List of German navy seaplane serials

[kristjanr]

I came accross this list of German Navy Seaplane serials, compiled and posted on the WWI Models list by Harry Woodman back in 1998 IIRC. It has some holes and glitches which some of you can perhaps help me identify and clear up. Specifically I'd like to clear up the following:

• Serials 236-240 are listed as Gotha WD.2 but I am quite sure they were WD.1, at lest they had a 100hp engine.
• Serials 285-289 are listed as Gotha WD.1. The Gotha WD.1 hand a 100hp engine. The Serno report reveals them as having been unarmed but that they had a 150hp engine. Were these WD.2s or upgraded up WD.1s?
• Gotha WD.2 424 is identified as a WD.2a in some sources. Was there such a variant? The Serno report reveals that his was probably the first armed WD.2 delivered which could explay the WD.2a designation.
• Does anybody know what type of aircraft serial 425 was?

D2 Alb (70 hp)
D3 Alb (70 hp)
E4 Ru (Taube)
D5 Alb D5
(95 hp NAG)
D7 AGO biplane (Farman type 100 ARG)
E8 Ru (Taube)
D9-11 Alb (100 hp ARG)
D12 Avro biplane
D13 Alb B. 1
D14 Alb (100 Merc)
D15 AGO biplane (Farman type)
D 16-17 Alb (100 NAG)
D19 Ago D20 Alb (100 Merc)
21-24 Alb (100 Merc)
25-29 FF 19
30-39 Ago
40 Alb
41 FF 11
42 Lohner (Austrian designed machine)
43 Curtiss F 44 Sopwith 'Batboat'
45 AEG FB
46 Alb Wahl' initially then no given to Oertz 41-46 were all types of flying boats under test by the German Navy at the beginning of the war.
47 Ru DD
49-51 Ru DD
52-56 Alb (150 Bz)
57-58 Br W
59-61 Go (150 Bz)
62 FF 27
63 Oertz W 4
64 Ru DD
65-69 Ago (150 ARG)
71-72 Br W
73 Union
74 Alb (150 Bz)
75 Oertz W 4
76-85 FF 19
86-90 Ru 4B11
91-100 FF 29A
101-110 Ru 4B12
1ll Alb (100 Merc)
113-114 Alb (100 Merc)
115 Ago Clw
116 Br AE
117 FF 34 (also FF 44)
118 Go WD 5
119 Go WD 7
120 Go Ursinus UWD
122 Alb (100 Merc)
171 Alb (120 Merc)
187 Curtiss
201-220 FF 29
221-230 Alb K 351
231-235 Br W
236-240 Go WD 2
241-253 Ru 4B12
254-258 Go WD 2
259 Go WD 3
260-272 Br W (160 Bz)
273 Br W (160 Mb)
274-275 FF 31
276-280 Oertz W 5
281 Oertz 'Flugschoner'
282-283 Trav F 1
284 Trav (160 Merc)
285-289 Go WD 1
290-296 FF 29
300 FF 35
401-403 Wilh (100 Merc)
404-405 Danzig (160 Mere)
406-410 FF 29
411-415 FF 29A
416-421 FF 33A
422-423 Br W
424 Go WD 2
426 FF 33
432 Alb (100 Merc).
433-435 Alb (cancelled)
436-440 Ru 4B12
441-442 Ru (150 Bz)
443-445 LVG (160 Merc)
446-447 Alb K 361
450 Alb W 2
451-455 FF 33
456-460 FF 33B
461-462 Wilh (150 Bz)
463-466 Kiel (150 Bz)
467-470 Danzig (150 Bz)
471-473 FF 33E
474-475 Oertz W 7
476 Go WD 8
477 Br W (160 Merc)
478-483 FF 33E
484 Br W (150 Bz)
485-489 Br NW
490 Sab SF 1
491-508 FF 33E
509 LFG (150 Bz)
510 FF 33E
511-516 Br FB
517-526 Br NW
527 Alb W 3
528 Br GW
529-533 FF 33E
534-538 FF 33F
539 Ago CIIw
541-550 FF 33E
552 Alb Bl with floats
553-562 FF 33E
563-570 Br NW
571 Br LW
572 Go WD 9
573-577 Go WD 2
580-585 Sab SF 2
586 Ago CIIw
587 FF 39
588-590 Br KW
591-595 FF 33E
596-600 FF 33H
601-608 Br NW
609-618 Sab SF 3
619 Sab SF 3
620-624 Br GW
625-632 Br GNW
633-637 FF 33E
638-642 FF 33H
643-645 FF 39
646-650 Br GW
651-658 Br GNW
659-663 FF 33E
664-668 FF 33H
669 FF 40
670-676 Go WD 7
677 Trav F 2
678 FF 41A
679 Go WD 11
680-684 FF 33E
685-689 FF 33H
690-694 FF 33E
695-699 FF 33H
700-704 Br GW
705-714 Sab SF 2 (built by LFG)
715-724 FF 33E
725-729 FF 33E
730-734 FF 33H
735 FF (2x 220 Bz)
736-740 FF 33E
741-745 FF 33H
746 Br GDW
747 Alb W 4
748 Br KDW
749 FF 43
750 LFG W
751 Flu 6BI
752-781 Br NW (built by Gotha)
783-784 Br KDW
785-786 Alb W 4
787-788 Ru 6BI
789-790 FF (built by LFG)
791-800 Sab (built by WG)
801 Go WD 14a
802-811 FF 33E
812-821 FF 3~H
822-841 FF 33E
842-843 Go WD 15
844 Trav
845-849 Alb W5
850-889 FF 33E
890.899 Ru 6BI
900 Sab SF 4
901 Sab SF 4 (triplane)
902-911 Alb W 4
912-913 Br KDW
914-921 Br KWD
922-931 FF 33J
932-941 FF 33L
943 LFG W 16
944 Go WD 12
945 Wilh W 9
946 Br CC
947 Wilh (220 Merc)
948-967 Alb W 4
968-987 Sab SF 5
988-990 Br W 11
991-995 Go WD 11
996-1000 FF 41A
1001-1010 FF 33L
1011-1016 Br W 12
1017-1036 Sab (built by WG)
1037-1061 Ru 61211
1062-1066 Ru 6BII
1067-1076 Br KDW
1077-1079 Br W 16
1080-1084 Br GW
1085-1094 FF 33L
1095-1104 FF 33E
1105-1106 Danzig (150 Bz)
1107-1116 Alb W 4
1117-1126 FF 33L
1127-1136 FF 39
1137-1146 Br CC
1147-1156 Trav F 2
1157 Oertz W 8
1158-1177 FF 33L
1178-1187 Br W 12
1188-1207 Ru 6Bil
1208-1210 FF 41A
1211-1213 Go WD 11
1214-1223 Sab (built by LVG)
1224-1233 Sab SF 5
1288 FF 33L
1298 FF 33J
1299-1301 LTG FD 1 (5DI)
1302-1326 Alb W 4
1327-1351 Br CC
1352-1371 Sab SF 5
1372-1379 Go WD 11
1380-1394 Br KDW
1395-1414 Br W 12
1415-1430 Go WD 14
1431 Do Rs III
1432 Staak L
1433 Do Rs III
1434-1458 Ru 6BII
1459-1468 Sab SF 5 (built by LFG)
1469-1471 Br W 19
1472-1474 FF 48 1475-1477 Sab SF 7
1484-1503 Alb W 4
1504-1513 Alb W 4
1514 Sab SF 5
1515-1517 Go WD 20
1518-1520 LM FD 1 (5DI)
1521-1535 FF 49 C
1536-1550 FF 49 B
1551-1553 Br W 20
1554-1573 Br KDW
1577-1596 FF 33L
1597-1606 FF 49C
1607-1616 FF 49B
1617-1628 Go WD 14
1629-1631 Go (2 x 240 Mb)
1647-1649 Br W 23
1650 Danzig (220 Merc)
1651-1662 Go WD 14
1663-1665 FF 53
1669-1718 FF 49C
1719-1738 Alb W 4
1739-1741 Br W 26
1742-1841 FF 49C
1842-1856 FF 49C (built by Sab)
1872-1901 FF 49C (built by Sab)
1946-1970 Go WD 14
1971-1973 Trav F 4
1974-1979 Trav F 2
1980-1999 FF 33E
2000-2019 Br W 12
2020-2022 Sab SF 8
2023-2052 Br W 12
205-1-2092 FF 49C
2093-2132 Br W 12
2133-2134 Go WD 22
2135 Trav F 4
2138 Br W 18
2139* AEG (4 x 260 Mb) Renumbered to 9301
2201-2202 BrW27
2203-2206 Br W 29
2207-2216 Br W 19
2217-2236 Br W 12
2237 Br W 19
2238-2257 Br W 19
2258 Br W 25
2259-2278 Br W 19
2282-2284 Br W 32
2285-2286 Br W 32
2287-2300 Br W 29
2301-2302 Br (3 x 160 Merc)
2303-2304 Br (model for flying boat)
2501-2536 Br W 29
2537 Br W 19
2538-2540 Br W 33
2541-2542 Br W 33? (300 BuS)
2543 Br W 33
2544-2563 Br W 33? (260 Mb)
2564-2587 Br W 29
2588-2589 Br W 29?
2590-2592 Br (monoplane for U-boat, 110 Le Rhone)
2593-2643 Br W 29 ?
2653-2675 Br W 29 ?
2683-2684 Br W 33 ?
2726 Br W 33 ?
2727 Br W 34
3001-3030 FF 33S
3031-3060 FF 33J
3061-3063 FF (160 Merc)
3064-3083 FF 49c ?
3145-3148 FF type ?
3301-3302 FF 60 ? (4 x 160 Merc)
3303 FF 60 ? (4 x 160 Merc)
4326-4328 Go WD 27
5001-5003 Alb W 8
6001-6030 Sab SF 8
6031-6050 Sab (200 Bz)
6521-6540 FF 49C (built by LFG)
7001-7030 Trav F 4
7501-7503 Junk CLS-1 (195 Bz)
7801-7803 Junk (2 x 260 Merc)
8M1-8302 Staak (4 x 260 Merc)
8303-8306 Staak (4 x 260 Merc)
8307 Staak (4 x 500 Merc)
8502 Do CS1
8801-8802 Do Rs IV
8803-8804 Do (4 x 600 Mb)
9301 AEG (4 x 260 Mb)
9302-9303 AEG (4 x 260 Mb)



