Hello everyone,

We often like begging for new additions to the simulation (often inappropriately and with excessive expectations). We also know that more than three quatres of the forum community thinks that there should be more early war two-seaters.

However, I recently realised that I do not really know that much about the different types of early war aircraft. I'm basically ignorant of the time before mid-1917... (Morane-N excepted).

So, I decided to create this thread in order to get a better feel.

Please contribute your own discoveries in a similar format. Also, please include an estimate of the production numbers



Morane-Saulnier L

+ Over 600 built (not including those license built by Pfalz for Germany). This is six times the number of 'BB' and twelve times the number of 'N' produced.

+ 78 mph (125 kph). Slow enough to be caught be the Fokker E.III

+ French and British service, with small numbers license produced in Germany (as well as serving in the Russian air force and with the Ottomans!)

+ Two seat version was able to carry a defensive machine gun (as well as existing in single and twin seat unarmed versions were numerous - although these were often armed with hand-held weapons).

+ The single seat version was the first aircraft to be equipped with a fixed forward firing gun by Escadrille 23! This field mod was captured and lead directly to the German requirement that produced the Fokker Eindecker. It was both the initiator (on both sides), and ultimately one of the victims, of the Fokker Scourge.

+ Germany also converted 60 licensed built aircraft as interim fighters (145 kph Pfalz A.II). This means that it was a more widely produced German fighter than the Halberstadt D.II.

+ It was the first aircraft to down a Zepplin (by the RNAS, using bombs).

+ It was Guynemer's first service plane









F.E.2

+ More than 1000 built

+ F.E.2b at around 80mph could be caught by the E.III (F.E.2d is slightly faster than the E.III at 92mph, although much slower than the D.II)

+ Used as Fighters, Bombers, and Night Fighters (later in the war)

+ Relatively long services life

+ A substantial number of aces flew this plane

+ Varied armament, including guns, bombs and searchlights (later in the war)

BE2c/d



Successor to the 164+ Bleriot Experimental 2, 2a and 2b.

Inherently stable aircraft.

Aileron control, forward stagger on equal chord, equal span wings - the earlier BE2 models had warping for roll control.

Could carry a respectable bomb load -
Renault 70hp, 4x25lb Cooper under nose.
RAF1a 90hp, up to 2x 112lb or 10x 20lb bombs under wings, though with a full bomb load the front seat observer was often left behind.

BE2d had additional fuel, but the already indifferent climb performance was reduced further, taking 1:30 to reach 10,000ft instead of the 45 minutes for the BE2c.

The BE2d does have the advantage of the observer in the rear seat, permitting the standard rail MG mount.
The BE2c observer has mounting points for 1-2 guns that can be transferred - the wires, struts, wings and fuselage permit little view and less firing arcs for the gunner/observer.

The BE2c had some success as a night fighter/interceptor over England where it downed 7 airships.

1,300+ built - the archetype of the Fokker-Fodder, it was still the most common RFC type in Bloody April, when it was totally outclassed by the early Albatros scouts.

Later BE2E had unequal chord wings, of a more efficient section but was otherwise similar to the 'd' without the long range tank.

Speeds:
BE2 ~ 70mph at sea-level
BE2c ~ 72mph at 6,500ft
BE2e ~ 82mph at 6,500ft

http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/image/tid/111

I really love the Voisin III types from 1914:



It was one of the first dedicated bombers of WWI! And sadly the one we started building in FS-WWI never got completed.

The Sikorsky Ilya Muromets is another bomber favorite of mine. Also entered service in 1914 and it was the world's first purpose-designed bomber. Only one was ever shot down:

Hey ArgonV... to flesh out your reports



Voisin III/LA

+ Over 1200 produced (in service with several powers)

+ 65-70 mph (easy for an E.III to catch)

+ Guns, bombs and cannons

+ Long service life

+ First air-to-air victory, one of the first designed bombers, an early aircraft with a steel frame.

