View source for Rumpler 6B

{{Short description|1916 German reconnaissance floatplane}}
{{good article}}
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{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= 6B
 |image=Rumpler 6B1.jpg
 |caption=Rumpler 6B1
 |type=[[Floatplane]] [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]]
 |manufacturer=[[Rumpler Flugzeugwerke]]
 |designer=
 |first_flight=1916
 |introduction=1916
 |retired=1926
 |status=
 |primary_user=[[German Imperial Navy]]
 |more_users=
 |produced=1916–1918
 |number_built=88
 |unit cost=
 |developed_from=[[Rumpler C.I]] and [[Rumpler C.IV]]
 |variants=
}}
The '''Rumpler 6B''' was a German [[floatplane]] [[fighter aircraft|fighter]] designed during [[World War I]] by [[Rumpler Flugzeugwerke]] for the [[Imperial German Navy]]'s ({{lang|de|Kaiserliche Marine}}) Naval Air Service ({{lang|de|Marine-Fliegerabteilung}}). The '''6B1''' was a single-seat version of the [[Rumpler C.I]] [[Reconnaissance aircraft|reconnaissance]] [[biplane]] that entered service in mid-1916. The '''6B2''' was an improved version based on the [[Rumpler C.IV]]; deliveries of the 6B2 began in mid-1917. Small numbers of aircraft were exported to the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]], the [[Kingdom of Bulgaria]], and [[Finland]]; one of the Finnish aircraft participated in the [[Finnish Civil War]]. The 6B1s were reasonably successful in combat, able to hold its own against enemy land-based aircraft, but they lacked the advantages offered by the new two-seat floatplane fighters entering service when the 6B2 became available. Most surviving 6Bs became [[training aircraft]] during the war. Most of the Rumplers in service with the [[Central Powers]] were probably [[scrapped]] after the end of the war in November 1918.

After the war, the [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes]] inherited two of the 6Bs purchased by Austro-Hungarian Empire while the [[Netherlands]] used one aircraft that it had [[interned]] in 1917. The Finns purchased one additional 6B in 1918. These aircraft were generally used for training until they were scrapped during the mid-1920s.

==Design and development==
Born out of a requirement of the Imperial Navy for a [[seaplane]] fighter to defend its air bases issued in May 1916, the Rumpler 6B was, like its contemporaries the [[Albatros W.4]] and [[Hansa-Brandenburg KDW]], an adaptation of an existing landplane design. Unlike its competitors derived from single-seat fighters, Rumpler's new aircraft was based on the company's two-seat [[Rumpler C.I|C.I]] reconnaissance aircraft.<ref>Herris 2012, pp. 12, 36</ref> The 6B1 retained the C.I's robust wooden and fabric [[fuselage]] with a steel-tube framework reinforcing the forward fuselage, although the [[Air observer|observer's]] [[cockpit]] was [[Aircraft fairing|faired]] over. The installation of the water-cooled {{cvt|160|hp|adj=on}} [[Mercedes D.III]] engine remained the same with the semi-circular [[Radiator (engine cooling)|radiator]] mounted to the underside of the upper wing and the "chimney" exhaust pipe protruding above the level of the upper wing. In an effort to reduce [[aerodynamic drag]] the propeller was fitted with a [[Spinner (aeronautics)|spinner]]. The [[Biplane#Bays|two-bay wings]] were unaltered although their [[Stagger (aeronautics)|stagger]] was revised with the upper wing moved forward to compensate for the removal of the observer's position and armament and the additional weight of the two [[Float (nautical)|floats]]. These were connected to the fuselage by steel-tube [[Bracing (aeronautics)|V-struts]]. A larger [[rudder]] was fitted to offset the increased side area caused by the addition of floats. In the production aircraft, the area of the [[horizontal stabilizer]]s was slightly reduced. The armament consisted of a fixed, forward-firing 7.92&nbsp;mm (.312&nbsp;in) [[MG 08|LMG 08/15 "Spandau"]] [[machine gun]],<ref name=l4>Lamberton, p. 164</ref> although at least four 6B1s were armed with two machine guns.<ref name=s2>Schmeelke, p. 302</ref>

A new version of the basic design, the 6B2, was introduced in July 1917.<ref name=s2/> These aircraft retained the D.III engine, but were otherwise based on the [[Rumpler C.IV]]. This improved version of the C.I had had its spinner removed and its nose recontoured into a blunter shape after flight testing had shown that the spinner and tapered nose of the C.I caused more drag. The change improved the speed of the 6B2 by {{cvt|14|km/h}} over the 6B1. The 6B2 was designed to use two machine guns, but only about half of them were equipped with both weapons.<ref>Herris 2014, pp. 124, 128, 138</ref>

