R.Keimel Osterreichs Luftfahrzeuge (Weishaupt Verlag)

Albatros D II 1917

  В 1916 году инженеры Телен и Шуберт на германских авиазаводах Albatros в Берлине разработали одноместный истребитель D I с заводским обозначением L 15. В 1916–1917 годах на его основе был создан D II с изменённым расположением крыльев. После выпуска всего 16 экземпляров производство перевели на улучшенную версию D III.

Производитель: Лицензионная постройка, Österr. Flugzeugfabrik AG. (Oeffag), Винер-Нойштадт.
Назначение: Истребитель.
Построен: 1916-1917
Первый полёт в Австрии: 4 мая 1917
Количество в Австрии: 16 экземпляров
Бортовой номер: Сер. № 53…
Экипаж: 1
Двигатель: 1 × 136 кВт (185 л.с.) Austro-Daimler, двухлопастный винт.
Размеры:
  Размах крыла: верх./нижн. 8,50 / 8,00 м
   Длина: 7,35 м
  Высота: 2,74 м
  Площадь крыльев: 26,4 м²
Веса:
  Пустой: 648 кг
  Макс. взлётный вес: 890 кг
Нагрузка на крыло: 33,7 кг/м²
Нагрузка на мощность: 6,55 кг/кВт
Макс. скорость: 185 км/ч
Время набора 1000 м: 5 мин
Потолок: 5300 м


Albatros D III 1917

  Этот истребитель был одним из самых массовых типов в Австро-Венгрии и производился по лицензии в Винер-Нойштадте. По сравнению с истребителем D II был увеличен размах крыла и установлены V-образные стойки. На серии 253 обтекатель винта отсутствовал из-за длины двигателя. Выпускался сериями:
53.2: 1 × 136 кВт (185 л.с.) Austro-Daimler, 1917
153: 1 × 147 кВт (200 л.с.) Austro-Daimler, 1917
253: 1 × 166 кВт (225 л.с.) Austro-Daimler, 1918

Производитель: Лицензионная постройка, Österr. Flugzeugfabrik AG. (Oeffag), Винер-Нойштадт.
Назначение: Истребитель.
Построен: 1917-1918
Первый полёт в Австрии: июнь 1917
Количество: 634 экземпляра
Бортовой номер: Сер. № 53.2, 153, 253
Технические данные: (сер. № 153)
Экипаж: 1
Двигатель: 1 × 147 кВт (200 л.с.) Austro-Daimler, двухлопастный винт.
Размеры:
  Размах крыла: верх./нижн. 9,00 / 8,70 м
  Длина: 7,30 м
  Высота: 2,98 м
  Площадь крыльев: 20,56 м²
Веса:
  Пустой: 654 кг
  Макс. взлётный вес: 964 кг
Нагрузка на крыло: 4,7 кг/м² (вероятно, опечатка, должно быть ок. 46,9 кг/м²)
Нагрузка на мощность: 6,6 кг/кВт
Запас топлива: 78 + 24 л
Макс. скорость: 190 км/ч
Крейсерская скорость: 170 км/ч
Время набора 1000 м: 3 мин
Время набора 2000 м: 7 мин
Время набора 3000 м: 12 мин
Потолок: 5500 м
Дальность: 500 км
Продолжительность полёта: 3 ч

J.Herris Albatros Aircraft of WWI. Vol.4: Fighters (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 27)

