Albatros W.4
Albatros Flugzeugwerke · Germany · first flew 1916 · fighter
The Albatros W.4 was a World War I German single-seat floatplane fighter developed to defend German naval bases and Zeppelin sheds from Allied naval aircraft. It was derived directly from the land-based Albatros D.I fighter.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWI German single-seat floatplane fighter
- Twin wooden floats replacing wheeled undercarriage
- Inline Mercedes engine with nose-mounted guns
Essentially an Albatros D.I biplane on twin wooden floats — the plywood-covered fuselage, rounded tail, and characteristic Albatros wing cellule are the key identifiers.
Specifications
- The Albatros W.4 has a length of 8.5 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.5 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 158 km/h (98 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The W.4 entered service with the German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) in 1916 and served in the North Sea and Baltic Sea theatres. It replaced the inadequate early floatplane fighters and proved reasonably effective against Allied flying boats and reconnaissance aircraft. The type was built in modest numbers.
Variants
The W.4 was the primary floatplane fighter variant; later Albatros floatplanes included the W.12 two-seater.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the German Navy from coastal bases and tenders in the North Sea and Baltic from 1916 to 1918.
Related aircraft
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