Gotha G.V
Gotha · German Empire · first flew 1917 · bomber
The Gotha G.V was a German twin-engine strategic biplane bomber of World War I, famous for its bombing raids on London and south-east England in 1917–1918. It was the primary German strategic bomber of the war's latter stages.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Tunnel gear in lower fuselage allowing rear gunner to fire below and aft |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWI German strategic biplane bomber that raided England
- Twin pusher engines mounted between wings on nacelles
- Tunnel gear in lower fuselage allowing rear gunner to fire below and aft
Large equal-span biplane bomber with two pusher engines in streamlined nacelles between the wings, three open cockpits, and a distinctive deep fuselage with the characteristic defensive tunnel.
Specifications
- The Gotha G.V has a length of 12.4 m (41 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23.7 m (78 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 140 km/h (87 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Gotha G.IV and G.V conducted a series of daylight and night bombing raids on British cities beginning in May 1917, causing significant civilian casualties and prompting major changes to British air defence. The raids led directly to the formation of squadrons recalled from the Western Front for home defence and eventually to the creation of the Royal Air Force and the concept of strategic air power. The G.V featured a tunnel in the lower fuselage that allowed a gunner to fire rearward and downward — a novel defensive feature.
Variants
The G.IV was the first major production version; the G.V introduced structural improvements to address the frequent undercarriage failures on landing that had plagued the G.IV.
Where you'll see it
The Gotha G.V served with Kagohl 3 (the Englandgeschwader) on bombing raids over England and operated on other fronts; it was withdrawn from strategic use by late 1918.
Related aircraft
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