R-planes

R-planes were large German Army bombers in World War I. The R classification was short for "Riesenflugzeug" (giant aircraft). The manufacturer's name preceded the letter R followed by a Roman numeral, e.g. Dornier Rs.III or Staaken R.XIV.

The R-planes were the largest aircraft of World War I. German R-planes, which bombed London during World War I were actually larger than the German aircraft used for the same purpose in World War II.

The operational history of the R-plane spanned the years 1915 to 1919. These were large multi-engine aircraft capable of flying several hours with larger bomb loads than the smaller G-type bombers. Engines were often mounted inside the fuselage using gearboxes and driveshafts to transfer the power to the propellers mounted on the wings, with a few of the types using more reliable direct-drive power transmissions which matched the number of engines and propellers.

Virtually all the aircraft types of this class were built as "one-off" aircraft, each one a unique airframe, with the sole exception of the small number of Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI bombers produced.

Types

The Following is a list of R-plane Types

AEG

• Type: AEG R.I
  • Manufacturer: Allgemeine Elektrizitats Gesellschaft
  • Engines: Four 260 h.p Mercedes D.IV engines
  • Wing Span: 36 m. (118ft. 1 1/2in.)
  • Length: 19.5 m. (14ft. 9in.)
  • Height: 6.35 m. (20ft. 10in.)
  • Wheel diameter: 1.3 m. (4ft. 3in.)
  • Service: None

DFW

• Type: DFW R.I
  • Manufacture: Deutsche Flugzeuwerke G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Four 220 Mercedes D.IV engines
  • Wing span: 30.5 m. (100 ft)
  • Length: 17.6 m. (57ft. 9in.)
  • Height: 6.0 m. (19ft. 8in)
  • Service: Eastern Front with Rfa 500 at Alt-Auz, April 1917 to September 1917

• Type: DFW R.II
  • Manufacture: Deutsche Flugzeuwerke G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Four 260 Mercedes D.IV engines
  • Wing span: 35.06 m. (115 ft)
  • Length: 20.93 m. (68ft. 8in.)
  • Height: 6.4 m. (21 ft)
  • Service: Training duties with Rea. Cologne 1918

• Type: DFW R.III
  • Manufacture: Deutsche Flugzeuwerke G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Four 260 Mercedes D.IV engines
  • Wing Span: 53.5 m. (175ft. 6in.)
  • Length: 25 m. (82 ft)
  • Height: 8.6 m. (28ft. 2.5in.)
  • Service: None

Dornier

• Type: Dornier Rs.I (Flying-boat)
  • Manufacturer: Zeppelin-Werke Lindau G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Three 240 h.p Maybach HS (Mb.IV) engines
  • Wing Span: 43.5 m. (142ft. 9in.)
  • Length: 29.0 m. (95ft. 1.5in.)
  • Service: None

• Type: Dornier Rs.II (Flying-boat)
  • Manufacturer: Zeppelin-Werke Lindau G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Three 240 h.p Maybach HS (Mb.IV) engines
  • Wing Span: 33.2 m. (108ft. 11in.)
  • Length: 23.88 m. (78ft. 4in.)
  • Service: None

• Type: Dornier Rs.III (Flying-boat)
  • Manufacturer: Zeppelin-Werke Lindau G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Four 245 h.p Maybach Mb.IVa engines
  • Wing Span 37 m. (121ft. 4.5in.)
  • Length: 22.75 m. (74ft. 6.5in.)
  • Service Norderney Seaplane Station, August to November 1918

• Type: Dornier Rs.IV (Flying-boat)
  • Manufacturer: Zeppelin-Werke Lindau G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Four 245 h.p Maybach Mb.IVa engines
  • Wing Span: 37 m. (121ft. 4.5in.)
  • Length: 22.3 m. (73ft. 2in.)
  • Height: 8.55 m. (28 ft)
  • Service: None

Linke-Hofmann

• Type: Linke-Hofmann R.I
  • Manufacturer: Linke-Hofmann Werke A.G
  • Engines Four 260 h.p. Mercedes D.IVa Engines
  • Wing Span: 33.2 m. (108ft. 11in.)
  • Length: 15.6 m. (51ft. 2in.)
  • Height: 6.7 m. (22 ft)
  • Service: None