- Gun is forward mounted and flexible

+ Nominal 90 kg (47-200 kg depending on acceptable flight speed and engine) bombload




Voisin V/LAS, Voisin VIII/LAP/LBP

+ Over 1100 produced

+ 75 mph (120 kph)

+ One or two flexible guns for the gunner

+ 60 kg bombload

+ 37mm cannon (in LBP) for attacking ground targets (sometimes with an additional machine gun for self defense)




Sikorsky Ilya Muromets

+ First heavy bomber

+ Powerful bombload, long range

+ At least ten different types of gun carried (in varying configurations), as well as air-to-ground rockets and bombs.

+ Long service life

+ Over seventy produced

- Production split across many prototypical variants

- Only used on the Russian Front

How about the German Taube machines? Here is an Etrich Taube:



-Over 14 different companies built them.

-Withdrawn from frontline service 6 months after the war started, but still used as a trainer.

-Carried rifles and pistols as armament, and hand-dropped bombs.

-World's first stealth plane, due to translucent wings. It was hard to spot once airborne above 400 meters.

-Unknown number built, but thought to be in the hundreds.

Love the Taube! Although they varied a lot depending on the manufacturer - if we had to go with a trainer, I'd go with the Morane L or the Farman III...

Farman Type

+ Widely copied and produced in large numbers for its time (Think "Cessna of 1909).

+ 37 mph speed (makes everything else seem fast)

+ Could be in the hands of any side

+ Exceptional (and mind-blowingly astounding) view

- Completely unarmed









Caudron G.3

+ produced in large numbers(>1400-2400?)

+ 68 mph (105 kph)

+ Smaller, single engined Caudron

- Single machine gun and/or hand-dropped bombs

- defensive armament is difficult to use

- Relies on wing warping








Caudron G.4

+ Over 1400 produced

+ 77 mph (possible for an E.III to catch)

+ French bomber, twin engined

+ Bombs and a forward flexible gun

- Gun is forward mounted and flexible







Farman F.40

+ Served in somehwat comparable numbers, peaking at over 190 and "There were still 109 F.40 at the front in August 1917." (if anyone has exact figures - let me know)

+ 84 mph (only slightly faster than the E.III)

+ Light bombs, Le Prieur Rockets and a forward flexible gun

- Gun is forward mounted and flexible



Note: We now have half a dozen Entente types and only one for the Central powers!

Any suggestions? Rumpler C.I maybe?

How about the Friedrichshafen G.II/G.III. It was a mainstay bomber design the Germans used from 1915 onwards.



-35 G.IIs were built, 338 G.IIIs were built

-The G.III had a max speed of 84 mph

-G.II armament: 3 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine guns
300 kg (660 lb) of bombs

-G.III armament: Usually 2-3 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine guns.
Any combination of 12.5 kg (7.5 lb), 50 kg (110 lb), 100 kg (220 lb), 300 kg (660 lb) or 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) P.u.W bombs or air-mines up to a maximum warload of 1000 kg (2,200 lb).

Or for a really odd one we made in FS-WWI along with the Taube, Ca.42, Caudron G.4 and Ilya Murometz, the Gotha G.I!



-20 built

-Served from 1915-1916

-80 mph max speed

-Floatplane version produced!

-1-2 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine guns. The streamlined container under the centre of the bottom wing carried vertically suspended Carbonit bombs, while the cage tube allowed additional bombs carried in the fuselage to be discharged without fear of hitting the propellers.

Blériot XI

- 46 mph (25hp) to 68mph (70hp)

- Short service career in WWI (unlikely to meet existing planes). However, widely used.

+ Up to 25kg of bombs or a machine gun (mobile or oblique)

+ Used as a trainer after ceasing front line use

+ Used in the first Channel Crossing





Sopwith 1 1/2 "Strutter"

+ Almost 6000 produced

+ 80 mph the earlier versions were slightly slower than the Fokker E.III, although more powerful versions were introduced (exceeding 100 mph).

