The Hannover CL III was a successful
relatively small, two-seat aircraft that was used in the escort fighter
and attack roles. The CL designation was for fast two-seater, multi-role
aircraft. It was first used as an escort fighter for C class
photo-reconnaissance manchines. Allied fighters often attacked it
thinking it was a single-seat scout and got a surprise when the
rear-gunner fired at them. The CL II was a biplane of conventional
layout apart from its biplane tail, which was designed to offer the rear
gunner a better arc of fire over the tail. The body was deep and fairly
narrow, which afforded excellent visibility downwards. It was highly
manoeuvrable and versatile. It first flew in late-1917 and participated
with newly formed Schlachtstaffeln (Battle Flights) in the heavy
ground-attacks during the German spring offensive of 1918. 639 were
built by Hannover Waggonfabrik Aktien Gesellschaft.
