Caudron G.4

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G.4
Type Bomber
Manufacturer Caudron
Designed by Caudron Frères
Primary users French Air Force
Italian Air Force
RNAS
Finnish Air Force
Developed from Caudron G.3

The Caudron G.4 was a French biplane with twin engines. The G.4 was in widespread use during WWI as a bomber aircraft. It had been designed by René and Gaston Caudron from the Caudron G.3. The aircraft was no delight for the eye with its massive, open construction. The aircraft was manoeuvred by wing warping. The first G.4 was manufactured in 1915, both in France, Britain and in Italy.

The Caudron G.4 was used as a reconnaissance bomber into the heart of Germany. Later, when Germany developed a fighter force, the aircraft had to be used for night bombings

The G.4 was in use in Belgium, France, Finland, Italy, UK, and in the United States.

Contents

[edit] Development

While the Caudron G.3 was a reliable reconnaissance aircraft, it could not carry a useful bombload, and owing to its design, was difficult to fit with useful defensive armament. In order to solve these problems, the Caudron G4 was designed as a twin engined development of the G.3, first flying in March 1915.[1] While the G.4 had a similar pod and boom layout to the G.3, it has two Le Rhône rotory or Anzani radial engines mounted on stuts between the wings instead of a single similar engine at the front of the crew nacelle, while wingspan was increased and the tailpalne had four rudders instead of two. This allowed an observers/gunners position to be fitted in the nose of the nacelle, while the additional power allowed it to carry a bombload of 100 kg.

A total of 1358 G.4s were produced in France, while a further 51 examples produced by the A.E.R. company in Italy and 12 were built in Britain by the British Caudron company. [1]

[edit] Operational history

[edit] World War 1

The G.4 entered service with the French Aéronautique Militaire in November 1915. It was the first twin engined aircraft in service in any numbers with the French. The Caudron G.4 was used to carry out bombing raids deep behind the front line, being used to attack targets as far away as the Rhineland[1]. Increasing losses led to its withdrawal from day bombing missions by the French in the autumn of 1916[1] .

The British RNAS also used the G.4 as a bomber, being operated by Number 4 and 5 Wing RNAS for attacks against German seaplane and airship bases in Belgium, finally being replaced by Handley Page O/100s in the autumn of 1917[1] . Italian G.4s proved successful in operating in the mountainous Alpine fronts, with its good altitude capabilities proving useful[1] . The G.4 was also by the Imperial Russian Air Force for reconnaissance purposes.

[edit] Use in Finland

The Finnish Air Force purchased one G.4 as well as two G.3s aircraft with spares, from Flyg Aktiebolaget on April 26, 1923 for 100,000 Finnish markka. The G.4 was used by the FAF as an ambulance aircraft in 1923.

[edit] Versions

The first G.4 prototype flew in March 1915. The G.4 was manufactured in three main versions, A2 for reconnaissance, B2 for bombing and E2 for training. The A2 was equipped with a radio for fire spotting, B2 could carry 100 kg of bombs and the E2 was equipped with dual controls. G.4IB (French: Blindage) was an armoured version. There were also other bomber and escort aircraft versions.

The G.6 was a further developed G.4, with a conventional fuselage and tail replacing the pod and boom arrangement of the G.3.

[edit] Specifications (G.4)

Data from Suomen ilmavoimien lentokoneet

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 7.27 m (23 ft 10 in)
  • Wingspan: 17.20 m (56 ft 5 in)
  • Height: 2.60 m (8 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 38.00 m² (409 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 733 kg (1612 lb)
  • Loaded weight: kg (lb)
  • Useful load: kg (kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,180 kg (2600 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2× Le Rhône C radial, 60 kW (80 hp) each

Performance

Armament

1x machine gun
113 kg bombs

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Donald, David (Editor) (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. ISBN 1-85605-375-X. 

[edit] External links

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