Oeffag-Built Albatros D.II & D.III

   In late 1916 the Luftfahrtruppen (Austro-Hungarian Air Service, or LFT) was bringing into service its first fighter to be produced in quantity, the Brandenburg KD, also known as the D.I. While strong and fast, the KD had poor handling qualities, and Austrian aviation authorities wanted an alternative. Indeed, they needed one; early KD combat evaluation in late 1916 and early 1917 was not favorable.
   Fortunately, the LFT had been watching what the German air service was doing, and saw the impressive combat effectiveness displayed by the new Albatros fighters over the Western Front. As a result, the LFT and Austrian industry moved very quickly to produce the Albatros under license. The first production contract was signed with the Oesterreichische Flugzeugfabrik A.G. (Oeffag) on December 4, 1916, only a few months after the Albatros entered combat. Serious discussions between the LFT and Oeffag had obviously been underway for some time, because Oeffag already had production of the first aircraft underway!
   First flight of the Albatros D.II(Oef) 53.01 production prototype was in January 1917. The common fuselages of the 50 aircraft ordered, originally planned as 20 D.II(Oef) and 30 D.III(Oef) fighters, were completed in February, but completion of the wing cellules was delayed pending structural load tests. Winter weather delayed flight trials and the required radiators and propellers had to be obtained. The D.II(Oef) was finally released for service use on 4 May 1917, and the 16 aircraft built were delivered to the front. Armament was specified as two guns but some aircraft only had one; the Bernatzik synchronizer was used.
   Production was shifted to the superior D.III(Oef) before the full 20 D.II(Oef) planned were built. Before starting D.III(Oef) production, Oeffag redesigned the D.III's sesquiplane wing for greater strength, with stronger spars, ribs, and fuselage connection. During the evaluation period reports of wing structural failures of German D.III fighters reached Oeffag and the static load tests on the revised wing were repeated before the D.III(Oef) was accepted for service. The Oeffag engineers, who strengthened the wing design on their own initiative, were vindicated by the exemplary service of the D.III(Oef), which was not subject to the structural failures of its German antecedent.
   Like the earlier D.II(Oef), the D.III(Oef) was initially powered by the 185 hp Daimler. Two batches totaling 45 of these fighters were built (serials 53.20-53.64) before the more powerful 200 hp Daimler became available. The improved fighter was known as the 153 series and four batches of these were built. From the beginning of the third 153 series production batch the spinner was deleted in favor of a rounded nose; this improved propeller efficiency and boosted top speed by about 14 km/h.
   The D.III(Oef) was fast, maneuverable, and had a good climb rate. As important, it was structurally robust and earned the trust of its pilots, who were able to engage their adversaries with a fighter that was equal or superior in performance to those they faced.
   The final version of the D.III|Oef) was powered by the 225 hp Daimler and known as the 253 series; two batches of these were ordered and about 230 were delivered before the Armistice. The 253 series offered excellent performance that its pilots felt matched any Allied fighter and met all requirements. This experience was in stark contrast to their German allies, whose Albatros D.III and D.V fighters were technically inferior on the Western Front by the summer of 1917. Given Germany's mid-1917 search for a superior replacement to their Albatros fighters, it is interesting they did not look more closely at the D.III(Oef).


Oeffag-Built (Austro-Hungarian) Albatros Fighter Production Orders
Date Ordered Type Qty Serials Engine
4 December 1916 D.II(Oef) 16(1) 53.01-53.16 185 hp Daimler
4 December 1916 D.III(Oef) 34 53.20-53.53 185 hp Daimler
3 February 1917 D.III(Oef) 11 53.54-53.64 185 hp Daimler
3 February 1917 D.III(Oef) 61 153.01-153.61 200 hp Daimler
18 July 1917 D.III(Oef) 50 153.62-153.111 200 hp Daimler
8 October 1917 D.III(Oef) 100 153.112-153.211 200 hp Daimler
18 May 1918 D.III(Oef) 70 153.212-153.281 200 hp Daimler
18 May 1918 D.III(Oef) 230(2) 253.01-253.230 225 hp Daimler
August 1918 D.III(Oef) 100 253.231-253.330 225 hp Daimler
Notes:
   1. Originally 20 D.II(Oef) were ordered, but only 16 were built.
   2. 201 of this production batch accepted by October 1918. A total of 260 Series 253 fighters were completed, with the last 30 or so after the Armistice.