==Operational history==
The three 6B1 prototypes were delivered in July–August 1916 for evaluation. The first batch of 10 production aircraft were delivered between November 1916 and February 1917. A second batch of 25 6B1s were received between February and May, although one last aircraft was delivered in January 1918. The prototype 6B2 was tested beginning in January 1917 with 50 production models delivered to the Naval Air Service between July 1917 and January 1918.<ref name=l4/><ref name=s2/>

The Rumpler 6Bs were mostly employed at German seaplane bases at [[Ostend]] and [[Zeebrugge]].<ref name=l4/> One of the 6B1 prototypes was sent to Zeebrugge in late August; it shot down a British Short floatplane on 31 August. The fighter intercepted and shot down a twin-engined British [[Caudron G.4]] bomber returning from a bombing mission on [[Sint-Denijs-Westrem Airfield]] in [[German occupation of Belgium during World War I|Occupied Belgium]] on 7 September. It intercepted a French [[FBA Type H]] [[flying boat]] on a reconnaissance mission on 23 October. The flying boat was forced to make an [[emergency landing]] and the crew was captured. Production 6B1s began deliveries in December to Zeebrugge.<ref>Schmeelke, pp. 103–104, 107, 109</ref>

Flugmeister [[Karl Meyer (aviator)|Karl Meyer]] damaged a [[Sopwith Pup]] fighter of the [[Royal Naval Air Service]] on 1 February 1917 and forced it to make an emergency landing on the beach near [[Bredene]], Occupied Belgium. Meyer [[Taxiing|taxiied]] up to the beach and took the pilot captive. An inventory taken on 12 February showed the three prototype 6B1s and five production models assigned to Zeebrugge, one of which was armed with two machine guns. A 6B1 was destroyed in a landing accident in Zeebrugge harbor on 1 March; the pilot survived. Four 6B1s from Ostende covered the unsuccessful search for two missing [[torpedo boat]]s on 21 March. The searchers spotted the British blimp [[Coastal class airship|C-17]] on patrol near [[Nieuwpoort, Belgium]], and radioed a spot report back to Zeebrugge where Meyer and another pilot took off to intercept it. They were successful and shot down the blimp, killing its crew. Two more 6B1s equipped with two machine guns were delivered in May. A 6B1 was used to rescue a wounded French pilot from his shot-down FBA H-4 on 24 May. The following morning, three 6B1s from Ostende escorted 23 [[Gotha G.IV]] [[heavy bomber]]s as they returned from [[German bombing of Britain, 1914–1918|bombing England]]. On 13 June, all of the single-seat float fighters were assigned to the newly formed single-seat [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] ({{lang|de|Einsitzer-Staffel}}). The squadron was very active in June and July despite the bad weather. Missions included an unsuccessful search for survivors of the torpedo boat {{SMS|G 96}} that had struck a [[naval mine]] and sunk on 26 June and escorting bombers on their return trip from England on 4 July. Despite deliveries of three more 6B1s and fifteen 6B2s armed with two machine guns between July and November, the Zeebrugge [[war diary]] does not record any further activity of the single-seat squadron or 6Bs after July.<ref>Schmeelke, pp. 112, 116, 126–128, 139, 141–142, 145–146, 149–230, 301–304</ref> The fighters were probably relegated to training duties for the rest of the war<ref name=h4/> as the Naval Air Service had come to prefer the two-seat floatplane fighters like the [[Hansa-Brandenburg W.12]] by this time because the [[Air observer|extra crewman]] could assist the pilot with over-water navigation and operate a [[wireless transmitter]], things that the single-seat aircraft like the 6B could not do.<ref>Harris 2012, p. 73</ref>

Two 6B1s were assigned to the German-Turkish Naval Flying Unit ({{lang|de|Wasserfliegerabteilung}}) in 1917. One pilot from this unit claimed to have shot down two aircraft that same year.<ref>Nicolle, pp. 42–43</ref> When the [[Allies of World War I|Allies]] inspected the German seaplane bases in December 1918, they recorded six surviving 6B1s and twenty-four 6B2s. One of these aircraft, probably a 6B2, was turned over by the Allies to the [[Empire of Japan]] as part of the war [[World War I reparations|reparation]]s. Their ultimate fate is unknown, but they were likely [[scrapped]].<ref>Andersson & Sanger, pp. 18, 20–22, 70</ref>

