Albatros D.V
The Albatros D.V was a German fighter aircraft for the flying aces of the Luftstreitkräfte (not just that for the Prussian Fliegertruppe, but also for the Bavarian Army, the Saxon Army as well as the Württemberg Army) and the German Naval Air Force (See- or Marineflieger) in WWI. It was widely replaced by the Fokker D.VII in the second half of 1918. The Albatros D.V, with the beautiful oval cigar shape, was without doubt the most interesting and attractive single seater fighter built by the Germans, although not the most powerful or successful. It was also used by the Air Force of the Ottoman Empire and the Polish Air Force (postwar).
Contents
History
In April 1917, Albatros received an order from Inspektion der Fliegertruppen (Idflieg) for an improved version of the Albatros D.III. The resulting D.V prototype flew later that month. The D.V closely resembled the D.III and used the same 170 ps (168 hp) Mercedes D III engine, later the 185 ps (182.5 hp) Mercedes D III a engine (268 kg). More than 12,000 units were produced, making the D III with the further developed D III a the most produced aircraft engine of the First World War.
The typical Albatros aerodynamic plywood shell fuselage was significantly more oval in shape on the D.V than on its predecessor D.III. The water cooler, mounted centrally in the upper wing of the D.III, was moved to the side to protect the pilot from scalding from splashing water if the tank was hit. The Albatros D.V entered service in May 1917. It served with 45 Jastas (Jasta = Jagdstaffel), nine Bavarian, one Saxon and two Württemberg, with the Kest 1a (Kampfeinsitzerstaffel), the Bogohl 6 (Bombengeschwader der Obersten Heeresleitung) as well as with the naval Seefrontstaffel (Seefrosta; SFS) and with the field fighter squadrons Marine Feld Jagdstaffel 1 (MFJ I), Marine Feld Jagdstaffel 2 (MFJ II) and Marine Feld Jagdstaffel 3 (MFJ III).
Specifications (D.V)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 (Kampfeinsitzer)
- Length: 7.33 m (24 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 9.05 m (29 ft 8 in)
- Height: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 21.2 m2 (228 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 687 kg (1,515 lb)
- Gross weight: 937 kg (2,066 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.IIIaü piston engine (Daimler D III a Flug-Kolbenmotor), 185 ps (182.5 hp)
- A final version attempting to keep the D.III block competitive was the 200 hp (200-217 hp) D.IIIav (or avü), introduced mid-October 1918.
- Propellers: 2-bladed wooden propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 186 km/h (116 mph, 100 kn)
- Endurance: 350 km
- Service ceiling: 5,700 m (18,700 ft)
- Rate of climb: 4.17 m/s (821 ft/min)
- Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in 4 minutes
Armament
- Guns: 2 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) LMG 08/15 machine guns
Production numbers
Albatros D.V:
- D.1000/17 – D.1199/17 200
- D.1962/17 – D.2361/17 400
- D.4403/17 – D.4702/17 300
Albatros D.Va:
- D.5165/17 – D.5426/17 262
- D.5600/17 – D.5849/17 250
- D.7000/17 – D.7549/17 550
Albatros D.Va (Licensed production by the Ostdeutsche Albatros-Werke; OAW):
- D.6400/17 – D.6999/17 600
Total produced: 2,562
Gallery
A truck hauls Emil Thuy’s dismantled Albatros D.V along a country road as Royal Saxon Jagdstaffel 21 moves to a new airfield in July 1917.
Fritz Rumey (2nd from left) in front of his snarling head (African savage) marked Albatros D.Va of Jasta 5
Coloured artwork depicting Gerhard Hubrich's Albatros aircraft (Albatros D.V) with hatching chicken egg
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