Albatros C.XII

Albatros C.XII
Role	Reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer	Albatros Flugzeugwerke
Primary user	Germany

The Albatros C.XII was a German military reconnaissance aircraft which saw service during World War I. It differed markedly from previous Albatros C-type aircraft by adopting an elliptical-section fuselage similar to that of the Albatros D.V. The C.XII also featured a tailplane of reduced area, but it retained the wings of the earlier Albatros C.X.

Despite the aerodynamic advantages, no significant increase in performance was achieved over the C.X. Examples remained in service until the end of the War.

Operators

German Empire

• Luftstreitkräfte

Poland

• Polish Air Force (postwar)

Specifications (C.XII)

General characteristics

• Crew: two, pilot and observer
• Length: 8.84 m (29 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 14.37 (OAW = 14.24) m (47 ft 2 in)
• Height: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 42.7 m² (459 ft²)
• Empty weight: 580 kg (1,280 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,061 kg (2,340 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.IVa, 190 kW (260 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 178 km/h (110 mph)
• Endurance: 4 hours  20 min
• Service ceiling: 5,640 m (18,500 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.2 m/s (820 ft/min)

Armament

1 × forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) Spandau LMG 08/15 machine gun

1 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun for observer

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 53. 
• Grosz, Peter M. (2007). Windsock Datafile 126 Albatros C.XII Vol.1. Berkhamsted: Albatros Productions Ltd.. 
• Grosz, Peter M. (2008). Windsock Datafile 129 Albatros C.XII Vol.2. Berkhamsted: Albatros Productions Ltd..