpler G - Base Series Name

4A15 - first prototype; equipped with Mercedes-Benz Bz. Series III engines.

5A15 (G.I) - Prototype to form G.I production model; equipped with Mercedes Bz. III or Mercedes D series engine. 1 x 7.92mm machine gun for local defense; 60 copies made.

5A16 (G.II) - Prototype formed G.II production model; equipped with Mercedes-Benz Bz.

Series IV engines; 2 x 7.92mm machine guns for local defense; 72 copies made.

6G2 (G. III) - Formed the prototype of the G. III production model; equipped with Mercedes-Benz D.IV series engines; 2 x 7.92mm machine guns for local defense; 90 examples completed.