===Austro-Hungarian Empire===
Four 6B2s were sold to the [[Austro-Hungarian Navy|Imperial and Royal Navy]] ({{lang|de|[[Kaiserlich und königlich]] Kriegsmarine}}) in mid-1918 and were mostly used for [[maritime reconnaissance]].<ref>Ciglic, p. 104</ref> Two of these were based at [[Kumbor]], [[Montenegro]], at the end of the war and were seized by the newly formed [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]], which later became the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]].<ref name=as3/>

===Bulgaria===
The two 6B1s that were stationed at the German Naval Air Station Peynerdjik near [[Varna, Bulgaria]], were transferred in April 1918 to the [[Bulgarian Navy]]. The fighters were seized by the French occupation forces after the end of the war. They were destroyed in accordance with the clauses of the [[Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine]] in October 1920.<ref>Nedialkov, pp. 35, 55–56, 58</ref><ref>Andersson & Sanger, pp. 56, 176–177</ref>

===Finland===
During the Finnish Civil War, the anti-communist [[Whites (Finland)|White Army]] ordered one 6B1 and seven other aircraft from Germany in February 1918. The first of this batch of aircraft was received by the end of March; the 6B1 was delivered to Flying Detachment I ({{lang|fi|Valkoisten Lento-psasto I}}) at the end of April. The fighter was based in [[Helsinki]] in mid-1918 and was then transferred to the 1st Field Flying Detachmenton on 5 October. It was destroyed in a crash at the [[Beryozovye Islands]] on 24 October 1919, although the pilot was only slightly injured.<ref>Keskinen, Partonen & Stenman, pp. 19, 23, 191</ref><ref>Andersson & Sanger, p. 206</ref>

A 6B2 was bought from the Germans in [[Tallinn]] on 26 November 1918, but it was little used. It had only accumulated 35 flight hours when it made its last flight on 26 October 1926 as it spent a lot of time under repair between assignments to the Aviation School or Air Force Headquarters. The aircraft was struck off charge on 27 September 1927.<ref>Andersson & Sanger, p. 207</ref><ref>Keskinen, Partonen & Stenman, p. 191</ref>

===The Netherlands===
A 6B2 was interned in 1917<ref>Andersson & Sanger, p. 214</ref> and later served with the [[Netherlands Naval Aviation Service]] ({{langx|nl|Marineluchtvaartdienst}}) with the serial number U1. Its fate is unknown.<ref>Herris 2014, p. 138</ref>

===Yugoslavia===
Two of the 6B2s sold to the Imperial and Royal Navy by the Germans were briefly controlled by the forces of the nascent [[Royal Yugoslav Naval Aviation]] at the end of the war,<ref name=as3>Andersson & Sanger, p. 253</ref> but they were seized by French troops when they occupied Kumbor in December 1918. The fighters were turned over to the Yugoslavs when the occupation ended in March 1921. As the Navy had no interest in operating fighters, the aircraft were soon disarmed and used for training. On 2 September 1922, a 6B2 was one of six seaplanes to fly from Kumbor to [[Split, Croatia]], where the aircraft's pilot, [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Glauko Prebanda]], performed an [[aerobatics]] display. His 6B2 had engine problems on the flight home and Prebanda did not return to Kumbor until 5 September. At least one 6B2 remained in service until April 1926 and was retired shortly afterwards.<ref>Ciglic & Raguz, pp. 13, 18, 20–21, 28–29, 57, 71</ref>

==Survivors==
The [[Hallinportti Aviation Museum]] has a partially restored Rumpler 6B2 on display.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rumpler 6B |url=https://www.ilmailumuseot.fi/tuotteet.html?id=20171/230693 |website=www.ilmailumuseot.fi |publisher=Aviation Museum Society, Finland |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref>

==Operators==
; {{flag|Austro-Hungarian Empire}}
*[[Austro-Hungarian Navy]]
; {{flag|Bulgaria}}
* [[Bulgarian Navy]]
; {{FIN}}
* [[Finnish Air Force]]
;{{flag|German Empire}}
*[[Imperial German Navy]]
;{{flag|Netherlands}}
*[[Royal Netherlands Navy]]
;{{flag|Kingdom of Yugoslavia}} 
*[[Royal Yugoslav Navy]]

== Specifications (6B1) ==
[[File:Rumpler 6B-1 3-view.svg|right|400px]]