• Type: Linke-Hofmann R.II
  • Manufacturer: Linke-Hofmann Werke A.G
  • Engines Four 260 h.p. Mercedes D.IVa Engines, driving a single "tractor" propeller
  • Wing Span: upper 42.16 m. (138ft. 4in.), lower 33.96 m. (111ft. 5in.)
  • Length: 20.32 m. (66ft. 8in.)
  • Height: 7.1 m. (23ft. 3.5in.)
  • Service: None

Siemens-Schuckert Forssman

• Type: Siemens-Schuckert Forssman "R"
  • Manufacturer: Siemens-Schuckert Werke G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Four 110 h.p Mercedes engines
  • Wing Span: 24 m. (78ft. 9in.)
  • Length: 16.5 m. (54ft. 2in)
  • Service: Training duties

SSW

• Type: SSW R.I
  • Manufacturer: Siemens-Schuckert Werke G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Three 150 h.p Benz Bz.III engines
  • Wing Span: 28 m. (91ft. 10in.)
  • Length: 17.5 m. (57ft. 5in.)
  • Height: 5.2 m. (17ft. 5in.)
  • Service: Eastern Front 1915-1916 and training duties 1916-1918

• Type: SSW R.II to R.VII
  • Manufacturer: Siemens-Schuckert Werke G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Three 220 h.p Benz Bz.III engines (R.III to R.IV), three 260 h.p Mercedes D.IV engines (R.II and R.VII)
  • Wing Span: 28.77 m. to 38.44 m. (92ft. 7in. to 126ft. 1.5in)
  • Length: 17.7 m. to 18.5 m. (58ft 1in. to 60ft. 8.5in.)
  • Height: 4.6 m. (15ft. 1in.)
  • Service: Eastern Front August 1916 to August 1917

• Type: SSW R.VIII
  • Manufacturer: Siemens-Schuckert Werke G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Six 300 h.p Basse und Selve BuS.IVa engines
  • Wing Span: 48 m. (157ft. 6in.)
  • Length: 21.6 m. (70ft. 10in.)
  • Height: 7.4 m. (24ft. 3in.)
  • Service: None

VGO (Versuchsbau Gotha Ost)

• Type: VGO.I-RML.1
  • Manufacturer : Versuchsbau G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Three 240 h.p Maybach HS engines in first version five 245 h.p Maybach Mb.IVa engines
  • Wing span: 42.2 m. (138ft. 5.5in.)
  • Length: 24 m. (78ft. 9in.)
  • Height: 6.6 m. (21ft. 7.5in.)
  • Service: Eastern Front with Kommando L.R.I at Alt-Auz, August 1916

• Type: VGO.II
  • Manufacturer : Versuchsbau G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Three 240 h.p Maybach HS engines
  • Wing span: 42.2 m. (138ft. 5.5 in.)
  • Length: 23.78 m. (78 ft)
  • Height: 7 m. (22ft. 11.5in.)
  • Service: Eastern Front with Rfa 500 at Alt-Auz 1916. Training machine at Doberitz 1916-1917

• Type: VGO.III ("R.III")
  • Manufacturer : Versuchsbau G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Six 160 h.p Mercedes D.III engines (3 propellers)
  • Wing span: 42.2 m. (138ft. 5.5in.)
  • Length: 24.5 m. (80ft. 4.5in.)
  • Height: 6.8 m. (22ft. 3.5in.)
  • Service: Eastern Front with Rfa 500 at Alt-Auz, summer 1916 - January 1917

Zeppelin-Staaken

• Type: R.IV
  • Manufacturer : Flugeugwerft G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Two 160 h.p Mercedes D.III engines & Four 220 h.p Benz Bz.IV engines
  • Wing Span: 42.2 m. (138ft. 5.5in.)
  • Length: 23.2 m. (76ft. 1in.)
  • Height: 6.8 m. (22ft. 3.5in.)
  • Service: Eastern Front with Rfa 500 at Alt-Auz, June 1917 to August-September 1917, Western Front with Rfa 501 in Ghent area September 1917 to November 1918

