Hannoversche Waggonfabrik
| Company type | Aktiengesellschaft |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway rolling stock, Aircraft manufacturing |
| Founded | 1898 |
| Headquarters | Hannover-Linden , Germany |
| Products | Railway passenger and freight cars, Aircraft (notably Hannover CL series) |
Hannoversche Waggonfabrik AG was a German company primarily recognized for its aircraft production during World War I. Initially established as a manufacturer of railway rolling stock, the firm was mandated by the German government in 1916 to commence aircraft construction. The aviation division was set up in Hannover-Linden, where licensed production of various models took place until 1916, when the company introduced its own Hannover-designed aircraft.
History
Founded in 1898, Hannoversche Waggonfabrik AG (Hawa) specialized in manufacturing passenger and freight railway cars for Germany. With the outbreak of the First World War, the company initially focused on producing rolling stock for military use but progressively expanded into aviation, beginning with propeller fabrication in 1915. This evolved into repair services and eventually licensed aircraft manufacturing by the end of that year. The transition into aircraft production was facilitated by Hannover's skilled workforce and substantial reserves of seasoned timber, a valuable resource for early aircraft construction.
In September 1917, Hannover appointed Hermann Dorner, formerly associated with DFW, as chief designer. His inaugural project was the two-seat fighter known as the Hannover CL.II, which achieved considerable success and led to the subsequent development of the enhanced Hannover CL.III model.
The advanced Hannover CL.V entered production towards the conclusion of the war. Afterward, Hannover sought to pivot towards civil aviation manufacturing; however, the Treaty of Versailles imposed a ban on aircraft production, compelling the company to revert to its original focus on railway rolling stock fabrication.
Aircraft
Production data sourced from [1]
- Hannover C.I (licensed version of Aviatik C.I) – 146 units
- Halberstadt D.II – 30 units
- Rumpler C.Ia – 375 units
- Hannover CL.II – 443 units
- Hannover CL.III – 180 CL.III and 611 CL.IIIa units
- Hannover CL.IV – 5 units
- Hannover CL.V – 108 units
- Hannover F.3
- Hannover F.10 – single unit produced
- Hannover Vampyr
References
- ↑ Grosz August 1971, p.292.
- German Aircraft of the First World War, Gray P. & Thetford O., 1970 Putnam ISBN 0-370-00103-6
- Grosz, Peter M (July 1971). "Hannover Aircraft 1915–1919:Part 1". Air Pictorial: 252–256.
- Grosz, Peter M (August 1971). "Hannover Aircraft 1915–1919:Part 2". Air Pictorial: 290–293.
- Gunston, Bill (1993). World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. p. 140.
External links
