Hannoversche Waggonfabrik AG was a German aircraft manufacturer of the

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

era. It was known as a railway

rolling stock The term rolling stock in the rail transport industry refers to railway vehicles, including both powered and unpowered vehicles: for example, locomotives, freight and passenger cars (or coaches), and non-revenue cars. Passenger vehicles can b ...

constructor until required by the German government in 1916 to start the construction of aeroplanes. The aircraft branch of the company was established at Hannover-Linden where other types were first manufactured under licence until 1916 when the Hannover type itself came on stream.

History

The Hannoversche Waggonfabrik AG (Hawa) was founded in 1898 to build passenger and freight cars for Germany's railways. When the First World War began, Hannover built rolling stock for the German military, before gradually becoming more and more involved in the production of aircraft, starting with the manufacture of propellers in 1915 before moving on to repair work, and the license manufacture of aircraft by the end of the year. An important reason why Hannover, along with other railway manufacturers, was encouraged to move into aircraft work was that, not only did it have an extensive, well trained workforce, but also possessed large stocks of seasoned wood.Grosz July 1971, p.252. Hannover hired

Hermann Dorner Hermann Dorner (May 23, 1882 – February 6, 1963) was a German pioneer of aviation. During the First World War he designed two-seat combat aircraft for Hannoversche Waggonfabrik, most notably the Hannover CL.II through Hannover CL.IV design ...

, formerly of DFW as chief designer in September 1917,Grosz July 1971, p.253". with his first design being a two-seat fighter, the

Hannover CL.II The Hannover CL.II was an escort fighter, produced in Germany during World War I, designed in response to a 1917 requirement by the '' Idflieg'' for such a machine to protect reconnaissance aircraft over enemy territory. It was a compact biplane o ...

. This proved a great success, and was followed into production by the improved

Hannover CL.III The Hannover CL.III was a German military aircraft of World War I. It was a two-seat multi-role aircraft, primarily used as a ground attack machine. Like the other Hannover "light-C-class", or "CL" designated aircraft designed by Hermann Dorner, ...

.Grosz July 1971, pp. 254–255. The further improved

Hannover CL.V The Hannover CL.V was a biplane ground-attack aircraft built in Germany during World War I, which saw some service and additional production in Norway following the war. Development Derived from the Hannover CL.II, the CL.V shared the same conve ...

was in production at the end of the war, but while Hannover attempted to move into civil aircraft manufacture, the

Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles (french: Traité de Versailles; german: Versailler Vertrag, ) was the most important of the peace treaties of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June ...

suspended all aircraft manufacture and Hannover returned to its original business of railway stock manufacture.

Aircraft

Production figures from Grosz August 1971, p.292. *

Hannover C.I The Aviatik C.I was an observation aircraft which came into service during World War I in April 1915. It was a development of the Aviatik B.I and B.II models, being one of first aircraft of the new German C class of armed biplanes. In the C.I ...

(licensed built Aviatik C.I) – 146 * Halberstadt D.II – 30 * Rumpler C.Ia – 375 *

– 443 *

– 180 CL.III, 611 CL.IIIa *

Hannover CL.IV The Hannover C.IV was a prototype escort fighter built in Germany during World War I, which formed the basis for a passenger aircraft following the war. Derived from the Hannover CL.II, the C.IV shared the same basic conventional biplane configura ...

– 5 *

– 108 * Hannover F.3 *

Hannover F.10 __NOTOC__ The Hannover F.10 was an early German airliner developed shortly after World War I by Hannoversche Waggonfabrik based on their wartime escort fighters; the Hannover CL.II and its derivatives. Unlike those aircraft, which were all biplane ...

– 1 *

Hannover Vampyr The Hannover H.1 Vampyr (known in Germany as the HaWa Vampyr) was a German glider designed by Georg Madelung for the 1921 Rhön gliding competition, which was held at the Wasserkuppe from 8 August to 25 August 1921. The Vampyr is believed to be ...

References

* German Aircraft of the First World War, Gray P. & Thetford O., 1970 Putnam * * *

External links

{{Authority control Companies of Prussia Defunct aircraft manufacturers of Germany History of Hanover (city) Manufacturing companies based in Hanover 1898 establishments in Germany Manufacturing companies established in 1898