O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)

Gotha WD 12
   Only a single specimen (No. 944) of this unarmed patrol seaplane was supplied to the German Navy, although other aircraft of this type were built for Turkey. Turkish machines were railed to Herkulesbad in Hungary, erected and flown across Rumania to Lom-Polanka in Bulgaria, where they were again transported to Constantinople. Engine, 160 h.p. Mercedes DIII. Span, 150 m. (49 ft. 2 5/8 in.). Length, 10.0 m. (32 ft. 9 3/4 in.). Height 3.825 m. (12 ft. 6 1/2 in.). Area, 54 sq.m. (583 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty 1,000 kg. (2,200 lb.). Loaded, 1,550 kg. (3,410 lb.). Speed, 141 km.hr (88.125 m.p.h.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 7.5 min. Duration, 5 1/2 hr. Armament, none.

Gotha WD 13
   This patrol seaplane was a development of the WD 9. None were used by Germany, those that were built were supplied to the Turkish Government during 1917. Engine, 150 h.p. Benz Bz III. Span, 14.6 m. (47 ft. 10 7/8 in.). Length, 10.068 m. (33 ft. 0 1/2 in.). Height, 3.74 m. (12 ft. 3 1/4 in.). Area, 49 sq.m. (529 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 1,061 kg. (2,334 lb.). Loaded, 1.463 kg. (3,219 lb.). Speed, 131.5 km.hr. (82.25 m.p.h.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 9 min. Duration, 3 hr. Armament, one manually operated Parabellum machine-gun in rear cockpit.


Gotha WD 15
   Built towards the end of 1917, the WD 15 was little more than an enlarged WD 12 with ply-skinned fuselage and fin. It was the most powerful and also the last single-engined machine to be supplied by Gotha to the German Navy. Only two were built, Nos. 842 and 843. Engine, 260 h.p. Mercedes D IVa. Span, 17.2 m. (56 ft. 5 1/4 in.). Length, 11.2 m. (36 ft. 9 in.). Area, 64.5 sq.m. (697 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 1,545 kg. (3,399 lb.). Loaded, 2,300 kg. (5,060 lb.). Speed, 152 km.hr. (95 m.p.h.). Ceiling, 4,200 m. (13,780 ft.). Armament, none.

J.Herris Gotha Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 6)

Gotha WD12

   The Gotha WD12 was designed by Rosner for maximum speed. Powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine, the WD12 was proposed by Gotha on 14 April 1916, and the prototype, Marine Number 944, was delivered to the SVK on 24 February 1917. Designated WD12a after modifications made in May to gain acceptance, the seaplane was fitted with an electrical bomb release for bombing trials. The WD12 was recommended for production because of its good seakeeping qualities. The WD12a was assigned to the flight school at Holtenau in February 1918.
   On 28 August 1917 nine WD12s were ordered by Turkey in the Gotha work number batch 2150-2166, even numbers. Six had the 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine like the prototype,- the other three had the 150 hp Benz Bz.III. The observer in the rear cockpit of these aircraft had a flexible Parabellum LMG 14 machine gun. These aircraft have been identified in some German Navy documents as WD9s, but the original Gotha factory photos are labeled WD12.

Gotha WD12 Specifications
Engine: 160 hp Mercedes D.III 150 hp Benz Bz.III
Wing: Span Upper 15.00 m
Span Lower 14.00 m
Area 54 m2
General: Length 10.00 m
Height 3.82 m
Empty Weight 1000 kg
Loaded Weight 1560 kg
Maximum Speed: 140 km/h
Climb: 1000m 7.5 min
3000m 41 min
Service Ceiling: 4200 m
Range: 775 km


Gotha WD13

   The Gotha WD13 was designed by Rosner and Hartwig. Powered by a 150 hp Benz Bz.III engine, the WD13 was not used by the German Navy,- all six aircraft produced were to fill a Turkish order. These aircraft, Gotha works numbers 2186-2196, even numbers, were delivered between 21 December 1917 and 4 February 1918. The aircraft were accepted at the SVK and then shipped to Turkey. The observer in the rear cockpit of these aircraft had a flexible Parabellum LMG 14 machine gun.

Gotha WD13 Specifications
Engine: 150 hp Benz Bz.III
Wing: Span Upper 14.60 m
Area 49 m2
General: Length 10.07 m
Height 3.74 m
Empty Weight 1060 kg
Loaded Weight 1460 kg
Maximum Speed: 131.5 km/h
Climb: 1000m 9 min
Duration: 3 hours


Gotha WD15

   Designed by Rosner and Klaube, two Gotha WD15s were ordered on 14 July 1916 as heavy, multi-purpose seaplanes powered by a 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa engine. Although it had an excellent speed and rate of climb, the WD15 had engine problems despite being powered by a well-proven production engine.
   The WD15 prototype, Marine Number 842, was destroyed on 18 September 1917 when a float collapsed. The second WD15, Marine Number 843, was delivered the next day and incorporated improvements as a result of flight tests of the prototype, including having ailerons on all wings with a strut connecting the upper and lower ailerons. The second WD15 was accepted in January 1918 but the SVK disapproved series production.

Gotha WD15 Specifications
Engine: 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa
Wing: Span Upper 17.20 m
Span Lower 16.00 m
Area 64.5 m2
General: Length 11.15 m
Height 4.25 m
Empty Weight 1544 kg
Loaded Weight 2300 kg
Maximum Speed: 150 km/h
Climb: 1000m 8.5 min
3000m 42.5 min
Service Ceiling: 4200 m
Duration: 900 km


Gotha Seaplane Production Summary
Type Ordered Marine Numbers Remarks
WD12 10 944 9 went to Turkey, no Marine Numbers
WD13 6 na All 6 went to Turkey, no Marine Numbers
WD15 2 842-843 842 destroyed during testing