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The LFG Roland C.II, usually known as the Walfisch (Whale), was an advanced German reconnaissance aircraft of World War I manufactured by Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft G.m.b.H.
[edit] Operational history
It first saw service in Autumn 1915 and was a biplane with the upper wing fixed on top of the monocoque, whale-shaped fuselage, built with an outer skin of two layers of this plywood strips at an angle to each other (known as a Wickelrumpf, or "wrapped body" design), and a single outboard strut.
Operationally, handling was reported as difficult but performance was relatively good. It was also used in a fighter escort role and had a crew of two, pilot and observer/gunner. The C.II was powered by a single 160 hp (120kW) Mercedes D III, was capable of 165km/h and had a ceiling of 4000m with an endurance of four hours.
[edit] Variant
- C.II : Two-seat reconnaissance, escort fighter biplane.
- C.IIa : Generally similar to the Roland C.II, but fitted with revised and reinforced wingtips.
[edit] Operators
- German Empire
[edit] Specifications (C.II)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2, pilot and observer
- Length: 7,52 m (ft in)
- Wingspan: 10,33 m (ft in)
- Height: m (ft in)
- Wing area: 26,00 m² (ft)
- Empty weight: kg (lb)
- Loaded weight: 1309 kg (lb)
- Useful load: kg (lb)
- Max takeoff weight: kg (lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Mercedes D.III water-cooled in-line, 160 hp (120 kw)
Performance
[edit] Armament
A centrally mounted synchronized Spandau 7.92mm gun was provided for the pilot on later models. The observer had a Parabellum gun on a ring mounting. A tubular half-hoop was fitted between the cockpits to prevent possible damage to the airscrew from depressing the gun too much when firing forward.
A load of four 12,5 kg bombs could also be carried under the fuselage.
[edit] References
- Munson, Kenneth - Bombers, Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft 1914 - 1919 ISBN 0 7537 0918 X
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