Country of origin:

Germany

Description:

Two-seat biplane escort and close support fighter

Power Plant:

One 134 kw (180 hp) Argus As.III six-cylinder in-line liquid-cooled engine

Specifications:

Armament:

One or two 7.92 mm (0.311 in) fixed forward firing Spandau machine guns; one 7.92 mm (0.311 in) Parabellum machine gun on ring mount for observer

History:

Prior to World War I Hannoversche Waggonfabric AG was known for building railway rolling stock for the various railways in Europe, and in 1915 it was directed by the German Government to commence production of aeroplanes for the armed services. A branch was established at Hannover-Linden and licence production of Aviatik, Rumpler and Halberstadt designs commenced.

In 1917 a specification was released for a light C-class two-seater to act as a fighter or fighter escort, and to this end the CL.II was produced with an Argus As.III engine, this machine, although being the Company’s first design, becoming known as the CL.II as the Company had previously built variants of the Aviatik C.1 and the Rumpler C.1a.

The CL.II was designed by Herman Dorner in 1917 in response to a requirement issued by the German Government. It was unusual in aircraft of the time in having a biplane tail unit and was a single bay biplane fitted with a liquid-cooled Argus As.III engine of 134 kw (180 hp). It was noted for the size and balance of its ailerons, these making the type highly manoeuvrable in the lateral plane, a factor considered important at the time in low-level ground attack work. It is known that 439 examples were built before production changed to the CL.III.

The CL.III was fitted with a 119 kw (160 hp) Mercedes D III engine, and some 80 were built, this model differing in having an unbraced biplane tail, the upper part of which was semi-circular in planform but differed from the CL.II in having wingtips with an altered rake, and overhung ailerons giving better balance.

The next model was the CL.IIIa, of which 537 were completed. This model had structural alterations which improved the flying characteristics and the Argus As.III engine was installed. This model was built by Hannover itself and under licence by Luftfahrzeug Gesellschaft (LFG Roland) under the designation CL.IIa.

The Hannover was widely used in 1918 in the ground attack role, carrying stick grenades which were dropped by the observer. The biplane tail was popular as it improved the rear gunner’s field of fire. The upper wing was set low giving the pilot a good field of view forwards and upwards; and the lower wing, which was of small chord and staggered well back, gave the pilot a good field of vision downwards and to each side. Some Allied pilots mistook the Hannover for the Albatross scout and when they got into close range from behind were fired upon by the rear gunner.

Two other models were the CL.IIIb with a 142 kw (190 hp) NAG engine; and the CL.IIIc with two-bay wings of extended span, but neither got past the prototype stage.

The Hannover CL fuselage was constructed of four main longerons with plywood formers covered with thin ply sheet, which was covered with doped fabric. Removable panels adjacent to the engine were metal. The wings were of conventional wooden construction based on two box-spars, fabric covered. The ailerons, elevators and rudder were of steel tube framework and fabric covered.

In 1918 the CL.V appeared in small numbers, some 50 airframes having been completed at the time of the Armistice. Some of these differed in having a single tailplane. This model was fitted with the 138 kw (185 hp) BMW IIIa engine and had increased performance, maximum speed being increased to 185 km/h (115 mph) and the ceiling to 9,000 m (29,530 ft).

The Hannover CL series was popular with crews and was described as a highly manoeuvrable good flying machine. It said to be very strong and able to absorb a great deal of battle damage. Although the climb rate was not great, it had a good ceiling which enabled it to operate in the role of escort fighter. It was quite nimble at low altitudes and it was in this area it was operated, being widely used in 1918 for ground attack carrying stick grenades in small racks on the fuselage side abreast of the observer’s cockpit.

The CL.IIIa with the 138 kw (185 hp) BMW IIIa engine was the most widely used model and was also able to reach a ceiling of 9,000 m (29,530 ft). One variant was the C.IV (sometimes called the CL.IV), of which two were built, being larger, with a 183 kw (245 hp) Maybach Mb IV engine.

One Hannover CL.II was brought to Australia for display purposes for the Australian War Memorial (AWM). This aircraft (serial 13199/17 – Werke nr 879) was referred to in German records as a Hannover Type CL.II and was built by Hannoversche Waggonfabric. However, it appears it was lost in a fire in Melbourne, VIC whilst in storage in 1924 with a number of other captured aircraft.

Another CL.II (15342/17) was forced down by members of No 3 Squadron Australian Flying Corps (AFC) near Flessells on 9 June 1918 and was assigned a British serial (CG/5Br./16). Records indicated it was sent to Australia but it is not known if it arrived and, if it did, its ultimate fate is not known.