Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen
Friedrichshafen G.II
The Friedrichshafen G.II was a German twin‑engine bomber developed by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen during the First World War. First flown in early 1916, it entered service with the Luftstreitkräfte in the summer of that year, replacing the earlier G.I model. The aircraft featured a wooden box‑type fuselage with a rectangular cross‑section, a crew of three – pilot, navigator/bombardier and gunner – and a distinctive biplane wing arrangement supported by struts and wire bracing. Power was supplied by two 150 hp Mercedes D.III inline engines mounted on the lower wing, giving a top speed of about 140 km/h and a service ceiling near 3,500 m. Its bomb load of up to 200 kg could be released from an internal rack, while a single 7.92 mm Parabellum machine gun defended the rear cockpit.
Although quickly outclassed by later German bombers, the G.II proved valuable for strategic night raids over Belgium and France, demonstrating the utility of multi‑engine platforms for payload and range. Its production of roughly 200 units contributed to the rapid expansion of Germany’s aerial warfare capability and influenced subsequent designs such as the Friedrichshafen G.III, marking an important step in the evolution of combat aircraft.
Although quickly outclassed by later German bombers, the G.II proved valuable for strategic night raids over Belgium and France, demonstrating the utility of multi‑engine platforms for payload and range. Its production of roughly 200 units contributed to the rapid expansion of Germany’s aerial warfare capability and influenced subsequent designs such as the Friedrichshafen G.III, marking an important step in the evolution of combat aircraft.
Classification
Dimensions
- Wing Area
- 75 square metre
- Length
- 11.41 metre
- Height
- 3.65 metre
- Mass
- 1930 kilogram
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1916