Oeffag-Built (Austro-Hungarian) Albatros Fighter Specifications
D.II Series 53 D.III Series 53.2 D.III Series 153 D.III Series 253
Engine 185 hp Daimler 185 hp Daimler 200 hp Daimler 225 hp Daimler
Span (Upper) 8.50 m 9.00 m 9.00 m 9.00 m
Span (Lower) 8.00 m 8.73 m 8.73 m 8.73 m
Chord (Upper) 1.70 m 1.50 m 1.50 m 1.50 m
Chord (Lower) 1.70 m 1.00 m 1.00 m 1.00 m
Gap 1.35 m 1.47 m 1.47 m 1.47 m
Stagger 0.12 m 0.22 m 0.22 m 0.24 m
Wing Area 24 m2 20.56 m2 20.56 m2 20.56 m2
Length 7.35 m 7.35 m 7.35 m 7.43 m
Height 2.71 m 2.80 m 2.80 m 2.64 m
Track 1.80 m 1.80 m 1.80 m 1.80 m
Empty Weight - 690 kg 710 kg 722 kg
Loaded Weight 898 kg 964 kg 987 kg 995 kg
Wing Loading 37.4 kg/m2 46.7 kg/m2 48.0 kg/m2 48.4 kg/m2
Power Loading 4.85 kg/hp 5.21 kg/hp 4.94 kg/hp 4.42 kg/hp
Max. Speed 170 km/h 180 km/h 188 km/h 202 km/h
Climb, 1,000 m 4 min. 30 sec. 3 min. 20 sec. 2 min. 35 sec. 3 min. 5 sec.
Climb, 2,000 m 7 minutes - 6 min. 35 sec. 7 min. 10 sec.
Climb, 3,000 m 12 min. 30 sec. 14 min. 30 sec. 11 min. 20 sec. 11 min. 20 sec.
Climb, 4,000 m - - 18 min. 50 sec. 17 min. 15 sec.
Climb, 5,000 m - 32 minutes 33 minutes 27 minutes
Notes:
   1. All were armed with two machine guns except a few D.II had only one gun.
   2. Series 153 performance given for aircraft with spinner. From 153.112 the Oeffag-built D.III fighters had a rounded nose without spinner that increased speed by about 14 km/h.

P.Grosz, G.Haddow, P.Shiemer Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One (Flying Machines)

Albatros D.II(Oef) Series 53

  Impressed by the successful debut of the Albatros fighters on the Western Front in August 1916 and their fine handling characteristics, the LFT and industry moved with uncommon alacrity to put the Albatros D.II and D.III fighters into production in order to meet the increasing strength of the Italians and to replace the dangerous Brandenburg D.I fighter. Oeffag, having secured license rights from the German Albatros company, had production well under way when the contract was signed on 4 December 1916, calling for 50 aircraft, originally composed of 20 D.II and 30 D.III fighters.
  The Oeffag-built D.II differed but slightly from its German counterpart. The engine, a 185 hp Daimler, was more powerful. The wing chord was increased by 10mm (0.4 in) and the fuselage was slightly altered. The D.II production prototype, 53.01, first flew in January 1917. The common D.II/D.III fuselages were completed in February, but assembly of the wing cellule for both was postponed until completion of the static load tests. Flight trials were delayed by the sub-zero weather and also had to await the development of a proper radiator and selection of a suitable propeller. Finally the D.II(Oef) was released by a Flars engineering commission on 4 May 1917, whereupon 16 machines (all that were built), numbered 53.01 to 53.16, were accepted and promptly dispatched to the Front. All but two aircraft were armed with one or two machine guns fitted with the Bernatzik synchronization mechanism.
  The majority of the Albatros D.II(Oef) fighters were sent to the less-active Russian Front to serve with Fliks 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 20, 22, 25, 26, and 37. The D.II was also flown by Fliks 2, 19, 35, 41/J, 42/J, and 46 on the Isonzo Front and Fliks 21, 24, and 48 in the Tirol. Although a few victories were recorded, in general the D.II(Oef) fighter served to introduce two-seater pilots to the vagaries of handling a facile, high performance aircraft. Its operational function was well described in a Flik 37/D appreciation: "...too slow, its rapid climb has little effect because Russian aircraft practically never cross the lines; therefore the D.II mainly performs escort work." By the end of 1917, the D.II(Oef) was relegated to training duties, and two were offered for sale by the Austrian government in 1920.

