O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)

Halberstadt B I, II and III
   In this early 1915 product of the Halberstadt firm may be seen the lines that were to become familiar in their D II to D IV series, which appeared in the opening months of the following year. With a duration of four hours, the B II was a useful reconnaissance aircraft, although the observer, sitting in front, had a poor view. A B III with 120 h.p. Mercedes D II was also built. Engine, 100 h.p. Mercedes D I. Span, 120 m. (39 ft. 4 1/2 in.). Area, 32.0 sq.m. (346 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 641 kg. (1,410 lb.), Loaded, 1,047 kg. (2,303 lb.).

Halberstadt C I
   This aircraft appears to be a smaller and compact development of the B II with the crew positions reversed and the observer equipped with a defensive machine-gun. The rudder is not braced as formerly, and would appear to have been weak, as bracing struts were revived for the subsequent D types. Engine, unknown, but rotary.

J.Herris Halberstadt Aircraft of WWI. Volume 1: A-types to C.III (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 44)

Halberstadt B.I

  The Halberstadt B.I was a single-engine, two-seat trainer and reconnaissance aircraft powered by an 80 hp Oberursel U.O seven-cylinder rotary engine. The fuselage was again based on the rectangular, fabric-covered steel tube fuselage from the Fokker M 8 to which was added a biplane wing cellule.
  The wings were rectangular planform with two bays of bracing and cabane struts. The upper wing had slightly greater span that the lower. A simple undercarriage like most WWI aircraft used was fitted; many aircraft used a claw brake. The tailplane was fully movable with no fixed surfaces.
  Halberstadt built about 50 B.l aircraft in 1915. Some had a flexible Parabellum LMG 14 for the observer, some had a fixed Spandau LMG 08/15 for the pilot, and others may have had both guns.
  Work numbers 97 and 111 are known, and military serials 355-359/14, 652-654/15, and 657/15 are also known. A small number were at the front from late 1914 through early 1915.


Halberstadt B.II

  Like the B.I, the Halberstadt B.II was also a trainer and reconnaissance plane. However, instead of a rotary it was powered by a 100 hp Mercedes D.I six-cylinder engine with side radiators. In fact, it was essentially a B.I adopted for a Mercedes inline, water-cooled engine.
  The prototype had a shorter span, almost identical to the B.I, but due to the heavier engine the span of production aircraft had to be increased to 12.0 m. Wing area was 32.0 m2, empty weight ws 641 kg, and useful load was 220 kg. Climb to 1,000 m took 7 minutes, 2,000 m was 15 minutes, and to 3,000 m took 29 and a half minutes.
  A number of aircraft were produced and serial numbers 150/15, 157/15, 648/15, 1243/15, 1245/15, 1254/15, 1285/15, 1286/15, and 1288/15 are known. A small number were at the front from late 1914 through early 1915.


Halberstadt B.III

  Like the earlier B.I and B.II, the Halberstadt B.III was also a trainer and reconnaissance biplane; however, it was powered by a 120 hp Mercedes D.II six-cylinder engine with side radiators. In fact, it was essentially a B.II adopted for a more powerful engine. Although it was still a two-bay aircraft, with a span of 12 meters it had a longer wing span than the B.II.
  A few Halberstadt B.III aircraft were built in 1915 and military serials 1455-1462/15 are known. A small number were at the front from late 1914 through early 1915.

А.Александров, Г.Петров Крылатые пленники России

Иногда в России аппараты класса Ц несли и более 2 пулеметов, как, например, этот "Хальберштадт Ц. I" (Halberstadt С. I) с синхронизированным "Кольтом" впереди (отметим длинный "рукав" для отвода и сбора стрелянных гильз) и двумя пехотными "Виккерсами Мк. 1" (Vickers Mk. I) сзади и над верхним крылом (44). У последних обычные кожухи охлаждения заменены местной работы дырчатыми воздушными радиаторами, а пулемет в задней кабине снабжен к тому же катушечным магазином от германского "Парабеллума". Знай наших! У самолета, справа, стоит, вероятно, Иван Смирнов (И. В. Смирнов), пилот, одержавший 11 побед в период с января по ноябрь 1917 г. За пять лет до этого, в 1912 г. в Германии появилась компания "Дойче Бристоль Верке", превратившаяся в начале 1914 г. в "Хальберштадтер Флюгцойгверке" (Deutsche Bristol Werke; Halberstadter Flugzeugwerke). Под руководством ее главного конструктора Карла Тейса (Karl Theis) и создавались различные модели, включая упомянутую Ц. I, которая отличалась от многих других немецких машин своим ротативным мотором неустановленной мощности и непрочно установленным рулем поворота.