Gotha G.III | |
---|---|
General information | |
Type | Bomber |
Manufacturer | Gothaer Waggonfabrik |
Designer | Hans Burkhard |
Status | retired |
Primary user | Luftstreitkräfte |
Number built | 25 |
History | |
Manufactured | 1916 |
Introduction date | 1916 |
First flight | 1916 |
The Gotha G.III was a twin-engine pusher biplane heavy bomber used by the Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Air Service) during World War I. It succeeded the G.II in production and differed primarily in powerplant and in armament details. The G.II's unreliable Mercedes D.IV was replaced by the new inline six-cylinder 190 kW (250 hp) Mercedes D.IVa engine. The G.III also had an extra 7.92 mm (0.312 in) machine gun firing through a ventral gun opening to protect the underside of the tail.[1]