Albatros D.II(Oef) Series 53 Specifications
Engine: 185 Daimler
Wing: Span Upper 8.50 m (27.89 ft)
Span Lower 8.00 m (26.25 ft)
Chord Upper 1.70 m (5.58 ft)
Chord Lower 1.70 m (5.58 ft)
Dihedral Upper 0 deg
Dihedral Lower 1 deg
Sweepback Upper 0 deg
Sweepback Lower 0 deg
Gap 1.35 m (4 43 ft)
Stagger 0.12 m (0.39 ft)
Total Wing Area 24 sq m (258 sq ft)
General Length 7.35 m (24.12 ft)
Height 2.71 m (8.89 ft)
Track 1.80 m (5.91 ft)
Loaded Weight 898 kg (1980 lb)
Maximum Speed: 170 km/hr (106 mph)
Climb 1000m (3,281 ft) in 4 min 30 sec
2000m (6,562 ft) in 7 min
3000m (9,843 ft) in 12 min 30 sec


Albatros D.III(Oef) Series 53.2

  Production of the Albatros D.III(Oef) had kept in step with the D.II (sharing a common fuselage, undercarriage, and tail surfaces) to enable Oeffag to switch to D.III output as soon as the static load tests of the re-designed "sequiplane" wing cellule were satisfactorily completed. Not content with the original German design, Oeffag engineers developed a stronger wing and airframe - in the process creating a tough, beautifully-built aircraft that could take increasingly more powerful engines without extensive modification. The popular Oeffag-built D.III fighter remained in production until the end of the war in three different series:
Qty Series Number Engine Order Date
34 53.20-53 185 Dm 4 December 1916
11 53.54-64 185 Dm 3 February 1917
61 153.01-61 200 Dm 3 February 1917
50 153.62-111 200 Dm 18 July 1917
100 153.112-211 200 Dm 8 October 1917
70 153.212-281 200 Dm 18 May 1918
230 253.01-230 225 Dm 18 May 1918
100 253.231-330 225 Dm August 1918
  The maiden flight of the D.III(Oef) production prototype, 53.21, took place in mid-February 1917. The Flars engineering commission, after inspecting the prototype on 4 May, specified several minor modifications. Production acceptances which began on 17 May were interrupted to repeat the static load test of the wing cellule (on 26 May) as a precautionary measure triggered by reports of recurring D.III wing failures on the Western Front. The far-sighted action of Oeffag engineers was vindicated for, by refusing to copy the German wing cellule, they had made significant improvements which were outlined in an LFT report: 1) The German spars and ribs are appreciably weaker than those of the 53.2 series. 2) Ribs between the main and auxiliary spar are solid and constructed of heavier plywood. 3) Spar flange thickness is increased from 10 to 20 mm at stress points. 4) Metal reinforcing is added between the main and auxiliary spar. 5) The front auxiliary spar is prevented from twisting by a metal fixture at the fuselage juncture. The German and Oeffag-built machines were dimensionally identical, with only small variations in wingspan, gap and area. Fully loaded, the Oeffag-built D.III was heavier than the German D.III, weighing 964 kg (2126 lb) compared to the German D.Ill's weight of 912 kg (2010 lb); the difference was due to the heavier 185 hp Daimler engine. Greater power gave the D.III(Oef) series 53.2 fighter a higher rate of climb and a maximum speed of 180 km/h (112 mph), as compared with the 165 km/h of the 160 hp Mercedes-powered German fighter.
  Output grew rapidly but the shortage of synchronization mechanisms, a chronic problem, forced Oeffag to manufacture precision parts to keep production moving. An enthusiastic reception met the first D.III(Oef) fighters when they reached the Front in June 1917. Finally, squadrons possessed a fighter that an average pilot could fly with relative ease and safety. By September 1917, sufficient experience had been gathered to assess the fighter's virtues and shortcomings. Although the series 53.2 and 153 were equal in speed to the Brandenburg D.I, they had a much superior rate of climb, showed excellent maneuverability and above all, were regarded as safe aircraft. Only one Flik reported lower wing vibration. At first the fighter was not fully trusted in a steep dive (nor was this recommended), but this restriction was lifted on later models. The synchronization mechanism was often unreliable, an all too common problem, and the steel-tube machine-gun supports required strengthening. A weak tail skid structure and poor quality cowling fasteners were problems quickly corrected. The 45 Albatros D.III(Oef) series 53.2 fighters were distributed among many Fliks on the Italian Front and in smaller numbers on the Russian Front. They formed the initial complement of Flik 51/J. When production ended in July 1917, the series 53.2 was replaced by the structurally identical but more-powerful D.III(Oef) series 153. With the appearance of newer fighters, the series 53.2 was used as a fighter-trainer by frontline training units.

