Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV

From Wings of Linen
Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV
Role Bomber
Manufacturer Zeppelin-Staaken
First flight Feb-March 1918 [1]
Primary user Germany
Number built 3 [2]
Variants Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIVa
Wingspan 42.0 m (137 ft 8 in) [3]-42.2 m (138 ft 5 in)[4][1]
Propeller Diam. Tractor nose: 4.1 m (13 ft 5 in)[1]
Tractor nacelle: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)[1]
Pusher nacelle: 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in)[1]
Engine 5×245hp Maybach Mb.IVs[4]
Armament 4-6 MGs[note 1]
2,000 kg (4,500 lb) of bombs[3]
Max Speed 126 km/h (78 mph)[3]-130 km/h (81 mph)[4][1]
Climb 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 15:00[3]
2,000 m (6,500 ft) in 26:00[3]
3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 47:00[3] [note 2]
Ceiling 3,700 m (12,100 ft)[4][1]-4,400 m (14,300 ft)[3]
Range 1,300 km (810 mi)[1]

Three Staaken R.XIVs were built, serial numbers R.43/17, R.44/17, and R.45/17. R.43/17 was shot down on 10/11 Aug 1918 by №151 Sqn. R.A.F. near Talmas. R.45/17 crashed during a night landing on 15/16 Sep 1918 near Morville.[5]

The R.XIV was an attempt to streamline and reduce weight of the R.VI, but the fuselage ended up larger, which was somewhat compensated by the fifth engine in the nose (a factor that improved plane reliability). The first R.XIV, R.43/17, was completed in February-March 1918, but engine troubles and changes delayed acceptance until July, by which time the R.44 and R.45 were doing their first test flights. (The latter two used directed drive for the tractors instead of gearing.) Parachutes were standard crew issue, the first for a Staaken.

The R.XIVs flew several bombing raids on the Western Front, but perhaps only R.44 survived the war. R.43 was shot down on 10/11 August 1918 by pilots of Sqn. 151 R.A.F. R.45 flew its first mission on 10 August 1918, but poor nighttime landing conditions resulted in a crash. [1]

For more information, see Wikipedia:Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIV.

Timeline

References

Notes
  1. Gun position one each in the upper wing, two dorsal and two ventral.[1]
  2. 3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 70:00 when fully loaded.[4][1]
Citations
  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Haddow'69, pp.263-269.
  2. Munson, p.159.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Lamberton, pp.226-227.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Haddow'69, p.67.
  5. Haddow'69, p.61.
Bibliography
  • G.W. Haddow and Peter M. Grosz, The German Giants; The German R-Planes 1914-1918. New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 2nd Ed., 1969. ISBN 9780370000374
  • W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Reconnaissance & Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Ltd., 1962. ISBN 9780900435027
  • Kenneth Munson, Bombers: Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft, 1914-1919. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1968, Blandford Press Ltd. ISBN 978-0753721711