LVG C.II

LVG C.II
Although mislabeled as an Albatros C.III in the Bundesarchiv photo collection this is in fact an LVG C.II. Note the Bergman machine gun in the rear gunner's turret.
Role	reconnaissance/light bomber
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft
Introduction	late 1915
Primary user	Luftstreitkräfte
Number built	approx. 300
Developed from	LVG B.I

The LVG C.I was a 1910s German two-seat reconnaissance biplane designed by Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft for the Luftstreitkräfte.

Development

The C.II was developed from the LVG B.I, with the pilot and observer positions reversed, adding a ring-mounted machine gun to the rear. The increase in weight required a larger engine, the Benz Bz.III. Few C.I's were built before the C.II was introduced. It incorporated structural improvements and a more powerful engine.

Operational history

The C.II was the first fixed-wing aircraft to bomb London, when six bombs were dropped near Victoria station on 28 November 1915. (The first air raid on London was by the Zeppelin LZ 38, in the early hours of 1 June 1915.)

Variants

• LVG C.I - initial design, 120 kW (160 hp) Benz Bz.III engine.
• LVG C.II - production version.
• LVG C.III - single experimental aircraft, observer and machine gun moved to front.
• LVG C.IV - slightly larger, 160 kW (220 hp) Mercedes D.IV engine.

Operators

German Empire

• Luftstreitkrafte
• Kaiserliche Marine

Switzerland

• Swiss Air Force

Specifications (C.II)

Data from Donald, David, The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft (pg 553). (1997). Prospero Books. ISBN 1-85605-375-X

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Capacity: 2
• Length: 8.10 m (26 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 12.85 m (42 ft 2 in)
• Height: 2.93 m (9 ft 7.25 in)
• Wing area: 37.60 m² (404.74 ft²)
• Empty weight: 845 kg (1,863 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,405 kg (3,097 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.III, 119 kW (160 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 130 km/h (81 mph)
• Endurance: 4 hours
• Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,125 ft)

Armament

1 × flexible 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun

1 × fixed, forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) LMG 08/15 machine gun (later production aircraft)

up to 60 kg (130 lb) of light bombs

See also

• List of military aircraft of Germany

References

• Donald, David, The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft (pg 553). (1997). Prospero Books. ISBN 1-85605-375-X
• van Wyngarden, G (2006). Early German Aces of World War I, Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84176-997-5