Brandenburg W.29

From Wings of Linen
Brandenburg W.29
Role Seaplane
Manufacturer Brandenburg
Designer Ernst Heinkel, Hanns Klemm[1]
First flight spring 1918 [2]
Introduction April 1918 [3]
Primary users Germany
Austria-Hungary
Denmark
Norway
Japan
Number built 78 [4][2][5] to 199[6]
Developed from Brandenburg W.12
Variants Brandenburg W.33
Wingspan 13.5 m (44 ft 3 in)[7][8][9][10]
Engine 150hp Benz Bz.III
or 185hp Benz B.IIIa
or 170hp BMW.IIIa[6][note 1]
Armament 1-2× fixed, sync. LMG08/15[note 2]
1 flexible Parabellum for observer
1-4 55 kg (11 lb) bombs[6]
Crew 2
Max Speed 166 km/h (103 mph)[8] to
170 km/h (106 mph)[11] to
175 km/h (109 mph)[12][9][7][10]
Climb 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 5:54[10]-6:00[12][8][7]
2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 13:00[12][8][10]
3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 23:00[12][8][10]
Ceiling 3,000 m (9,840 ft)[11] to 5,000 m (16,400 ft)[12][7]
Endurance 4:00 [12][11][8][9][7][10]

The Brandenburg W.29 was an innovative monoplane developed from the W.12. It retained and improved on the maneuverability of the W.12, but it was still limited in range and sometimes relied on the Brandenburg W.19 to scout out targets. W.29's were known to take on even Sopwith Camels, as a battle of 18 July 1918 demonstrated.[13]

About three-quarters of W.29's built were armed with two forward-firing machine guns (156 of 199), aka the C3MG. The rest substituted a radio for the second fixed machine gun, and they were known as the C2MGHFT. The 150hp Benz Bz.III was the most common engine, but the 185hp Benz Bz.IIIa and 170hp BMW.IIIa were also used in smaller numbers, but their supply may have been limited by the high demand for those engines in other aircraft.[6]

It operated with great success, especially out of the base at Zeebrügge.[2] Twenty-five W.29's were dispatched to Turkey, but it is uncertain whether they ever arrived and whether they were used by German or Turkish pilots (if anyone).[14] Austria-Hungary ordered twenty-five from UFAG, but only one was delivered before the Armistice, taking its first flight on 25 Oct 1918.[15]

After the war, W.29's were bought or built by Denmark[16], Norway [17], and Japan [18].

For more information, see Wikipedia:Hansa-Brandenburg W.29.

Timeline

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Unofficial Stats
Version Availability Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb
2×LMG08/15 18Q2-18Q4 V A/B 15 11 5
1×LMG08/15 V B/B 15 11 5

Plane and Crew Cards

Card Links

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

1:350 Scale

Resources

Orthographic Drawings

References

Notes
  1. Ten were ordered with the Mercedes D.IIIa engine, but they were never completed.[6]
  2. Some were supplied with one fixed MG and a radio, but most had twin fixed MG but no radio.[4]
Citations
  1. Owers'15, p.9.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Nowarra, p.75.
  3. Gray, p.75.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Gray, p.72.
  5. Angelucci, p.98.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Owers'15, p.10.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Argus Vol. 3, p.86.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Lamberton, pp.218-219.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Angelucci, p.90.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Owers'15, p.13.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Munson, p.96.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 Gray, p.78.
  13. Owers'15, p.17.
  14. Owers'15, p.18.
  15. Owers'15, p.47.
  16. Owers'15, p.52.
  17. Owers'15, p.59.
  18. Owers'15, p.61.
Bibliography
  • Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. New York: The Military Press, 1983 edition. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
  • Argus Books, Airplane Archive: Aircraft of World War One, Volume 3. Great Britain: Argus Books, 1989. ISBN 0-85242-998-3
  • Peter Gray and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. Great Britain, Putnam, 1962, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
  • W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1960.
  • Kenneth Munson, Fighters 1914-19, Attack and Training Aircraft. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1976. ISBN 0713707607
  • Heinz J. Nowarra, Bruce Robertson, and Peter G. Cooksley. Marine Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Letchworth, Herts, England: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1966. ISBN 0900435070
  • Colin A. Owers, Hansa-Brandenburg Aircraft of WWI | Volume 3-Monoplane Seaplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series #19. Aeronaut Books, 2015. ISBN 978-1-935881-33-9