Identify the Friedrichshafen

Kilian · 29 June 2008, 04:31 AM

Someone from my navy forum has put a nice photo online of a seaplane on a Prussian warship. My guess it is in 1917? (crosses) but which type is it? our guesses were FF33 or FF49. Any help appreciated. Since i have no datafiles about this its always a problem.

http://forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/ind...ch=14220;image

regards
Kilian

Aquilius · 29 June 2008, 05:41 AM

Hi Kilian,

the float mounting and strut-arrangement is definitely Friedrichshafen.
So are your guessess: FF 33 or FF 49!

I thought first: three-bay - FF 49!
But if not misscaptioned I´ve seen pics of a "FF 33h" and "FF 33j" that looks same. Although they have the high rim of the engine side panel.
(You´ve probably known that before

)

It might be just by the angle of view, but it may be possible that the wing cut-out of a FF 49 is bigger than in your pic. Only I wouldn´t give much to this guess.

I think you won´t continue guessing here. And I´m interested too, what are the differences to note or if somebody knows what are the two- & three-bay FF 33`s.

Cheers

Aquilius

Varese2002 · 29 June 2008, 06:17 AM

Hi Kilian, interesting photograph.

Studying this picture closely and especially the elevator form (a very big surface of a special form) gives away that this is a Friedrichshafen FF 33 and not the later FF 49.

Friedrichshafen FF 33 variants can be classified in two variants:

- the 3-bay form, armourless reconnaissance machines

- the 2-bay form, fighters, intended for armed patrols or sometimes for escorting reconnaissance machines

The machine on this picture is without a doubt a 3-bay variant. That makes it one of the following variants FF 33, FF 33b, FF 33e, FF 33j or FF 33s.

The differences between those versions:

FF 33 (the original version)
Only 6 built.

FF 33b
Only 5 built

FF 33e
[ Was also licence built by LFG ] [ Built by Friedrichshafen : 193 and 2 by LFG ]

FF 33j
Ca. 60 built

FF 33s
Ca. 30 built

The FF 33e differed mainly from its 3-bay predecessors in the lengthened floats and the absence of the tailfloat. In the absence of the tail float a long underfin was substituted. Looking at your picture I see the long floats and the absence of a tail float (although not clearly to be seen) can be confirmed.

The FF 33j
A refinement of the FF 33e, most notable in the cleaning up of the nose section and the addition of a spinner to the propeller hub.

The FF 33s
Same as the FF 33j but equipped as a dual-control, solely used as a training aircraft

So the variant can be narrowed down as a FF 33j (with spinner) or a FF 33s (trainer).

Pity that the Marine serial cannot be identified. Is there more info on this picture (date, place, German vessel ?) The picture gives away the Marine Tarnung on the upper wing. May be intetesting for the specialists.

Cheers

Kees

Aquilius · 29 June 2008, 08:26 AM

Is there a chance to say that the use on a vessel in war-time makes it anything esle than a trainer?

Aquilius

Kilian · 29 June 2008, 08:29 AM

Hi Kees.

Only more info i have that ship should be this:

SMS Karlsruhe (2) - Kleiner Kreuzer der Kaiserlichen Marine

Its written on the back "in memory of the service on the (kleiner Kreuzer) Karlsruhe" comissioned 15. Dec 1916.

Varese2002 · 29 June 2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquilius

Is there a chance to say that the use on a vessel in war-time makes it anything else than a trainer?

Aquilius

Hi Aqui. I take it that you mean that it could not be a Friedrichshafen FF 33s as training is not done on a warship in wartime? This is probably not correct.

New (and old crew at that) has to train continually to do reconnaisance work, contact the ship by radio (morse), train the flying, being hosted in and out of the water. Idem the training of the crew of the vessel in handling the seaplane on the boat and in the water. etc.

I think there is no evidence to see that the machine is a FF 33j or FF 33s. This is IMO the nearest identification that can be reached

Cheers

Kees

Kilian · 30 June 2008, 08:32 AM

Thanks Kees and Aquilius! As usual a great help

I think the narrowing down to 2 subtypes of FF33 will be satisfying enough for the person who posted this image

These planes are always harder to find good info about in the internet. To be honest i could not even have distinguished between a F33 and a FF49 with the few photos i have seen of them, mostly the tail is missing in the photos.

Kilian