| W.27 and W.32 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Hansa-Brandenburg W.27 | |
| Role | Fighter floatplane |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Hansa-Brandenburg |
| Number built | 2 |
The Hansa Brandenburg W.27 and W.32 were prototype fighter floatplanes developed in parallel in Germany during World War I. They were developments of and intended replacements for the W.12 then in service and differed from each other principally in the choice of powerplant, the W.27 with a Benz Bz.IIIb and the W.32 with the same Mercedes D.III that the original W.12 used.
Development
Like the W.12, the W.27 and W.32 were single-bay biplanes of largely conventional configuration, unusual only in having no dorsal tail fin, with an all-moving rudder that projected below the fuselage and forward of the rudder post. They differed from the earlier design in having shorter fuselages, more severely staggered wings, and I-struts for both the interplane and cabane bracing, where the W.12 had used more conventional pairs of struts.
Neither prototype resulted in any production orders, and the true successor to the W.12 was to be a monoplane derivative, the W.29.
Variants
- W.27
- version powered by a Benz Bz.IIIb
- W.32
- version powered by a Mercedes D.III
Specifications (W.27)
General characteristics
- Crew: Two, pilot and gunner
- Length: 9.23 m (30 ft 3 in)
- Wingspan: 11.20 m (36 ft 9 in)
- Height: 3.06 m (10 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 36.1 m2 (389 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 1,109 kg (2,444 lb)
- Gross weight: 1,619 kg (3,569 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Benz Bz.IIIb , 145 kW (195 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 170 km/h (106 mph, 92 kn)
Armament
- 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) LMG 08/15 "Spandau" machine guns
- 1 × trainable, rearward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun
References
- Herris, Jack (2012). German Seaplane Fighters of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Seaplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 2. Charleston (S.C.): Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-09-4.
- Owers, Colin A. (2015). Hansa-Brandenburg Aircraft of WWI: Volume 2–Biplane Seaplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 18. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-32-2.