The Hansa-Brandenburg W.29 was an innovative monoplane developed from the W.12. It retained and improved on the maneuverability of the W.12, but it was still limited in range and sometimes relied on the Hansa-Brandenburg W.19 to scout out targets. W.29’s were known to take on even Sopwith Camels, as a battle of 18 July 1918 demonstrated.
About three-quarters of W.29’s built were armed with two forward-firing machine guns (156 of 199), aka the C3MG. The rest substituted a radio for the second fixed machine gun, and they were known as the C2MGHFT. The 150hp Benz Bz.III was the most common engine, but the 185hp Benz Bz.IIIa and 170hp BMW.IIIa were also used in smaller numbers, but their supply may have been limited by the high demand for those engines in other aircraft.
It operated with great success, especially out of the base at Zeebrügge. Twenty-five W.29’s were dispatched to Turkey, but it is uncertain whether they ever arrived and whether they were used by German or Turkish pilots (if anyone). Austria-Hungary ordered twenty-five from UFAG, but only one was delivered before the Armistice, taking its first flight on 25 Oct 1918.
Two paintable and three full-color Hansa-Brandenburg W.29 miniatures are now available at Great War Planes by Reduced Aircraft Factory.
