Albatros C.XIII

Albatros Flugzeugwerke · Germany · first flew 1917 · reconnaissance aircraft

The Albatros C.XIII was a German two-seat reconnaissance biplane developed in 1917 as one of the later members of the prolific Albatros C series. It carried a pilot and an observer-gunner for tactical reconnaissance over the Western Front.

Recognition (WEFT)

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Spot it by:

• WWI German two-bay biplane with rounded wingtips typical of late Albatros C series
• Inline water-cooled engine with prominent radiator on the upper cowl
• Observer's cockpit with ring-mounted defensive gun behind the pilot

The Albatros C.XIII shares the rounded plywood fuselage profile of the Albatros family; it differs from the D-series fighters in its longer fuselage and two-seat arrangement.

Specifications

• The Albatros C.XIII has a length of 7.8 m (26 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 10 m (33 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 165 km/h (103 mph).
• Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Albatros Flugzeugwerke produced a long line of two-seat C-type aircraft throughout WWI, with the C.XIII among the later, more refined variants built in 1917–18. The type saw limited operational deployment as Germany prioritised single-seat fighters and the war ended before large-scale introduction.

Variants

The C.XIII was a distinct airframe rather than a direct development of the C.XII; few sub-variants are documented.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the German Air Service (Luftstreitkräfte) in small numbers during the final stages of WWI.

Related aircraft

• Albatros C.IX
• Albatros C.VIII
• Albatros C.X
• Albatros D.VII
• AEG C.VIII
• Albatros C.XII
• Ansaldo SVA-5
• B Class (US Navy)

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