Gotha WD.2

The Gotha WD.2 was an early German maritime reconnaissance and trainer aircraft produced by Flugzeugbau Gotha during World War I. First flown in 1915, the WD series (Wasser Doppeldecker) was designed to operate from water, reflecting the Imperial German Navy’s need for a reliable platform for coastal patrol, artillery spotting and pilot instruction. The WD.2 featured a conventional biplane layout with equal‑span wings, a wooden frame covered in fabric, and a detachable float undercarriage that could be swapped for land wheels, granting it flexibility for both seaplane and land‑plane roles. Powered by a 120 hp Oberursel U.0 rotary engine, it delivered a modest top speed of around 135 km/h and a range of roughly 400 km, sufficient for short‑range missions over the North Sea and Baltic. Its open cockpits accommodated a pilot and an observer, who operated a basic forward‑firing machine gun and a flexible rear gun for defensive fire. Though only a limited number were built, the WD.2’s dual‑use capability and straightforward construction helped refine Germany’s early seaplane tactics, influencing later, more capable Gotha water‑plane models and establishing a foundation for naval aviation development during the war.

Gotha

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