Hannover CL.III

Hannover CL.III

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CL.III

A German Hannover CL.III shot down by American machine gunners in the First World War.
Role	Ground attack aircraft
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Hannoversche Waggonfabrik
Designed by	Hermann Dorner
First flight	1917
Number built	617

The Hannover CL.III was a German military aircraft of World War I. It was a two-seat multi-role aircraft, primarily used as a ground attack machine. Like other Hannover aircraft, it included an unusual biplane tail, allowing for a greater firing arc for the tail gunner.Until the introduction of the aircraft, such tails had only been used on larger aircraft.

Design

Compared to the preceding CL.II, the CL.III had redesigned ailerons with aerodynamic balance areas that overhung the wingtips, a modification that provided greater maneuverability, especially at the low levels that the CL.III was expected to be operating at in its new ground-attack role as the Schutzstaffeln (escort squadrons) were reassigned as Schlactstaffeln (battle squadrons). It was also intended that it should use the excellent Mercedes D.III engine, but the Idflieg gave priority for these engines to fighter production, and most CL.IIIs were produced with the same Argus engine that the CL.II had used. The Argus engined variant was designated CL.IIIa.