Albatros D.III(Oef) Series 53.2 Specifications
Engine: 185 Daimler
Wing Span Upper 9.00 m (29.53 ft)
Span Lower 8.73 m (28.64 ft)
Chord Upper 1.50 m (4.92 ft)
Chord Lower 1.10 m (3.61 ft)
Dihedral Upper 0 deg
Dihedral Lower 1 deg
Sweepback Upper 0 deg
Sweepback Lower 0 deg
Gap 1.47 m (4 81 ft)
Stagger 0.22 m (0.72 ft)
Total Wing Area 20.56 sq m (221 sq ft)
General Length 7 35 m (24.12 ft)
Height 2.80 m (9.19 ft)
Track 1.80 m (5.91 ft)
Empty Weight 690 kg (1521 lb)
Loaded Weight 964 kg (1980 lb)
Maximum Speed: 180 km/hr (112 mph)
Climb: 1000m (3,281 ft) in 3 min 20 sec
3000m (9,843 ft) in 14 min 30 sec
5000m (16,405 ft) m 32 min


Albatros D.III(Oef) Series 153

  As soon as it became available, the high-compression 200 hp Daimler engine was mounted in the standard production airframe and output continued under the designation Albatros D.III(Oef) series 153. Between July 1917 and June 1918 a total of 281 fighters, numbered 153.01 to 153.281, were delivered. The second production batch, starting with airframe 153.112, was designed with a rounded nose to eliminate the spinner, which was prone to fly off and damage the airframe. In addition, German wind tunnel tests had demonstrated that replacing the spinner by a simple, rounded nose improved propeller efficiency, which in this case resulted in a speed increase of some 14 km/h (9 mph). Armament consisted of two buried Schwarzlose machine guns mounted with butts projecting into the cockpit and firing through blast tubes mounted alongside the engine. The slow-firing guns and often erratic synchronization systems were universally damned by pilots, more so because the D.III was an extremely stable gun platform. When several Fliks suggested that the guns be raised to eye level, three such fighters were built by Oeffag (153.161, 153.162, 153.181) and sent to the Front for evaluation. However, raised, cowl-mounted guns were not installed on production machines until the advent of series 253 in mid-1918.
  The introduction of the series 153 fighters coincided with the formation of specialized fighter squadrons, such as Fliks required performance and flight characteristics to engage in successful combat with enemy aircraft of similar type. It is the best-liked fighter at the Front." In the opinion of Offizierstellvertreter Friedrich Hefty, a Flik 42/J pilot credited with five victories, the "200 hp D.III was a superbly-designed aircraft, beautifully balanced and especially suited for aerobatics. Its rate of climb was equal to the Hanriot and the Camel, but slower in level flight than the SPAD." Every Flik lauded the D.III's all-round qualities. Not only was it robustly built and