The Albatros B.III (L.5) was a German World War I reconnaissance biplane manufactured by Albatros Flugzeugwerke under the designation Albatros LDD.
It was the final unarmed reconnaissance two-seater produced by the company and served as a precursor to the significant armed reconnaissance biplane, the C.III.
The modifications from its predecessors were relatively minor, with the most notable change being the introduction of the typical Albatros tail design featuring a rounded rudder.
Overall, the B.III closely resembled the B.II.
Although the B.III was manufactured in limited quantities in 1915, it became evident that reconnaissance aircraft needed to be equipped with armaments.
Subsequently, Albatros developed the C.I, which was derived from the earlier B.II, before progressing to the C.III.
While the Albatros C.III was essentially an armed variant of the B.III with some additional modifications, only a few components were interchangeable between the two aircraft.
Specifications
Crew
2
Length
7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)
Wingspan
11 m (36 ft 1 in)
Height
3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
Wing area
40.12 m2 (432 sq ft)
Empty weight
723 kg (1,594 lb)
Gross weight
1,071 kg (2,361 lb)
Powerplant
1 × Mercedes D.II inline piston
Or
1 x Daimler D I,
Or
1 x Daimler D II,
Or
1 x Argus As II
Or
1 x Bz III
90 kW (120 hp)
Performance
Maximum speed
120 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn)
Endurance
4 hours
Service ceiling
3,000 m (9,840 ft).
Sources German & Austro-Hungarian aircraft manufacturers 1908–1918-T C Treadwell. German Aircraft of the First World War-Peter Gray & Owen Thetford. Flugzeug Publications, Die Deutsche Luftwaffe 1914 – Heute. The World’s Great Bombers: 1914 to the Present Day-C Chant. Windsock Worldwide Vol.25, No.5 – September October 2009. Albatros Aircraft of WWI Vol.1: Early Two-Seaters-Jack Herris. Albatros Aircraft of WWI Vol.2: Late Two-Seaters-Jack Herris. Albatros Aircraft of WWI Vol.3: Bombers, Seaplanes J Types-Jack Herris. Albatros Aircraft of WWI Vol.4: Fighters-Jack Herris.
