Dornier Do 13

Dornier · Germany · first flew 1933 · bomber

The Dornier Do 13 was a twin-engine heavy bomber monoplane developed secretly in Germany in 1933 as part of the covert rearmament programme that preceded the Third Reich's open declaration of the Luftwaffe. It was built to circumvent the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	18.75 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Clandestine German bomber prototype of the Weimar era
Twin-engine high-wing monoplane with sponson floats
Larger successor to the Do 11 in the secret rearmament programme

A large twin-engine high-wing monoplane with a deep slab-sided fuselage, twin fins and rudders, and substantial wing-root engine nacelles. The sponson-style fuselage sides help with water operations.

Specifications

The Dornier Do 13 has a length of 18.75 m (62 ft).
It has a wingspan of 28 m (92 ft).
Its maximum speed is 260 km/h (162 mph).
Typical crew: 4.

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

History

The Do 13 appeared in 1933 as an enlarged development of the Do 11, Germany's first modern monoplane bomber. It was intended to serve as a front-line bomber once rearmament could be acknowledged openly. The type suffered from stability and handling issues and was quickly superseded by the Do 23. Only a small number were built before the programme moved on.

Variants

The Do 13a and 13b represented minor engine and equipment variants; the Do 23 was the direct successor.

Where you'll see it

Briefly evaluated by clandestine Luftwaffe predecessor units; it did not enter meaningful operational service before being replaced by the Do 23.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.