Hansa-Brandenburg W.19

The Hansa‑Brandenburg W.19 was a German two‑seat, single‑engine floatplane designed at the end of World War I for maritime patrol, reconnaissance and light bombing. Developed in 1918 by the Berlin‑based manufacturer Hansa‑Brandenburg, it evolved from the earlier W.12 and W.29 fighters, incorporating a longer wing span and reinforced hull to improve stability on water. Powered by a 260 hp Benz Bz.IVa straight‑six engine, the W.19 could reach 170 km/h and carry a modest payload of four 50 kg bombs, a forward‑firing 7.92 mm LMG and a rear defensive gun. Its mixed wooden frame with fabric covering and a watertight, plywood‑skinned fuselage gave it both light weight and durability in harsh sea conditions. Although only a few dozen were produced before the Armistice, the aircraft saw operational service with the German Naval Air Service and later with the newly formed Swedish Navy, where it remained in limited use through the early 1920s. The W.19’s design demonstrated the practicality of versatile floatplanes, influencing post‑war reconnaissance seaplanes and establishing Hansa‑Brandenburg’s reputation for innovative naval aviation engineering. Its relatively high climb rate and sturdy undercarriage also made it suitable for carrier‑deck trials that foreshadowed later aircraft carrier development.

Hansa-Brandenburg

Hansa-Brandenburg W.19

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification