Hannoversche Waggonfabrik Hannover CL.III
Hannoversche Waggonfabrik · German Empire · first flew 1917 · fighter
The Hannover CL.III was a German two-seat biplane escort and ground-attack aircraft of World War I, notable for its biplane tail unit that allowed a clear field of fire for the rear gunner.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Rounded fuselage with inline engine |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Biplane two-seater with distinctive biplane tail
- Rounded fuselage with inline engine
- CL-class escort and ground-attack role
Identified by its biplane empennage (twin horizontal tail surfaces stacked), rounded fuselage, and compact two-bay biplane wings.
Specifications
- The Hannoversche Waggonfabrik Hannover CL.III has a length of 7.58 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.7 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 165 km/h (103 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed to meet the German Air Service's CL-class specification for a two-seat escort fighter, the CL.III entered service in 1917 and proved highly effective in both escort and infantry contact patrol roles. The unusual biplane tail was a Hannover hallmark, later continued in the CL.IIIa variant.
Variants
The CL.IIIa was the main production variant with a slightly shorter wingspan; minor sub-variants differed in engine fit.
Where you'll see it
Served exclusively with the Imperial German Air Service (Luftstreitkräfte) during 1917–1918, and was widely regarded as one of the best two-seaters of the war.
Related aircraft
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