The Albatros D.III was a highly successful single seat, biplane fighter aircraft used by the German Air Service during the First World War. Manufactured by Albatros-Flugzeugwerke, it was introduced in late 1916, and was phased out in mid-1917. Despite its short combat life, not uncommon during WWI, it served its front-line combat function extremely well. The D.III was used by many top German aces. Manfred von Richthofen, Eric Lowenhardt , Kurt Wolfe , Karl Emil Schaeffer , and others, significantly increased their scores flying the D.III. It was the top of the line German fighter during, what the British referred to as, "Bloody April" 1917.

The D.III, was designed by Robert Thelen , Following on the designs of the successful Albatros D.I and D.II series, the D.III utilized the same semi-monocoque fuselage. The wings design were significantly different, with the lower wing being of smaller chord that the upper wing. The outboard struts were of a "V" design, which departed from the previous "N" type struts. The engine was an in-line 160 horsepower (119 kW) Mercedes, giving a top speed of 175 km/h (105 mph). The armament consisted of two LMG 08/15 machine guns in 7.92 mm caliber, synchronized to fire through the airscrew.

Specifications (D.III)

General characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: 7.33 m (24 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 9.00 m (29 ft 6 in)
• Height: 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 23.6 m² (254 ft²)
• Empty: 695 kg (1,532 lb)
• Loaded: 886 kg (1,949 lb)
• Maximum takeoff: 955 kg (2,105 lb)
• Powerplant: 1x Mercedes D IIIa , 119 kW (160 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 175 km/h (109 mph)
• Range: 300 km (480 miles)
• Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,044 ft)
• Rate of climb: 270 m/min (886 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 37.5 kg/m² (7.7 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 130 W/kg (0.08 hp/lb)

Armament

• 2 x 7.92 mm LMG 08/15 machine guns

Related content

Related development: D.I - D.II - D.IV - D.V

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: D.I - D.II - D.III - D.IV - D.V - D.VI