AlbatrosD5

Albatros D-V / Va

Although already outclassed in many ways, the Albatros D-V series was that firm's last attempt to provide pilots with a capable aircraft late in the war.

The Albatros D-V and D-Va:

Historical Notes:

The Albatros D.V and D.Va were further extensions of the Albatros fighter line going back to 1916, born out of the cruel necessity that Allied air units had seized control of the air over the battlefronts. The early Fokker and Halberstadt machines of that time were unable to cope with the British DH-2 and French Nieuport 11. Concurrently, the Germans began to reorganize their aerial units around a concept initiated by Oswald Boelcke..... the Jagdstaffeln, or "Jastas." The Albatros Aircraft works provided the machine to equip the new units, and by that fall the new Jastas had once more seized control of the air. But once more the scales tipped to the Allies, and the Germans again needed a new plane with better performance.

The result was the Albatros D.III and D.V. These designs incorporated some of the design concepts learned from the Nieuport 11 and 17 series (such as the "V" struts), and when the D.III entered combat in the spring of 1917, it gained aerial dominance quickly. But the Albatros firm had a problem. Using political contacts and their own position in the state of Prussia, the Albatros firm was able to easily receive contracts at the expense of competitors. As a result, such a state-sponsored monopoly led to complacency, and little design work was done to make major improvements. By the summer of 1917 the Allies were again in control of the skies over France. The Albatros DV was, unfortunately for the Germans, not the answer. It simply did not have the enhanced performance necessary to compete with the likes of the Se-5a and Spads, not to mention the Sopwith Camel. Yet, the Albatros D.V was placed on order, and other designs by competitors were suppressed (such as Fokker's V11..... later known as the D.VII). The D.V models had their strengths, and when flown by pilots working together well, could be effective. By 1917 and 18, teamwork was a strength area for the Germans, and it was a primary reason they stayed competitive.

The construction of the D.V followed the Albatros model: a monocoque fuselage structure covered with 3 ply and doped fabric. The fuselage itself was more rounded than that of the D.IIIs, but otherwise was similar. Wing construction for the series had not changed significantly since the D.II, and the D.Vs wings were actually compatible with the older D.III. The positioning of the aileron wires differed between the D.V and D.Va, this being the primary difference between the two versions. Both models had headrests, but many pilots removed them for better visibility. Unfortunately, the D.Vs still retained the tendency to break up in prolonged dives, and it was later found to be caused by a design weakness in the lower wings. This was only partly rectified by the inclusion of a small strut extending from the forward edge of the wing up and back to the "V" struts. Even then, pilots were advised not to dive too steeply.

The Albatros D.V versions were the most numerous aircraft in service by the summer of 1917, and pilots like Richthofen, Goering and von Hippel all flew the type. Richthofen was shot down in one on July 6 of that year, inspiring him to write a scathing letter regarding the poor performance of the Albatros against the newer British machines (see the notes on the Fokker Dr-1 Triplane for part of that letter). By 1918, the Albatros DVs were demonstrably obsolete, yet still operated extensively in German Jastas. By war's end, over 300 were still in service.

The Albatros is a solid, easy to handle machine with few vices. But it also lacked the inherent instability necessary to be a truly great fighter aircraft.

Basic performance statistics: Albatros D.Va

Engine: 180hp Mercedes DIII 6 cylinder in-line water cooled (some had 200hp engines)

Weight: empty 1,511 lbs; loaded 2,061 lbs

Maximum speed: 117 mph at 3,280 feet

Climb rate: to 3,280 feet.... 4 min

Service ceiling: 20,000 feet

Flight endurance: 2 hours

Basic Specifications (vary widely from model to model):

Manufacturer: Albatros Flugzug Werke

Dimensions: Span 29 ft, 8 in; Length 24 ft, 0.5 in; Height: 8 ft, 10 in; Stagger: 9 in;

Areas: Wings 229 sq ft

Fuel: na in sources, however probably about 22-24 gallons.

Armament: twin Maxim machineguns synchronized to fire through the airscrew.

Typical ammo load: 1000 rounds; provisions to carry several bombs

Primary sources: "Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I, 1919 (1990 reprint); "British Aeroplanes, 1914-1918," J.M. Bruce; "German Aircraft of the First World War," Gray and Thetford; "Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War" Lamberton et al; "Aircraft Camouflage and Markings 1907-1954," Robertson et al; "Military Small Arms of the 20th Century," Hogg and Weeks.

