Albatros C.III

The C.III first entered service in late 1916 as a two-seat general purpose biplane. It was used until the end of the war in a variety of roles, including observation, photo-reconnaissance, light bombing and as a bomber escort. It was the most prolific of the Albatros two-seaters, replacing the B series of planes which had smaller engines and were unarmed.

The pilot sits forward and fires the fore machine gun when available. The observer sits behind him and also acts as gunner for the rear MG.

The plane was also used by the Finnish Air Force, and was exported to Lithuania and Poland after the war.

The plane has an endurance of 4 hours. It burns 6 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage. A full load of fuel and ammo (excluding bombs) costs $16.

Albatros C.III (L.10)

Subassemblies: Light Fighter chassis +3; Medium Fighter wings with Biplane option +2; 2 fixed wheels +0.

Powertrain: 119-kW HP gasoline engine with 119-kW old prop and 30-gallon fuel tank [Body].

Occ.: 2 XCS Body

Cargo: 7.5 Body

Armor F RL B T U

Body: 2/2C 2/2C 2/2C 2/2C 2/2C

Wings: 2/2C 2/2C 2/2C 2/2C 2/2C

Wheels: 2/3 2/3 2/3 2/3 2/3

Weaponry:

Aircraft LMG/7.92 mm LMG 08/15 [Body:F] (500 rounds).

Aircraft LMG/7.92 mm LMG 08/15 [Body:B] (500 rounds).

200 lbs. Bombs.

Equipment:

Body: Casemate and high-angle mount for the rear MG.

Statistics:

Size: 26'x38'x10' Payload: 0.55 tons Lwt.: 1.49 tons

Volume: 144 Maint.: 77 hours Cost: $6,649

HT: 8 HPs: 50 Body, 160 each Wing, 8 each Wheel.

aSpeed: 87 aAccel: 2 aDecel: 39 aMR: 10 aSR: 1

Stall Speed: 38 mph. Take-Off Run 206 yards. Landing Runs 144 yards.

gSpeed: 143 gAccel: 7 gDecel: 10 gMR: 1.25 gSR: 2

Ground Pressure: Very High. 1/8 Off-Road Speed.

Design Notes:

Historical wing area was 397 sf. The fuel capacity was based on a rough calculation between endurance and gas consumption, as no historical value could be located. MG load outs are a guess. One-half of a bomb bay module was purchased (250 lb. capacity); the historical load is shown. Design payload was 845 lbs; the historical value has been substituted. Design aSpeed was identical to the historical value! Performance calculations were based on historical values for wing area and loaded weight. The front Body MG is synchronized, lowering RoF by 10% (see p. W:MP8).

Variants:

Some C.IIIs possessed a 112-kW powerplant. Earlier C.IIIs did not possess the forward MG or bomb bay.

The Albatros B.III was very similar to the C.III, but had the observer forward of the pilot. The plane was unarmed and was used for artillery spotting.

The C.I was an enlargement of the B.II, allowing for a bigger engine and weaponry.

The C.VI was powered by a 134-kW powerplant, and had slightly different dimensions.

From the Aerodrome for GURPS

© 2008 by Jim Antonicic