Halberstadt CL.IV

Karl Thies, chief designer of the Halberstädter Flugzeugwerke, G.m.b.H., designed the CL.IV as a replacement for the CL.II. As the CL.II had proven to be particularly effective in the ground support role, the focus of an improved version was to create a specific ground attack aircraft.

The new CL.IV featured a shorter, strengthened fuselage and a horizontal stabilizer of greater span and higher aspect ratio than that of the CL.II. These changes, along with a one-piece, horn-balanced elevator, gave the CL.IV much greater maneuverability than its predecessor. After tests were completed of the prototype in April 1918, at least 450 were ordered from Halberstadt, and an additional 250 aircraft from a subcontractor, LFG (Roland), as Halberstadt CL.IV(Rol).

The Halberstadt CL.IV was one of the most effective ground attack aircraft of World War I, relying on its good maneuverability to avoid ground fire. It appeared on the Western Front towards the end of the German offensives in 1918. Flights of four to six aircraft flew close support missions, at an altitude of less than one hundred feet, suppressing enemy infantry and artillery fire just ahead of the advancing German troops. After these late German offensives stalled, Halberstadt CL.IVs were used to disrupt advancing Allied offensives by striking at enemy troop assembly points and night sorties were also made against Allied airfields.

Towards the end of the war, on bright, moonlit nights, CL.IV squadrons attempted to intercept and destroy Allied bombers as they returned from their missions.

In 1921, the newly established German airline Luftverkehr Paul Strähle operated three CL.IVs, converted to carry two passengers, operating them on services between Stuttgart and Konstanz, adding a route between Stuttgart and Nuremberg in 1922. They remained in use until 1923.Stroud 1966, pp. 280–281Schneider 2005, pp. 51–53

;{{flag|German Empire}}

• Luftstreitkräfte

;{{flag|Germany|Weimar}}

• Luftverkehr Paul Strähle

;{{EST}}

• Estonian Air ForceGerdessen 1982, p.76

;{{LTU}}

• Lithuanian Air Force: 12 aircraft (No. 9432, 5814, 5831, 5909, 5915, 5920, 5937, 6589, 8176, 8192, 9409, 9486)Pirmieji karo aviacijos lėktuvai 1919-23 m., http://www.plienosparnai.lt/page.php?81

;{{POL}}

• Polish Air Force: 3 aircraftMorgała, Andrzej (1997). Samoloty wojskowe w Polsce 1918-1924. Warsaw: Lampart. {{ISBN|83-86776-34-X}}, pp.118-119, 295

;{{flag|Russian SFSR|1918}}

• Russian Air ForceGrosz, Peter M. (1994). Halberstadt Cl.IV, Windsock Datafile no. 43, Albatros Productions, {{ISBN|0-948414-58-8}}, pp.4,12

File:Halberstadt CL.IV (7520535126).jpg

File:17 14 001 museum.jpg]]

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=German Aircraft of the First World WarGray and Thetford 1962, p. 142.

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|crew=

|capacity=

|length m=6.54

|length note=

|span m=10.74

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|height m=2.67

|height note=

|wing area sqm=27

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=

|empty weight kg=728

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=1068

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|more general=

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Mercedes D.III

|eng1 type=6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engine

|eng1 kw=120

|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=2

|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller

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|max speed kmh=165

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|endurance=3 hours 15 minutes

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|time to altitude={{cvt|5000|m}} in 32 minutes

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|guns=

:* 2 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) LMG 08/15 "Spandau" machine gun, synchronized

• 1 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun, on ring mount for observer

|bombs=

:* Grenades

:* Up to 5 × 10 kg (20 lb) bombs

|rockets=

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}}

{{Reflist}}

• Gerdessen, Frederik. "Estonian Air Power 1918 – 1945". Air Enthusiast, No. 18, April – July 1982. pp. 61–76. {{ISSN|0143-5450}}.
• Gray, Peter and Thetford, Owen. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962.
• {{cite book |last1=Kabatek |first1=Mateusz |last2=Kulczynski |first2=Fr. Robert SDB |title=German Aircraft in Polish Service: Volume 1: Halberstadt Cl.II, Cl.IV, C.V; LVG C.VI; & Hannover Cl.V |date=2022 |publisher=Aeronaut Books |location=n.p.|name-list-style=amp |isbn=978-1-953201-58-4|series=Great War Aviation Centennial Series|volume=70}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Klaauw|first1=Bart van der|title=Unexpected Windfalls: Accidentally or Deliberately, More than 100 Aircraft 'arrived' in Dutch Territory During the Great War |journal=Air Enthusiast |date=March–April 1999 |issue=80 |pages=54–59 |issn=0143-5450}}
• {{cite magazine |last=Schneider |first=Richard E. |title=Au musée de Schorndorf: Le plus ancien avion de ligne allemand |magazine=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=October 2005 |issue=431 |pages=51–53 |language=fr}}
• {{cite book |last=Stroud |first=John |title=European Transport Aircraft since 1910 |year=1966 |location=London |publisher=Putnam }}

{{commons category|Halberstadt CL.IV}}

• [http://collections.nasm.si.edu/code/emuseum.asp?profile=objects&newstyle=single&quicksearch=A19840660000 Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Halberstadt CL.IV]
• [http://www.luftfahrtmuseum.com]

{{Halberstadt aircraft}}

{{Idflieg C-class designations}}

CL.IV

Category:1910s German attack aircraft

Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft

Category:Biplanes

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1918