{{Short description|1917 German reconnaissance aircraft}} <!-- This article is a part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft. Please see Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout. --> {{Infobox aircraft |name=Albatros C.XII |image=Albatros C.XII.jpg |caption= |type=Reconnaissance aircraft |manufacturer=Albatros Flugzeugwerke |designer= |first_flight= |introduction= |retired= |status= |primary_user=Germany |more_users= |produced= |number_built= |variants= }}
The '''Albatros C.XII''' was a military reconnaissance aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Albatros Flugzeugwerke.
It was developed as a successor to the Albatros C.X. The C.XII differed markedly from previous Albatros C-type aircraft by adopting an elliptical-section fuselage similar to that of the Albatros D.V. The C.XII also featured a tailplane of reduced area, but it retained the wings of the earlier C.X. The C.X entered service with the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' during 1918 and saw active combat during the final months of the First World War. Despite the aerodynamic advantages, there was no significant performance increase achieved over the C.X. Examples remained in service until the end of the conflict.
==Development== The Albatross C.XII originated in the desire within Albatros to produce an aircraft superior to its C.X.<ref name="Grey and Thetford p. 36"/> The company's design team opted to incorporate the latest advances from contemporary single-seat fighter aircraft, particularly in the practice of streamlining. As a result of this focus, the C.XII was a relatively elegant aircraft for a twin-seater of the era; however, despite its well-proportioned and aesthetically pleasing appearance, the refined fuselage did not contribute to any meaningful improvement in performance.<ref name="Grey and Thetford p. 36"/> The fuselage was an all-new aspect of the design, which had a natural flow from the airscrew through to the tail unit, which was met via Albatros' distinctive horizontal knife-edge design. The surface area of the fuselage's keel was intentionally minimised.<ref name="Grey and Thetford p. 36">Grey and Thetford 1962, p. 36.</ref>
The structural elements of the C.XII's fuselage were largely reminiscent of the C.X, comprising longerons and formers, the latter having an elliptical cross-section and being composed of plywood.<ref name="Grey and Thetford p. 36"/> A combination of pinning and screwing were used to connect the covering with the framework in compact rectangular sections which permitted it to follow the contours of the fuselage. Access to the nose-mounted Mercedes D.IVa engine, another feature carried over from the C.X, was easily achievable via metal access panels.<ref name="Grey and Thetford p. 36"/> The new fuselage design necessitated the redesigning of the undercarriage, the forward struts being elongated considerably. In spite of this change, the basic structural design of the undercarriage, which comprised V-section steel tubing and elastic shock absorbers, was akin to that of the C.X.<ref name="Grey and Thetford p. 37">Grey and Thetford 1962, p. 37.</ref>
To ensure sufficient directional stability during flight, a small plywood-skinned under-fin was present in the vertical tail surfaces; it also supported the tailskid. The surface area of the fixed tailplane was smaller than that of the C.X to enhance fore and aft sensitivity.<ref name="Grey and Thetford p. 36"/> This tailplane was braced using steel struts to the vertical fin and had a plywood covering. A fabric covering and steel tube framing was used for both the rudder and the horn-balanced elevator.<ref name="Grey and Thetford p. 36"/> The wings were largely unchanged from those of the C.X, both in shape and construction method. The aerofoil radiator arrangement was also retained.<ref name="Grey and Thetford p. 37"/>
==Operational history== The Albatros C.XII only became available to the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' available in quantity during 1918, and thus was only used in actual combat for under a year prior to the Armistice of 11 November 1918 that ended the conflict.<ref name="Grey and Thetford p. 37"/> <!-- ==Variants== --> <!-- ==Aircraft markings== -->
==Operators== ;{{flag|German Empire}} * ''Luftstreitkräfte'' ;{{POL}} * Polish Air Force (postwar) ;{{flag|Free City of Danzig}} * Police air squadron (postwar)
==Specifications (C.XII)== [[File:Albatros C.XII dwg.jpg|thumb|Albatros C.XII ''Baubeschreibung'' drawing, as issued to ''IdFlieg'']] {{Aircraft specs |ref= ''German Aircraft of the First World War''<ref name="Grey and Thetford p. 3738">Grey and Thetford 1962, pp. 37-38.</ref> |prime units?= met |crew= Two (pilot and observer) |length m= 8.84 |length ft= 29 |length in= 0 |span m= 14.37 |span ft= 47 |span in= 2 |span note= (OAW = 14.24) |height m= 3.25 |height ft= 10 |height in= 8 |wing area sqm= 42.7 |wing area sqft= 459 |empty weight kg= 580 |empty weight lb= 1,280 |gross weight kg= 1,061 |gross weight lb= 2,340 |eng1 number= 1 |eng1 name= Mercedes D.IVa |eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->190 |eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->260 |max speed kmh= 178 |max speed mph= 110 |endurance= Four hours and 20 minutes |ceiling m= 5,640 |ceiling ft= 18,500 |climb rate ms= 4.2 |climb rate ftmin= 820 |armament = * 1 × forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) Spandau LMG 08/15 machine gun * 1 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun for observer }}
<!-- ==See also== --> {{aircontent <!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. --> |related=<!-- related developments --> |similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft --> |lists=<!-- related lists --> |see also=<!-- other relevant information --> }}
==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== * {{cite book |last1 = Grey |first1 = Peter |first2 = Owen |last2 = Thetford |title = German Aircraft of the First World War |publisher = Putnam |location = London, UK |year = 1970 |edition = Second |isbn = 0-370-00103-6}}
==Further reading== {{Commons category}} * {{cite book |last = Grosz |first = Peter M. |title = Windsock Datafile 126 Albatros C.XII Vol.1 |year = 2007 |publisher = Albatros Productions Ltd. |location = Berkhamsted, UK }} * {{cite book |last = Grosz |first = Peter M. |title = Windsock Datafile 129 Albatros C.XII Vol.2 |year = 2008 |publisher = Albatros Productions Ltd. |location = Berkhamsted, UK }} * {{cite book |last = Taylor |first = Michael J. H. |title = Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year = 1989 |publisher = Studio Editions |location = London, UK |pages = 53 }} <!-- ==External links== --> {{Albatros aircraft}} {{World War I Aircraft of the Central Powers}} {{Idflieg C-class designations}} {{Authority control}}
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