Friedrichshafen FF.53

The Friedrichshafen FF.53 was a German three-seat floatplane torpedo bomber built during World War I by Friedrichshafen Aircraft Construction Company () after the end of the First World War for the Imperial German Navy's () Naval Air Service (). Three aircraft were ordered in 1917, but only one has been confirmed to have been completed in mid-1918. By the time it was delivered, the Naval Air Service had eliminated the torpedo-bomber mission and the FF.53s were to be completed as long-range maritime patrol aircraft.

Design and description

The FF.53 was a twin-engined, three-seat biplane torpedo bomber that was based on the company's G.IIIa and G.IV heavy bombers. It most closely resembled the G.IIIa, although the FF.53 had its engines in a tractor configuration rather than the G.IIIa's pusher configuration; this was done to keep the propellers out of the spray from the floats. The water-cooled Mercedes D.IVa straight-six engines were mounted in nacelles positioned between the wings and supported by struts. Each engine drove a two-bladed propeller. The aircraft had three-bay wings.

The Naval Air Service ordered three FF.53 torpedo bombers in June 1917 and the prototype made its first flight on 30 July 1918. The project may have received a low priority because the Naval Air Service had abandoned the torpedo mission in early 1918 and the Gotha WD.14 was already performing the long-range maritime patrol mission. Reflecting this the prototype was configured for the same mission and was transferred to the Seaplane Experimental Command () the following month for testing. It is uncertain if the other two aircraft were ever completed as the Allies only found a single FF.53 at Warnemünde when they inspected the German seaplane bases in December 1918. Its ultimate fate is unknown, but it was likely scrapped.

See also

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of Germany
• List of flying boats and floatplanes