Powerplant, Performance and Dimensions
Power for the W.12 was derived from a single Mercedes D.III series 6-cylinder inline piston engine delivering 160 horsepower. This provided for a maximum speed of 99 miles per hour with a service ceiling of 16,405 feet and a range of 3 hours and 30 minutes. When empty, the W.12 fielded a weight of 2,198kbs and a total of 3,206lbs when fully loaded. She maintained a wingspan of 36 feet, 9 inches with a height of 10 feet, 10 inches and a running length equal to 31 feet, 6 inches.
Armament
Standard armament centered around a combination of offensive and defensive machine guns. The pilot had access to LMG 08/15 series 7.92mm aircraft machine guns in a single or double arrangement. These were fixed, forward-firing systems operating through the spinning propeller by way of an interrupter gear (a key wartime development of Germany so the pilot would not shoot his own prop off). The rear observer/machine gunner had charge of a single (trainable) Parabellum MG14 series machine gun fitted to his cockpit ring. Combined, this arrangement gave the W.12 excellent fighter qualities when on the offensive and chasing down enemy targets while at the same time providing the crew a defensive measure from the rear.
The Dutch Take a Peek
The Netherlands received their first taste of the potential inherent in the German-designed W.12 when, in April of 1918, a single example was forced to make an emergency landing on Dutch territory (the Netherlands was a neutral player in the War at this point). Dutch officials subsequently captured the example and sent the type through an evaluation process to decipher its merits. After the war, the Dutch government purchased a license for local production of the W.12 and this took place under the Van Berkel firm of Rotterdam under the designation of "W-A". The major difference between the Dutch and German models was the use of a Benz engine. Approximately 35 Dutch examples were produced with aircraft service running into 1933.
Additional Notes
German Navy W.12 models were known under the designation of "C3MG". The type remained in frontline service until the middle of 1918, to which it was replaced by the larger and more successful Hansa-Brandenburg W.19.
On December 17th, 1917, German Lieutenant Christiansen was credited with downing an English dirigible (the C-27) while flying in his W.12.
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