well finished (an Oeffag hallmark), but also its ease of maintenance endeared it to ground personnel. As usual the rocky airfields took their toll. In January 1918, seven Flik 55/J fighters were withdrawn for two weeks to repair rear airframe damage that occurred during take-off and landing. Oeffag raised the tail-skid support by 6 cm (2.4 in) to prevent the tail from bottoming out. Due to the temporary shortage of high-grade wing-bracing wire, some series 153 fighters were delivered in late 1917 with inferior stranded cable, which stretched to such a degree that lower wings began to vibrate in flight and allowed the wings to take on a pronounced V-form.
  In January 1918, Flik 42/J, a crack unit, submitted a combat summary which stated that "enemy aircraft are encountered in flights of eight or nine machines. To attack the well-coordinated enemy with inferior numbers is a hopeless task. In doing so our squadrons suffer inevitable losses without being able to control the air. The only solution is to attack the enemy in equal numbers; only then will the effectiveness of our type 153, powered by the high-compression engine (200 hp Daimler), reach its full potential. The supply of new fighters is totally inadequate." A rough indication of the combat attrition is shown by the following statistic. In August 1918, some 142 series 153 fighters were listed in the frontline inventory; three months later, the LFT's inventory was reduced to 57 machines, of which only 12 were in flyable condition. In spite of the high losses, an important fact to remember is that in terms of victories scored, the Albatros D.III(Oef) series 153 leads the list of all Austro-Hungarian fighters. This is a tribute to the aircraft and the pilots of the specialized fighter units, especially Fliks 3/J, 41 /J, 42/J, 51/J, 55/J, 56/J, 63/J, and 68/J, who fought gallantly and held their own against great numerical odds on the Italian Front.

Albatros D.III(Oef) Series 153 Specifications (With Spinner)
Engine: 200 hp Daimler
Wing: Span Upper 9.00 m (29.53 ft)
Span Lower 8.73 m (28.64 ft)
Chord Upper 1.50 tn (4.92 ft)
Chord Lower 1.10 tn (3.61 ft)
Dihedral Upper 0 deg
Dihedral Lower 1 deg
Sweepback Upper 0 deg
Sweepback Lower 0 deg
Gap 1.47 m (4.81 ft)
Stagger 0.22 m (0.72 ft)
Total Wing Area 20.56 sq m (2.2.1 sq ft)
General: Length 7.35 m (24.12 ft)
Height 2.80 m (9.19 ft)
Track 1.80 m (5.91 ft)
Empty Weight 710 kg (1566 lb)
Loaded Weight 987 kg (2176 lb)
Maximum Speed: 188 km/hr (117 mph)
Climb: 1000m (3,281 ft) in 2 min 35 sec
2000m (6,562 ft) in 6 min 35 sec
3000m (9,843 ft) in 11 min 20 sec
4000m (13,124 ft) in 18 min 50 sec
5000m (16,405 ft) in 33 min


