The observer, who occupied the rear cockpit, was armed with a single 7.92 mm (0.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun. (This would be -/B.) Some C.III aircraft were fitted with a gun synchronizer and a single forward-firing 7.92 mm (0.312 in) LMG 08/15 machine gun. The C.III could also carry a bomb load of up to 90 kg (200 lb) in a small internal bomb bay.
from another source
Originally designed with the single flexibly mounted machine gun, soon gets fixed forward firing gun as well - one of first German C class aircraft to carry such a gun.
The first twelve C.IIIs were recorded at the front in December 1915, and the type increased in importance throughout 1916, reaching a peak of 354 aircraft at the end of August. There were still 320 in use at the end of the year but the numbers fell quickly during 1917 and were in single figures by the end of the year. The aircraft remained in use on secondary fronts after being withdrawn from the Western Front. The Albatros was also used in small numbers by the German navy.
The date of when the Germans started giving the pilot a machinegun is eluding me. Need help.
I really like WoG selection of this 2 seater. A -/B version makes it great for early 1916.
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