Fighting and winning in the Abatros D.V:

The Albatros D.V is not a bad plane..... it's just not a great plane. It handles well, and doesn't spin too easily. It's roll rate and speed is better than the Pfalz D.III, but the Pfalz is slightly more maneuverable in lateral movement. The Albatros has two things going for it: it's a fairly strong, well built machine (except for the lower wing!) and it carried twin guns. In 1917, the latter point was a major issue, but by 1918 nearly every major single seat scout carried twin guns (or more, such as the Sopwith Dolphin). As a consequence, the Albatros D.V is an outmoded machine by 1918. You cannot compete in a twisting dogfight with the Camel or Fokker D.VII. However, the Albatros can hold its own even against the likes of the Spad 13 and Se-5a. The latter two aircraft are more powerful, but not significantly more maneuverable. Therefore, when engaging these types, the Albatros can twist and turn and beat them. This is even more true when flying in team games. Teamwork is absolutely essential to winning, especially if you fly Albatros's against Camels. The D.V has sufficient maneuverability to make it an effective machine in team games, and it's speed is still competitive even for late war settings.

A good tactic to use with the D.V is the diving attack. Unfortunately, the CFS system does not currently allow for excessive speed damage to aircraft, so the D.V can be power dived with impunity. However, to limit such a certain amount of lateral vibration was built into the flight model. When going into the dive, give it full throttle until it begins to vibrate, then back off almost to zero throttle which will help remove some of the shaking. Once you engage the enemy target, give it full throttle and fly past him, extending on the level. Such diving attacks are not as "fun" as the twisting dogfight, but are far more realistic (and if done properly, very deadly). It is especially effective when your target has his mind on something else, like following another plane in an effort to shoot him down.

The D.V can take significant damage, although the Pfalz D.III is better in this area. Furthermore, the D.V has a better role rate, allowing it to use some maneuvers in combat which are not practical for the Pfalz. Because of the Albatros' weight it will slow significantly when placed into a climb. Therefore, if you come under attack from a fast diving plane, lift the nose slightly and perform a series of snap rolls. This will drop speed rapidly. The attacker will tend to zoom past you, in which case you can level off and get a good solid burst into his machine. But beware: snap rolls tend to be dangerous at low levels. The speed drops off significantly, and with that you lose lift.... and altitude. If you are not careful, you may roll right into the ground.

The Albatros D.V lacked the instability necessary to be a truly great dogfighting machine. However, it is a good aircraft for the time, and when proper teamwork is employed, can be a worthy mount for good pilots.



	Albatros D-V / Va


		Although already outclassed in many ways, the Albatros D-V series was that firm's last attempt to provide pilots with a capable aircraft late in the war.

