The first form of the first Friedrichshafen model, FF 1, was distinguished by its central float concept, pusher construction, 3-bay wing and old-style ailerons between the wings.
Friedrichschafen FF 1
Aircraft
Friedrichschafen N.I
Friedrichshafen’s only other large bomber design was the N.1, a mammoth single-¬engined biplane which was built in 1917. Virtually a scaled up two seater, the N.1 employed markedly sweptback wings and a composite undercarriage. The sole power came from a 260 hp Mercedes D IVa engine in the nose, resulting in the pilot’s cockpit being located almost halfway back along the narrow fuselage, with a consequent hopeless forward view for landing and takeoff.
Friedrichschafen G.IV
The final version of the Friedrichshafen’s G bombers was the G.IV of 1918, which was basically similar to the G.IIIa but had a slightly shorter wing span, a modified and rounded fuselage nose and D.IVa engines mounted in tractor configuration.
The front gunner’s cockpit was dispensed with, leaving the main fuselage snub-¬nosed, and com¬pound tail surfaces, as in the G.IIIa, were employed. One or two examples may have seen limited operational trials, but this is unconfirmed.
Engines: 2 x 260 hp Mercedes D IVa.
Span: 22.6 m (74 ft 1.5 in).
Length: 12 m (39 ft 4.5 in).
Endurance: 5 hrs.
Armament: Bombload up to 1496 kg (3300 lb); 1 Parabellum machine gun in rear.
Friedrichschafen G.III
The G.III bomber was a twin 194kW Mercedes D.IVa engined scaled up version of the G.II which saw much operational service from early 1917. Its wings of increased span incorporated three bays outboard of the motors. The undercarriage comprised two pairs of wheels, with a fifth wheel immediately under the nose gunner’s cockpit the latter assisting any heavily loaded takeoff, but mainly preventing a nose over landing on the crude runways of the period. Construction of the G.III was a typical contemporary mixture of wood, plywood and steel tubing, and the three man crew consisted of a pilot and a ‘bombing officer’ in a side by side cockpit, with two cockpits mounting guns in the nose and mid fuselage connected by an internal passageway for the third crew member. Capable of lifting a 1500 kg (3310 lb) bombload, the main weight of bombs was carried externally below the main nacelle, but internal racks, each for five 10 kg (22 1b) bombs, were located either side of the communicating passage aft of the pilot’s cockpit.
For the final 18 months of the First World War, Friedrichshafen G.IIIs, in company with the better known Gotha G.V bombers, formed the real strength of German heavy bomber units, particularly on the Western Front in France. Used mainly in long¬distance night raids, G.IIIs are known to have attacked such principal targets as Paris, and are believed to have participated in some of the well publicized attacks against Eng-land.
During 1917 Friedrichshafen concentrated on the production of the G.III and G.IIIa with many others being built under contract by Daimler and Hansa. An improved variant was the G.IIIa, built under licence by the Daimler works. This differed from the G.III only in minor structural changes to the tail unit and wing tip configuration.
It is not known how many G.IIIs and G.IIIas were built in total, but more than 330 were produced by the subcontractors.
Span: 23.7 m (77 ft 9 in).
Length: 12.8 m (42 ft).
Endurance: 5 hrs.
Powerplants: 2 x 260 hp Mercedes D IVa
Armament: Bombload up to 1496 kg (3300 lb); 1 Parabellum machine gun in nose; 1 Parabellum machine gun in rear
Maximum speed: 135 km/h (84 mph)
Friedrichschafen G.II
The prototype G.I was developed into the more powerful (149kW Benz Bz.IV) G.II in 1916.
With slightly shorter wings and a single fin/rudder tail unit, power came from twin 200 hp Benz Bz IV engines mounted between the wings and driving pusher propellers. Successfully passing its official trials, the G.II went into limited production.
Its offensive load of just 450kg and range were not adequate for major attacks on British and other strategic targets.
Span: 20.3 m (66 ft 7.25 in).
Length: 11.05 m (36 ft 3 in).
Endurance: 5 hrs.
Engines: 2 x 200 hp Benz Bz IV.
Armament: Bombload up to 1496 kg (3300 lb); 1 Parabellum machine gun in nose; 1 Parabellum machine gun in rear.
Friedrichschafen G.I
The Friedrichshafen G I of 1915 was powered by twin 150 hp Benz Bz III engines driving pusher propel-lers. The G.I carried a three man crew, and pre-dates the debut of the rival Gotha G II by the best part of a year.
Engines: 2 x 150 hp Benz Bz III.
Armament: Bombload up to 1496 kg (3300 lb); 1 Parabellum machine gun in nose.
Friedrichschafen FF.60
The 1918 Friedrichshafen FF60, a four engined triplane floatplane, was intended as a naval patrol and torpedo carrier but never fully developed due to the Armistice in November 1918.
Friedrichschafen FF.49
The FF 49, with a Benz Bz IV engine, was introduced in May 1917.
Friedrichschafen FF.33
Friedrichschafen FF 29
A twin-float reconnaissance seaplane introduced November 1914 for coastal patrol and fighter versions. Replaced by FF 49, with more powerful Benz Bz IV engine, introduced in May 1917.
