Gotha W.D.11

[Walarik]

Hello,

I would like to kindly ask, if anyone has Gotha W.D.11 card? I would like to paint this one, but I was not able to find the card anywhere, only stats on wings of linen. Thanks and take care.

[RJG173]

I emailed this card to you on July 3rd, 2022. Try looking in your spam folder or trash folder.

[Walarik]

I emailed this card to you on July 3rd, 2022. Try looking in your spam folder or trash folder.

Hello, yes you are right. Sorry for that I did not notice, that this card was part of the mail. Thank you very much. You saved my "navy force" day.

[OldGuy59]

Hmmm... I started work on a card for this plane, but only got as far as...



Perhaps I need to revisit this, when someone posts another paint job?

And stats from this site: Wings of Linen Wiki - Gotha W.D.11

[RJG173]

I wonder where Daryl got his stats since there weren't any when I created my card.

[OldGuy59]

If I had a colour scheme and unit, I could do up a card...

[OldGuy59]

I'm looking for historical Hex camo schemes, but can't find any specific one for Gotha float planes.

I found this, but think it is either Aviatik or Hansa-Brandenburg



Anyway, this is an option for the WE 11:

[OldGuy59]

How about this?

[OldGuy59]

Not sure this is needed, but...



Crew can't move in flight, so there may not be any way to shift positions. Anyone got info on this?

[OldGuy59]

[malachi]

'Crew can't move in flight, so there may not be any way to shift positions. Anyone got info on this?'

"All WD11 torpedo bombers were flown by a two-man crew, and the observer in the front cockpit had a flexible Parabellum LMG 14 machine gun."
- Gotha Aircraft of WWI, Jack Herris, Aeronaut Books, 2013

However, some pics clearly show the rear MG so perhaps the observer/torpedoman chose their seat based on the mission.

[RJG173]

'Crew can't move in flight, so there may not be any way to shift positions. Anyone got info on this?'

"All WD11 torpedo bombers were flown by a two-man crew, and the observer in the front cockpit had a flexible Parabellum LMG 14 machine gun."
- Gotha Aircraft of WWI, Jack Herris, Aeronaut Books, 2013

However, some pics clearly show the rear MG so perhaps the observer/torpedoman chose their seat based on the mission.

Or Jack Herris is incorrect about the number of crewmen.

[OldGuy59]

'Crew can't move in flight, so there may not be any way to shift positions. Anyone got info on this?'

"All WD11 torpedo bombers were flown by a two-man crew, and the observer in the front cockpit had a flexible Parabellum LMG 14 machine gun."
- Gotha Aircraft of WWI, Jack Herris, Aeronaut Books, 2013

However, some pics clearly show the rear MG so perhaps the observer/torpedoman chose their seat based on the mission.

I had noticed the references said a crew of two, but the drawings I found had three crew positions. So, if the plane only flew with two crew, a "wounded crew" token could be placed on the 'unmanned' position to indicate that position can't shoot.

PS: There is a position behind the wings in some photos. I'm going to suggest a few options, being I don't have any references to base this on (written or photographic).

1. Originally designed as a torpedo bomber, I am assuming the WD.11 had a maintenance/loading hatch aft of the wings. This would allow a winch/mechanism to upload the considerable weight of a torpedo. It was not used when carrying a torpedo, or only occassionally a rear gunner rather than a forward gunner. Not likely, if the forward gunner was the bombadier/torpedo-ier.

2. Torpedos were very heavy. Much heavier than bombs, and all one piece. So, as was done on the Caproni Ca.3, a crew member was removed to allow the carrying of an anti-ship torpedo (actually the Caproni Ca.450 version). I'd suggest that only one gun position was occupied when carrying a torpedo. See #1 above. However, I have read that the torpedos were dangerous and that WD.11 converted to anti-ship bombing shortly after being introduced. Lighter bomb loads or configurations could allow for a third crew member on some missions.

So, it would be up to the scenario creator to decide what load and crew would be used. I would suggest that in torpedo scenarios the rear gunner wouldn't be used.

[ReducedAirFact]

I wonder where Daryl got his stats since there weren't any when I created my card.

For anything marked "Preliminary Stats" on Wings of Linen, I used the "Tools for Working out Stats" pdf document from this site.

[Brak Morn]

How about this?

[OldGuy59]

There are a few threads where Caproni torpedo bombers were mentioned.

This one: Caproni Ca.3 Paint Schemes - Post #23

There were a few just about torpedos in WWI, and the weight of 750 lbs was bandied about. An anti-shipping bomb load could be a lot less than that, enough to put a man, an MG, and associated ammunition on board, with a bomb load.