Neiuport XII

22 July 2002, 02:31 AM

Does anyone know the period of service at the front for the Nieuport XII? I understand it was a development of the Nieuport X, but I have little information about it's service and role during the war. When was it withdrawn from the front?

Thanks

MikeW · 22 July 2002, 09:07 AM

The Nieuport 12 was an "enlargement" of the 10, providing a 2 seater, with the pilot in front, power by Clerget 110 (later upped to 130hp).

The 12's wing area was 23 square m , compared to the 10's area of 18 square m.

You don't say which service you are interested in, but in the RNAS the 12's saw service from early 16, to the end of 17. *In 1917, they tended to be used as "hacks" by new scout squadrons to break in new pilots before letting them loose on new pups or triplanes.

There is an interesting account of their use with Naval 5 (bombing squadron) in CPO Bartlett's book, "Bomber Pilot 1916-1918" (also reisued as "In The Teeth Of The Wind").

The French Air service used 12s, and I believe the RFC also used them.

Mike

Dave_Kent · 22 July 2002, 09:22 AM

Hello:

There is a beautifully restored Nieuport 12 in Ottawa.

This link should get you close.

Dave

http://www.aviation.nmstc.ca/Eng/Collectio...l_alphabet.html

22 July 2002, 09:25 AM

Thanks for the great info Mike. Do you happen to know when the French Air Service stopped using the Nieuport XII on the front lines? There have been references to German victory claims of the type as late as September 1917. Is this possible?

Thanks

StephenLawson · 22 July 2002, 05:00 PM

Greetings all:

In reference to the life operations of the Nieu.XII thought you might find this of some interest.

I have a large format photo of the captured and repainted Fok. Dr.I 581/17. Of unusual note is that in the background is the Nieu.XII that the horseshoe cowling and prop were taken from. How do I know this? The Dr.I cowling has been placed on the Nieuport XII fuselage in place of the usual horseshoe cowling ( & prop) that now has been placed on the Dr.I. I would recon the date to be early 1919.

gregoire · 23 July 2002, 09:29 PM

on the NXII in french service
A few unit have been using the plane for lost of them the N 12 was not the main plane of the unit (like for the N3)
for exemple the N77 was one of the few unit being mainly equiped with N12 and have used the plane up to mid 17 (maybe even latter)

The berlin raid plane was a N12
A lot of N XII were in service in small number in other squadron so it possible some were still in service in late 17

24 July 2002, 02:37 AM

Thanks for the info guys. Gregoire, what role did N77 use the Nieuport XII? Was it flown as a single- seater in the fighter role, or as a two-seater?

Thanks

gregoire · 24 July 2002, 12:01 PM

A bit more info for the Nieuport 12
it was used mainly in single seat equipped unit and was used in those unit as a multi task plane doing short range recco or transport spie behind the enemy line
for the N77 it was used the 12 in the same time as the 17 and then even at the same time than the spad it used its two seater for bomber mission like over the german base of marinois in feb 17

As for the last user of the 12 I guess Siam is a good candidat there single N12 was still used in 1933 (the last plane being use as trainer in russia was out in 25)
for france in early 17 only 4 N12 were still in service with N77 it seems that those plane took part to the bombing mission
It must be nottice that no unit were equipped only with nieuport 12 (in fact most the fighter unit have a couple of N12 or even more for specila and recce mission)
It seems that the N77 was the only unit were the N12 was the main plane in service