SPAD VII vs Albatros D III

1917–18

SPAD VII vs Albatros D III cover

SPAD VII vs Albatros D III

1917–18

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Description

When originally conceived, the French SPAD VII and German Albatros D II represented steps away from an emphasis on maneuver in aerial combat in favor of speed and durability - factors that came into play in hit-and-run tactics. At the end of 1916, however, Albatros tried to have the best of both worlds by incorporating the sesquiplane wing of the nimble Nieuport 17 into its D III. The result combined the better downward view and maneuverability of the Nieuport with the power and twin machine guns of the Albatros D II, but at a high price - a disturbing tendency for the single-spar lower wing to fail in a dive.

While Albatros (and the Austrian Oeffag firm, which built the fighter under license) sought to alleviate that weakness with various reinforcing measures, the Germans developed tactics to maximize the D III's strengths and minimize its shortcomings. At the same time, the French worked to improve the SPAD VII with more power and a more reliable cooling system before moving on to the twin-gunned SPAD XIII. While all that was going on, the Albatros D III became a mainstay of the German and Austro-Hungarian air services in frequent encounters with SPAD VIIs flown by French, Belgian, British, Italian and American airmen.

Table of Contents

Chronology - Design and Development - The Strategic Situation - Technical Specifications - The Combatants - Combat - Statistics and Analysis - Aftermath and Conclusion - Bibliography and Further Reading - Glossary

Product details

Published Apr 19 2011
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 80
ISBN 9781849084758
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 51 b/w
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Duel
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Jon Guttman

Jon Guttman, a resident of Leesburg, Virginia, is…

Illustrator

Jim Laurier

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives i…

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