Gotha WD 5

The Gotha WD 5 was a German two‑seat floatplane developed during the final years of World War I. Designed by the Gothaer Waggonfabrik, the aircraft first flew in early 1918 as a variant of the earlier WD series, intended for reconnaissance and anti‑submarine patrols over the North Sea and Baltic. The WD 5 employed a conventional biplane layout with equal‑span wings and was equipped with twin wooden floats that gave it excellent stability on water. Power came from a 260 hp Mercedes D.IVa six‑cylinder inline engine mounted in the nose, driving a two‑bladed propeller; the engine choice provided a reliable 180 km/h top speed and a service ceiling of roughly 4 500 m. The cockpit accommodated a pilot and an observer, the latter operating a flexible 7.92 mm Parabellum machine gun and a small camera for photographic intelligence. Although only a limited batch—about 30 units—was built before the armistice, the WD 5 demonstrated the practicality of sea‑based aerial scouting and influenced later German and Allied floatplane designs. Its combination of durable construction, respectable performance, and dual‑role capability marked an important step toward the interwar development of maritime aviation.

Gotha

Classification

Dimensions

Performance

Production & History

Design & Classification