The Albatros D-V and D-Va: Historical Notes: The Albatros D.V and D.Va were further extensions of the Albatros fighter line going back to 1916, born out of the cruel necessity that Allied air units had seized control of the air over the battlefronts. The early Fokker and Halberstadt machines of that time were unable to cope with the British DH-2 and French Nieuport 11. Concurrently, the Germans began to reorganize their aerial units around a concept initiated by Oswald Boelcke..... the Jagdstaffeln, or "Jastas." The Albatros Aircraft works provided the machine to equip the new units, and by that fall the new Jastas had once more seized control of the air. But once more the scales tipped to the Allies, and the Germans again needed a new plane with better performance. The result was the Albatros D.III and D.V. These designs incorporated some of the design concepts learned from the Nieuport 11 and 17 series (such as the "V" struts), and when the D.III entered combat in the spring of 1917, it gained aerial dominance quickly. But the Albatros firm had a problem. Using political contacts and their own position in the state of Prussia, the Albatros firm was able to easily receive contracts at the expense of competitors. As a result, such a state-sponsored monopoly led to complacency, and little design work was done to make major improvements. By the summer of 1917 the Allies were again in control of the skies over France. The Albatros DV was, unfortunately for the Germans, not the answer. It simply did not have the enhanced performance necessary to compete with the likes of the Se-5a and Spads, not to mention the Sopwith Camel. Yet, the Albatros D.V was placed on order, and other designs by competitors were suppressed (such as Fokker's V11..... later known as the D.VII). The D.V models had their strengths, and when flown by pilots working together well, could be effective. By 1917 and 18, teamwork was a strength area for the Germans, and it was a primary reason they stayed competitive. The construction of the D.V followed the Albatros model: a monocoque fuselage structure covered with 3 ply and doped fabric. The fuselage itself was more rounded than that of the D.IIIs, but otherwise was similar. Wing construction for the series had not changed significantly since the D.II, and the D.Vs wings were actually compatible with the older D.III. The positioning of the aileron wires differed between the D.V and D.Va, this being the primary difference between the two versions. Both models had headrests, but many pilots removed them for better visibility. Unfortunately, the D.Vs still retained the tendency to break up in prolonged dives, and it was later found to be caused by a design weakness in the lower wings. This was only partly rectified by the inclusion of a small strut extending from the forward edge of the wing up and back to the "V" struts. Even then, pilots were advised not to dive too steeply. The Albatros D.V versions were the most numerous aircraft in service by the summer of 1917, and pilots like Richthofen, Goering and von Hippel all flew the type. Richthofen was shot down in one on July 6 of that year, inspiring him to write a scathing letter regarding the poor performance of the Albatros against the newer British machines (see the notes on the Fokker Dr-1 Triplane for part of that letter). By 1918, the Albatros DVs were demonstrably obsolete, yet still operated extensively in German Jastas. By war's end, over 300 were still in service. The Albatros is a solid, easy to handle machine with few vices. But it also lacked the inherent instability necessary to be a truly great fighter aircraft. Basic performance statistics: Albatros D.Va Engine: 180hp Mercedes DIII 6 cylinder in-line water cooled (some had 200hp engines) Weight: empty 1,511 lbs; loaded 2,061 lbs Maximum speed: 117 mph at 3,280 feet Climb rate: to 3,280 feet.... 4 min Service ceiling: 20,000 feet Flight endurance: 2 hours Basic Specifications (vary widely from model to model): Manufacturer: Albatros Flugzug Werke Dimensions: Span 29 ft, 8 in; Length 24 ft, 0.5 in; Height: 8 ft, 10 in; Stagger: 9 in; Areas: Wings 229 sq ft Fuel: na in sources, however probably about 22-24 gallons. Armament: twin Maxim machineguns synchronized to fire through the airscrew. Typical ammo load: 1000 rounds; provisions to carry several bombs Primary sources: "Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I, 1919 (1990 reprint); "British Aeroplanes, 1914-1918," J.M. Bruce; "German Aircraft of the First World War," Gray and Thetford; "Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War" Lamberton et al; "Aircraft Camouflage and Markings 1907-1954," Robertson et al; "Military Small Arms of the 20th Century," Hogg and Weeks. Fighting and winning in the Abatros D.V: The Albatros D.V is not a bad plane..... it's just not a great plane. It handles well, and doesn't spin too easily. It's roll rate and speed is better than the Pfalz D.III, but the Pfalz is slightly more maneuverable in lateral movement. The Albatros has two things going for it: it's a fairly strong, well built machine (except for the lower wing!) and it carried twin guns. In 1917, the latter point was a major issue, but by 1918 nearly every major single seat scout carried twin guns (or more, such as the Sopwith Dolphin). As a consequence, the Albatros D.V is an outmoded machine by 1918. You cannot compete in a twisting dogfight with the Camel or Fokker D.VII. However, the Albatros can hold its own even against the likes of the Spad 13 and Se-5a. The latter two aircraft are more powerful, but not significantly more maneuverable. Therefore, when engaging these types, the Albatros can twist and turn and beat them. This is even more true when flying in team games. Teamwork is absolutely essential to winning, especially if you fly Albatros's against Camels. The D.V has sufficient maneuverability to make it an effective machine in team games, and it's speed is still competitive even for late war settings. A good tactic to use with the D.V is the diving attack. Unfortunately, the CFS system does not currently allow for excessive speed damage to aircraft, so the D.V can be power dived with impunity. However, to limit such a certain amount of lateral vibration was built into the flight model. When going into the dive, give it full throttle until it begins to vibrate, then back off almost to zero throttle which will help remove some of the shaking. Once you engage the enemy target, give it full throttle and fly past him, extending on the level. Such diving attacks are not as "fun" as the twisting dogfight, but are far more realistic (and if done properly, very deadly). It is especially effective when your target has his mind on something else, like following another plane in an effort to shoot him down. The D.V can take significant damage, although the Pfalz D.III is better in this area. Furthermore, the D.V has a better role rate, allowing it to use some maneuvers in combat which are not practical for the Pfalz. Because of the Albatros' weight it will slow significantly when placed into a climb. Therefore, if you come under attack from a fast diving plane, lift the nose slightly and perform a series of snap rolls. This will drop speed rapidly. The attacker will tend to zoom past you, in which case you can level off and get a good solid burst into his machine. But beware: snap rolls tend to be dangerous at low levels. The speed drops off significantly, and with that you lose lift.... and altitude. If you are not careful, you may roll right into the ground. The Albatros D.V lacked the instability necessary to be a truly great dogfighting machine. However, it is a good aircraft for the time, and when proper teamwork is employed, can be a worthy mount for good pilots.