Oh ... and sorry for the length of this post.

[Varese2002]

The list of Harry Woodman has been superseded by the list Peter M. Grosz published in Over the Front Vol. 14 (1999) No.1. The title of the article is German Navy Seaplane Serial Numbers and Classification Codes.

This list differs in places from the list of Woodman.

In the Peter M. Grosz list 424-425 are given as Gotha WD 2, which went to Turkey.

236-240 are given as Gotha WD 2 of which 236-238 went to Turkey [August 21, 1915]. The serials 238 and 239 are given as BFT [two-seater with bombing equipment and FT transmitter].

The Gotha WD 2 floatplanes were flown to Turkey via Rumania. The WD 2 was armed by a movable MG firing over the upper wing. There is a picture of 424 depicting this configuration.

There existed a Gotha WD 2a model which differed by having a shorter span (span 15,60 meter) than the WD 2 (span 16,43 meter).

Sheers

Kees

[Kilian]

I think in this context it might be appropriate to link to this posting

[kristjanr]

Originally Posted by Varese2002

There existed a Gotha WD 2a model which differed by having a shorter span (span 15,60 meter) than the WD 2 (span 16,43 meter).

Thanks for the info. Where did that information come from? I have been searching for a good write-up on the Gotha WD series for a while.

[Varese2002]

Originally Posted by Kilian

I think in this context it might be appropriate to link to this posting

I see what you mean, but I cannot scan the OTF issues, as they will break their back completely when scanned. Sorry

Cheers

Kees

[TASSE]

Hi. Have you any information on the Albatros W 8 of which 4 were built.

Cheers TASSE.

[kristjanr]

Originally Posted by TASSE

Hi. Have you any information on the Albatros W 8 of which 4 were built.

Cheers TASSE.

5001-5003 Alb W 8

I'm still waiting on the updated serials list. OTF usually delivers but it often takes them quite a while.

There is a picture of a W 8 on page 277 of "German Aircraft of the First World War" by Gray/Thetford

[TASSE]

Thanks Kristjanr.
I do know that there were 4 aircraft & one of the first 3 crashed & the forth was given the same number.

Please keep me informed as there is no record found (as yet) to say of the fate of the remaining three.

Cheers TASSE.