Fokker
Fokker T.IV
The Fokker T.IV was a Dutch three‑engine torpedo‑bomber and reconnaissance floatplane produced by the Fokker company in the early 1920s. Conceived in response to a 1921 contract from the Royal Netherlands Navy, the aircraft first flew on 26 April 1924 and entered service the following year, operating from the water‑borne bases at Den Helder and De Kooy. Its high‑wing monoplane layout featured a robust wooden spars and fabric covering, while three 450 hp Lorraine-Dietrich 12E water‑cooled V‑12 engines were mounted in a tractor configuration—one centrally on the fuselage and one on each wing strut. The T.IV could carry up to 1 200 kg of ordnance, including a single torpedo or a mixed load of bombs, and was equipped with a forward‑firing Vickers machine gun and a dorsal Lewis gun for defensive fire. The aircraft’s hull incorporated a watertight, stepped design that gave it excellent sea‑handling capabilities, allowing take‑off and landing in moderate seas.
Although only a limited series of fifteen units were built, the Fokker T.IV demonstrated the practicality of multi‑engine floatplanes for naval strike and patrol missions. Its operational experience influenced later Dutch naval aircraft and contributed to the development of larger, more capable floatplane bombers in the interwar period, marking an important step in the evolution of maritime aviation.
Although only a limited series of fifteen units were built, the Fokker T.IV demonstrated the practicality of multi‑engine floatplanes for naval strike and patrol missions. Its operational experience influenced later Dutch naval aircraft and contributed to the development of larger, more capable floatplane bombers in the interwar period, marking an important step in the evolution of maritime aviation.
Classification
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 30
- First Flight
- 1927
Design & Classification
- Primary Use
- Manufacturer
- Fokker
- Engine
- SR-1820-F2 Cyclone
- Wikidata ID
- Q2301351