They were used extensively by the German Air Service throughout 1917, and remained in action in considerable numbers until the end of the war. A small auxiliary strut was added at the bottom of the outer wing struts to address the issue, but was not entirely successful.Īpproximately 4,800 Albatros fighters of all types were built during World War I. The D.V and D.Va also continued to experience the same lower wing failure problems in a dive similar to the earlier D.III. Unfortunately, the necessary strengthening increased the weight and negated the performance advantage of the new engine. The wings were strengthened, resulting in a re-designation, the D.Va. The Albatros D.V model was fitted with a more powerful 180-horsepower engine, but was plagued by a rash of upper-wing failures.

A sesquiplane version with narrow-chord lower wings, designated the D-III, was introduced early in 1917, and served with great success, despite the narrow lower wing being susceptible to frequent failure in prolonged dives. It featured a streamlined semi-monocoque fuselage, with an almost fully-enclosed 160-horsepower in-line Mercedes engine, and the propeller spinner neatly contoured into the nose of the fuselage.

In 1916, Albatros Werke produced the remarkably advanced Albatros D.I. Single-engine, single-seat, German World War I biplane fighter 180-horsepower Mercedes D.IIIa water-cooled engine.

Poker d1 fighters d1 fighter planes