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Built and Flown;<ref>Green & Swanborough, p. 509</ref> Die deutschen Militärflugzeuge 1910–1918;<ref>Kroschel & Stützer, p. 145</ref> Rumpler Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes<ref name=h4>Herris 2014, p. 124</ref>
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=1
|length m=9.05
|length note=
|span m=12.15
|span note=
|height m=3.5
|height note=
|wing area sqm=35.7
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=790
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=1140
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Mercedes D.III]]
|eng1 type= water-cooled, [[straight-six engine]]
|eng1 hp=160
|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=153
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range note=
|combat range km=550
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=25 minutes to {{cvt|3000|m}}
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns= 1 or 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) [[MG 08|LMG 08/15]]
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
* [[List of fighter aircraft]]
* [[List of military aircraft of Finland]]
* [[List of military aircraft of Germany]]
|see also=
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{commons category|Rumpler 6B}}
*{{cite book |last1=Andersson |first1=Lennart |last2=Sanger |first2=Ray |title=Retribution and Recovery: German Aircraft and Aviation 1919 to 1922 |date=2014 |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) |location=Staplefield, UK |isbn=978-0-85130-467-0|name-list-style=amp}}
*{{cite book |last1=Ciglic |first1=Boris |title=Seaplanes of Bocche: The Story of Austro-Hungarian Naval Aviation in Southern Adriatic 1913–1918 |date=2014 |publisher=Jeroplan Books |location=Belgrade |isbn=978-86-909727-1-5}}
*{{cite book |last1=Ciglic |first1=Boris |last2=Raguz |first2=Mario |title=Adriatic Guard: The Story of the Naval Aviation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes 1918–1929 |date=2023 |publisher=Jeroplan Books |location=Belgrade |isbn=978-86-909727-7-7|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book |author1-last= Green|author1-first= William |author2-last=Swanborough|author2-first=Gordon |title= The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Built and Flown |orig-year= 1994 |publisher= Salamander Books |location=London |isbn=1-84065-269-1|name-list-style=amp|year=2001 |edition=Revised and Updated}}
*{{cite book |last1=Herris |first1=Jack |title=German Seaplane Fighters of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Seaplanes |date=2012 |publisher=Aeronaut Books |location=n. p. |isbn=978-1-935881-09-4|series=Great War Aviation Centennial Series|volume=2}}
*{{cite book |last1=Herris |first1=Jack |title=Rumpler Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes |date=2014 |publisher=Aeronaut Books |location=n.p. |isbn=978-1-935881-21-6|series=Great War Aviation Centennial Series|volume=11}}
* {{cite book |last1=Keskinen |first1=Kalevi |last2=Partonen |first2=Kyösti |last3=Stenman |first3=Kari |title=Suomen ilmavoimat 1918-1927 |date=2005 |publisher=Kustannusliike Kari Stenman |location=Helsinki |isbn=952-99432-2-9 |language=fi, en|name-list-style=amp|trans-title=Finnish Air Force 1918–1927}}
*{{cite book |last1=Kroschel |first1=Günter |last2=Stützer |first2=Helmut |title=Die deutschen Militärflugzeuge 1910-1918 : In 127 Vierseitenrissen Im Massstab 1:144 |date=1977 |publisher=Lohse-Eissing |location=Wilhelmshaven |isbn=3-92060-218-8|name-list-style=amp|trans-title=German Military Aircraft 1910–1918 in 127 1:144 Scale Drawings|language=de}}
*{{cite book |last1=Lamberton |first1=W. M. |title=Fighter Aircraft of the 1914–1918 War |date=1960 |publisher=Harleyford Publications |location=Letchworth, UK|oclc=1395838}}
*{{cite book |last1=Nedialkov |first1=Dimitar |title=Въздушната мощ на Царство България: Ч. 2. / Air Power of the Kingdom of Bulgaria, Pt. 2.|date=2001 |publisher=Fark |location=Sofia |language=bg, en|oclc=914554795}}
*{{cite magazine|last1=Nicolle |first1=David |title=Young Turks: Ottoman Turkish Fighters 1915–1918 |journal=Air Enthusiast |date=March–April 1999 |issue=74 |issn=0143-5450 |pages=40–45}}
* {{cite book |last1=Schmeelke |first1=Michael |title=Zeebrugge: Naval Air Station Flanders I 1914–1918 |date=2018 |publisher=Aeronaut Books |location=n. p. |isbn=978-1-935881-46-9}}

{{Rumpler aircraft}}

[[Category:Rumpler aircraft|6B]]
[[Category:1910s German fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Floatplanes]]
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[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1916]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]