Albatros W.5
Albatros · German Empire · first flew 1917 · fighter
The Albatros W.5 was a German World War I naval floatplane, closely related to the W.3 and sharing essentially the same dimensions. It served with the Imperial German Navy for coastal patrol over the North Sea and Baltic.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWI German naval floatplane fighter biplane
- Shares W.3 dimensions and configuration
- Twin-float seaplane for coastal patrol
Visually near-identical to the Albatros W.3 with the same large biplane wing and twin-float undercarriage; distinguishable primarily by manufacturer's data rather than external appearance.
Specifications
- The Albatros W.5 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
Developed in 1917 as a follow-on to the W.3, the W.5 made incremental improvements while retaining the same basic layout. It operated alongside other Albatros floatplane types in the North Sea coastal patrol role, protecting German naval assets and hunting Allied submarines. Like the W.3, it was rendered obsolescent by the war's end.
Variants
Closely related to the W.3; the W.5 is essentially a parallel development rather than a derived variant.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Imperial German Naval Air Service in the North Sea and Baltic Sea from 1917 until the Armistice in 1918.
Related aircraft
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