+ Very long service life (April 1916 to early 1918)

+ Fixed forward firing gun, rear gunner and bombs

+ Home defence fighter version, single seat bomber version (particularly in French service)

+ Airbrakes and trim

A note on the FE2: there were two engines that can basically be ascribed to two versions, the 120 HP FE2b and the 160 HP FE2d. The FE2b could only travel at around 80 MPH and could be caught by the E.III. It was replaced by the FE2d starting in late 1916 which could do 90+ MPH.

The above, like many things WWI, is not exactly true. There were some 160 HP FE2bs and later in the war some FE2ds got a further engine boost, although they were mainly night bombers by then. In WFP we made the distinction FE2b = 120 HP and FE2d = 160 HP, and it still seems reasonable.

The Strutter is a hugely important plane, serving over 18 months for both the British and the French.

The French are really lacking an early war plane - the Breguet is late 1917. No question the Farman F.40 is the most important early French 2 seater. The Salmson would make a great addition as the Breguet's stable mate.

For early war German 2 seaters I like the Alb C.III the best, but there are several to choose from: Aviatik, Rumpler, LVG, and Albatros all produced 2 seaters in 1916.

I would love the see the Roland CL.II. I think that a "normal" 2 seater like the one of those above is more important, but the Walfisch would sell.

So many planes, so little time ...

The Aviatik C.I is another FS-WWI favorite of mine. Early versions had the gunner up front, with a side mounted parabellum gun!



-Served from 1915-1917

-Could carry hand-dropped bombs

-88.75 mph top speed

-I don't know how many were built

Farman MF.11, another one I liked from FS-WWI



-Rear firing machine gun

-Served in many theaters with many nations starting from 1914, front line service stopped on the Western Front by 1915

-66 mph max speed

-Could carry 18 × 7.3 kg (16 lb) bombs

The Aviatik was a very important early war aicraft. According to the Frontbestand, it entered service in considerable number in December 1915, peaked in June of 1916 (at about 220 aircraft) and began withdrawal from the front in around February 1917. According to the kill lists of aces it was a commonly claimed target.

+ Peaked at about 220 aircraft. According to the Frontbestand, it entered service in considerable number in December 1915 and began withdrawal from the front in around February 1917 (June of 1916 peak). According to the kill lists of aces it was a commonly claimed target.

- Initially carried one (or even two) sideways firing gun(s) as the pilot mounted in rear. Later production (C.Ia) had the pilot and gunner reversed to give a good field of fire. No fixed forward firing gun, small bomb load (30 kg), along with hand dropped bombs.

+ Lower wing loading than the other early C.I series aircraft (43 sq metres), but slightly shorter endurance





Albatros C.III

- Peaked at about 350 aircraft in service. More than 50 aircraft in service from February 1916 introduction to June 1917 (August 1916 peak). It doesn't appear to have been regularly claimed as a kill.

- At 87 mph (140 kph), it is slow enough to be caught by the D.H.2

+ Defensive gunner and light bombs (up to 90 kg)

+ One of the first two-seaters to be armed with a fixed forward firing gun

- Lower service ceiling (3000 metres), good wing area (37 sq metres)







Rumpler C.I

- Peaked at about 230 aircraft in service (with the famous mid-war C.IV peaking at ~260 in comparison). More than 50 aircraft in service from June 1916 to August 1917 (October 1916 peak).

- At 94 mph (151 kph) it easily exceeds several early-war Entente aircraft, slightly suprassing the D.H.2 and similar to the N.11

+ Defensive gunner and light bombs (up to 100 kg)

+ One of the earliest two-seaters to have a fixed forward firing gun.

- Not as famous or high flying as late war Rumplers (eg. C.IV - which may also have more visual appeal)

+ Good altitude performance (5000 metres), although somewhat lower altitude than later Rumplers. Smaller wing area than comparable aircraft (35.7 sq metres)







The LVG C.II

+ Over 255 aircraft at the front in June 1916. More than 50 aircraft in service from December 1915 to February 1917 (June 1916 peak). The LVG series were among the most commonly shot down two-seaters during the war - with the DFW C series being the only type to greatly exceed it in the kill lists of aces.

+ At 81mph (130 kph), it is slow enough to be caught by the D.H.2 and even the Morane 'L' or F.E.2b!