Albatros D.III(Oef) Series 253

  On 18 May 1918, Oeffag received a contract to supply 230 Albatros D.III(Oef) series 253 fighters, numbered 253.01 to 253.230, to be powered by the improved 225 hp Daimler engine that was just entering quantity production. An additional batch of 100 series 253 fighters, numbered 253.231 to 253.330, was ordered in August with delivery scheduled to end in December 1918. Requiring only minor internal modification, the series 253 began to replace the series 153 in May 1918 and continued in production until the war ended. Counting the 30-odd machines completed after the war, Oeffag built a total of 260 series 253 fighters.
  The first units to receive the new 225 hp fighter were Fliks 61/J and 63/J in mid-June 1918, whose pilots were lavish with praise. Flik 61/J labelled it as "first class and superior to any fighter." Flik 63/1 considered the new fighter as "equal to all combat requirements; it is very much liked, only the squadron does not receive sufficient numbers." By July 1918, seven fighter Fliks acclaimed the series 253 as the finest fighter they had flown. Flik 56/J reported the series 253 "meets every demand, is solid and well constructed, climbs rapidly and is preferred over the Aviatik D.I because of its peerless flight characteristics." When various LFT staff officers at the Front were asked to summarize their requirements for future planning the reply was unanimous: "Unquestionably the most maneuverable and safest fighter at the Front. It has the pilots' complete trust. Because of its excellent handling and performance, it is preferred over every other fighter. Mass production is urgent." Given full priority for materials and engines, Oeffag responded by increasing average monthly output of the series 253 by 50 percent over the series 153.
  Among the 24 participants that competed in the Fighter Evaluation at Aspern in July 1918, only three were standard production machines - the Aviatik D.I 338.03 and two Albatros D.III(Oef), 253.32 and 253.35. In spite of having the highest wing loading, the Albatros fighters achieved a faster rate of climb than all other contestants with exception of the Aviatik D.I and the WKF 80.10 (D.I) prototype. Oberleutnant Benno von Fiala recommended returning the raised machine guns to the buried position (as in the earlier series) because blowing gases and oil interfered with aiming. In this connection, Flik 61/J reported that pilots flying machines with raised guns were forced to sit on two cushions to use the sights properly. At least up to aircraft 253.116, series 253 fighters left the factory armed either with buried or raised guns, apparently at random. Whether raised armament was planned as standard equipment on later production aircraft is not known.
  As of 1 August 1918, sixty-six series 253 fighters were at the Front, serving primarily with Fliks 3/J, 41/J, 42/J, 51/J, 55/J, 56/J, 61/J, and 63/J. By October 1918, all but 29 of the initial production batch had been accepted. After the war, Poland purchased 38 series 253 fighters (253.212-230, 232, 234-239, 243-248, 252-254, 256, and 257). So impressed was the Polish air service that in August 1919 Oeffag received a letter of commendation, praising the engineers and mechanics for the "exceptional, diligent and thorough work" done on the series 253. Several series 253 fighters took part in Austrian Volkswehr skirmishes with the troops of the new Yugoslavian state in Karnten until fighting finally ceased in June 1919.

Albatros D.III(Oef) Series 253 Specifications
Engine: 225 hp Daimler
Wing: Span Upper 9.00 m (29.53 ft)
Span Lower 8.73 m (28.64 ft)
Chord Upper 1.50m (4.92 ft)
Chord Lower 1.10 m (3.61 ft)
Dihedral Upper 0 deg
Dihedral Lower 1 deg
Sweepback Upper 0 deg
Sweepback Lower 0 deg
Gap 1.47 m (4.81 ft)
Stagger 0.24 m (0.77 ft)
Total Wing Area 20.56 sq m (221 sq ft)
General: Length 7.43 m (24.38 ft)
Height 2.64 m (8.67 ft)
Track 1.80 m (5.91 ft)
Empty Weight 722 kg (1592 lb)
Loaded Weight 995 kg (2194 lb)
Maximum Speed: 202 km/hr (125 mph)
Climb: 1000m (3,281 ft) in 3 min 5 sec
2000m (6,562 ft) in 7 min 10 sec
3000m (9,843 ft) in 11 min 20 sec
4000m (13,124 ft) in 17 min 15 sec
5000m (16,405 ft) in 27 min

E.Hauke, W.Schroeder, B.Totschinger Die Flugzeuge der k.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe und Seeflieger 1914-1918

50. Flugzeuge der Österreichischen Flugzeugfabrik A.G. (Oeffag) Wiener Neustadt
53.01 - 53.16 Albatros D.II (Oef) Dm 185
53.20 - 53.64 Albatros D.III (Oef) Dm 185
153.01 - 153.281 Albatros D.III (Oef) Dm 200
253.01 - 253.210 Albatros D.III (Oef) Dm 225