Albatros D.III

From Wings of Linen
Albatros D.III
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Albatros
Designer Robert Thelen [1]
Introduction Jan 1917[1]
Primary users Germany
Austria-Hungary
Number built German ~800[1] to ~1340[2]
Wingspan 9.02 m (29 ft 7 in) [3][4][5]-9.05 m (29 ft 8 in)[6]
Engine 160-175hp Mercedes D.III inline[7]
Armament 2×sync. LMG08/15
Ammo 1000 rounds[8]
Crew 1
Max Speed 165 km/h (103 mph)[9][3][6]-175 km/h (109 mph)[10][4][5]
Climb 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 3:18[3]-3:20[4]-4:00[9][6]
2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 7:12[3]
3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 12:06[3]
Ceiling 5,500 m (18,000 ft)[9][10][4][5][6]
Endurance 1:30[9] to 2:00[3][10][5][6]

The Albatros D.III was one of the most important and iconic fighters of 1917, and many were serving well into 1918. 446 of them were in use in November 1917, and 1200 to 1340 German D.IIIs were built. Over its production run, the radiator was offset from centerline to the right, and D.IIIs for use in the Middle East had twin radiators.

Developed from the Albatros D.II, the D.III improved downward vision by adopting the sesquiplane layout of the Nieuports, but it also inherited the unfortunate tendency of the lower wing to twist under heavy load. The "Vee-Strutter" was a big part of German air dominance in early 1917, but it was later matched by improved Entente fighters such as the SPAD, RAF SE.5a, and Sopwith Camel.

656 improved Austro-Hungarian D.IIIs were built by Oeffag.[11]

For more information, see Wikipedia:Albatros D.III.

Timeline [note 1][note 2]

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Official Stats
Availability Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb Points
Nov/Dec16-end J A 14 12 4 79

Plane and Crew Cards

Card Links

Blue Max/Canvas Eagles

Aircraft Chart

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

1:200 Scale

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

1:350 Scale

1:600 Scale

Resources

Orthographic Drawings

References

Notes
  1. German numbers are from bi-monthly Frontbestand records (Effective Frontline Strength).[12]
  2. Austro-Hungarian numbers are estimations.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Updated card
Citations
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Angelucci, p.58.
  2. Rimell, p.21.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Gray'66, p.12.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lamberton, pp.218-219.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Angelucci, p.48.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Argus Vol. 2, p.64.
  7. Gray'87, p.45.
  8. Kelly, p.230.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Gray'87, p.48.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Munson, p.39.
  11. Grosz, p.248.
  12. Grosz'85, p.60 and Grosz'86, p.66.
Bibliography
  • Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. New York: The Military Press, 1983 edition. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
  • Argus Books, Airplane Archive: Aircraft of World War One, Volume 2. Great Britain: Argus Books, 1989. ISBN 0-85242-984-3
  • Peter Gray and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. Great Britain, Putnam, 1962, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
  • Peter L. Gray, Profile Publications 127: The Albatros DI-DIII. Great Britain: Profile Publications, Ltd., 1966.
  • Peter M. Grosz, George Haddow, and Peter Schiemer. Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One. Flying Machines Press, 1993. ISBN 0-9637110-0-8.
  • Peter M. Grosz, "Archiv -- Frontbestand". WW1 Aero, № 107, Dec 1985 and № 108, Feb 1986. Poughkeepsie, NY: World War I Aeroplanes, Inc.
  • Kevin Kelly, "Belts and Drums: A Survey of First World War Aircraft Ammunition Totals". Over the Front, Vol. 5, No. 3, Autumn 1990. Walsworth Publishing Co, Inc. and The League of World War I Aviation Historians.
  • W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1960.
  • Kenneth Munson, Fighters 1914-19, Attack and Training Aircraft. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1976. ISBN 0713707607
  • Raymond L. Rimmell, Windsock Datafile 1: Albatros D.III. Great Britain, Albatros Publications, Ltd., 1986, 1987. ISBN 0-948414-05-7