+ Defensive gunner and light bombs (up to 60 kg)

+ One of the first two-seaters to be armed with a fixed forward firing gun

+ Decent altitude performance (4000 metres) and good wing area (37.7 metres)

+ The first heavier than air aircraft to bomb London






LFG Roland C.II

- Only 53 aircraft at the front. More than thirty aircraft at the fron from June 1916 to April 1917 (Feb 1917 peak).

- At 102 mpg (165 kph), it can easily outrun the D.H.2 and N.11

+ Defensive gunner and light bombs (up to 50 kg)

+ One of the first two-seaters to be armed with a fixed forward firing gun

- Very small wing area (26 sq metres) and difficult handling.

+ Excellent forward/upward visibility, but unusally poor downward visibility

+ A recognisable and charismatic design

Nieuport 12

- It appears that only 160 were built

+ An early type to carry fixed forward firing and flexible defensive guns

- 98mph top speed, can easily outrun a Fokker E.III

- I've found no records (so far) of bomb racks (hand dropped bombs remain possible)






Morane-Saulnier N

- Only 49 aircraft built (1/12th the number of Morane 'L' series)

- 90 mph (cannot catch currently modelled two-seaters)

+ Early synchronised gun fighter




Morane-Saulnier H

- 75 mph (cannot catch currently modelled two-seaters)

+ Produced in reasonable numbers, although only a minority found their way into the military

+ Could carry a machine gun

+ Essentially the Pfalz E series (over 100 produced - more than twice the number of Morane 'N')

+ Some were armed with synchronised machine guns




Morane-Saulnier BB

- 92 mph (cannot catch currently modelled two-seaters)

- Only 94 produced (twice the number of the Morane N but 1/6th the number of Morane L)

+ Both forward and rearward firing guns as options








Fokker E.IV

+ 100 mph (160 kph) top speed

- Only 40 produced

- Significantly different fuselauge (compared to the E.III)

+ 1-3 fixed forward firing machine guns

- Relies on wing warping





Fokker D.II

+ 150 kph (10kph faster than an E.III and possibly 5 kph faster than a Halberstadt D.II)

- Only 177 aircraft ordered, with a smaller number at the front (The numbers were greater than the Halberstadt D.II)

+ Controls and fuselauge similar to an E.III; One of the only combat biplanes to rely on wing warping!

- Limited maneuverability






Halberstadt D.II

- Produced in very small numbers (only about fifty aircraft at the front). In fact, fewer may have served than the Fokker D.II

- no significant improvement on speed or firepower over the E.III (although there is some debate regarding the top speed).

+ Considerably lower wing loading than the Fokker E.III and equipped with Ailerons, making it significantly more maneuverable. Good dive performance.

+ Reportedly shot down unusually often by Allied aces. Also flown by a number of German aces.

+ Used to test experimental rocket weapons

I'd like to see the early Fokker D because of the wing warping, the Halberstadt only served i
n low numbers but does seem to have caused quite an Impact at the front. Manfred flew the Halberstadt in early 1917 when his Albatros was in the shop so it can't have been that bad, surely?

I like the Halberstadt D.II ...quite a few are listed as shot down - so it was more relevant as a target at least...
Still, if it wasn't for the Ace and 'game balance' the aircraft would be largely forgotten about (as would the Morane N). Of course, I'd pre-order the D.II!

Further updated some of the posts above... is there any other significant plane I should know about?

I try to be careful about plane types shot down meaning very much. Every pusher in the Allied inventory was a "Vickers" to the Germans. On the German side you had white tractor two place biplanes. I would not give much credence for the ability to distinguish between an Albatros C type vs. an Aviatiks vs.an LVGs. Rumplers could be identified - they were the ones flying too high and too fast to catch .

The Roland two-seaters would be nice to have. They were basically German two-seater fighters. German doctrine basically had their two-seater recon planes escorted by the same types which were organized in squadrons that specialized in escort work; when they ran into Entente fighters, the plane doing the recon would run away while the others would cover its escape.