Albatros W.3
Albatros · German Empire · first flew 1916 · bomber
The Albatros W.3 was a large biplane torpedo-bomber floatplane prototype built for the Imperial German Navy during the First World War. Only one was built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large two-bay biplane floatplane with no stagger
- Two Benz Bz.III pusher engines mounted on top of the lower wing
- Twin floats set on separate struts so a torpedo can be released between them
A big two-bay unstaggered biplane with two pusher engines on the lower wing, two open tandem cockpits in the nose, and twin floats on individual strut sets with space between them for a torpedo.
Specifications
- The Albatros W.3 has a length of 13.1 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 22.7 m (74 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 133 km/h (83 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed from the outset as a torpedo bomber (company designation VT), the W.3 was a two-bay biplane with two 150 hp Benz Bz.III engines in pusher configuration. It was supplied to the Imperial German Navy in July 1916. The belly of the flat-sided fuselage housed the torpedo.
Variants
The design was developed into the Albatros W.5, five of which were built for the Navy in 1917.
Where you'll see it
The single prototype was delivered to the Imperial German Navy in July 1916; it did not enter series production.
Related aircraft
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