• Type: R.V
  • Manufacturer : Flugeugwerft G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Five 245 h.p Maybach Mb.IVa engines
  • Wing Span: 42.2 m. (138ft. 5.5in.)
  • Length: 23 m. (75ft. 5.5in.)
  • Height: 6.8 m. (22ft. 3.5in.)
  • Service: western Front with Rfa 501 in Ghent area 1917 -1918

• Type: R.VI
  • Manufacturer : Flugeugwerft G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Four 260 h.p Mercedes D.IVa engines
  • Wing Span: 42.2 m. (138ft. 5.5in.)
  • Length: 22.1 m. (72ft. 6in.)
  • Height: 6.3 m. (20ft. 8in.)
  • Service: Western Front with Rfa 500 and Rfa 501, 1917 to November 1918

• Type: R.VII
  • Manufacturer : Flugeugwerft G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Two 160 h.p Mercedes D.III engines & Four 220 h.p Benz Bz.IV engines
  • Wing Span: 42.2 m. (138ft. 5.5in.)
  • Length: 22.1 m. (72ft. 6in.)
  • Height: 6.8 m. (22ft. 3.5in.)
  • Service: None

• Type: R.XIV
  • Manufacturer : Zeppelin-Werke G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Five 245 h.p Maybach Mb.IVa engines
  • Wing Span: 42.2 m. (138ft. 5.5in.)
  • Length: 22.5 m. (73ft. 10in.)
  • Height: 6.3 m. (20ft. 8in.)
  • Service: Western Front with Rfa 500 and Rfa 501 August - November 1918

• Type: R.XIVa
  • Manufacturer : Zeppelin-Werke G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Five 245 h.p Maybach Mb.IVa engines
  • Wing Span: 42.2 m. (138ft. 5.5in.)
  • Length: 22.5 m. (73ft. 5.5in)
  • Height: 6.3 m. (20ft. 8in.)
  • Service: Used in 1919 by the German Government to fly money into Ukraine, and was seized by the Inter-Allied Control Commission when it landed at Aspen near Vienna.

• Type: R.XV
  • Manufacturer : Zeppelin-Werke G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Five 245 h.p Maybach Mb.IVa engines
  • Wing Span: 42.2 m. (138ft. 5.5in.)
  • Length: 22.5 m. (73ft. 10in.)
  • Height: 6.3 m. (20ft. 8in.)
  • Service: Western Front

• Type: R.XVI
  • Manufacturer : Zeppelin-Werke G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Two 530 h. Benz Bz.VI pusher engines & two 220 h.p. Benz Bz.IV tractor engines
  • Wing Span: 42.2 m. (138ft. 5.5in.)
  • Length: 22.5 m. (73ft. 10in.)
  • Height: 6.5 m. (21ft. 4in.)
  • Service: None

• Type: Staaken L (Sea-plane R.VI)
  • Manufacturer : Zeppelin-Werke G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Four 245 h.p Maybach Mb.IVa engines
  • Wing Span: 42.2 m. (138ft. 5.5in.)
  • Length: 22.2 m. (72ft. 10in.)
  • Height: 7.38 m. (24ft. 2.5in.)
  • Service: None

• Type: Staaken 8301 (Sea-plane R.VI/R.XV)
  • Manufacture: Zeppelin-Werke G.m.b.H
  • Engines: Four 245 h.p. Maybach Mb.IVa engines
  • Wing Span: 42.2 m. (138ft. 5.5in.)
  • Length: 21 m. (68ft. 10.5in.)
  • Height: 6.8 m. (22ft. 3.5in.)
  • Service: In the early post-war period were used on a regular weekend passenger excursions between Berlin and Swinemunde, a popular German resort.

Sources

• The German Giants, The Story of the R-planes 1914-1919, G.W. Haddow & Peter M. Grosz, Putnam & Company Limited, 42 Great Russell Street, London, First Published July 1962

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "R-planes".