Albatros C.III
Albatros Flugzeugwerke · Germany · first flew 1916 · transport aircraft
The Albatros C.III was the most widely produced of the Albatros C-series armed two-seat reconnaissance aircraft of World War One, serving with the German Luftstreitkräfte from 1916. It combined the observer and pilot in a well-streamlined biplane airframe with a defensive rear gun.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Streamlined plywood-skinned fuselage distinguishes it from earlier Albatros types |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWI German two-seat armed reconnaissance biplane
- Observer/gunner in rear cockpit with ring-mounted gun
- Streamlined plywood-skinned fuselage distinguishes it from earlier Albatros types
Straight-wing two-bay biplane with a rounded plywood fuselage, large in-line engine in the nose, and a Parabellum ring gun on the rear cockpit; the sesquiplane-like lower wing is noticeably narrower in chord than the upper.
Specifications
- The Albatros C.III has a length of 7.9 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.7 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 145 km/h (90 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in early 1916, the C.III was used extensively for artillery observation, photographic reconnaissance, and light bombing raids. It was built under licence by several German manufacturers as well as by Bulgarian workshops and served on multiple fronts.
Variants
The C.III was developed into the more powerful C.V and C.VII; the basic airframe was licence-built in Bulgaria.
Where you'll see it
Served with Germany and Bulgaria; widely used on the Western, Eastern, and Macedonian Fronts.
Related aircraft
- Albatros C.IV
- Albatros C.V
- Albatros D.I
- Albatros G.I
- Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3
- Curtiss Twin JN
- Dornier Rs.II
- Gotha WD.8
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