Poland's PZL P-23 Karas (Crucian Carp), bomber1,2,3
PZL P-23 Karas bomber:
PZL P-23 Karas bomber:
PZL P-23 Karas bomber:
PZL P-23A Karas bomber3:
Design
The Panstwowe Zaklady Lotnicze (PZL) P-23 Karas was designed in 1932.2 The P.23 was based on the design for the PZL P.13 passenger transport that wasn't built.3
The skin was made from a light allow and balsa wood sandwiched together.3
Prototype
The P-23/I prototype first flew in August 1934.1,2,3 The prototype had a 590 HP engine which drove a wooden two bladed propellar.2
Production
An initial order for 40 P-25As was made in 1935.2 210 of the P-25Bs were ordered.2 Production started in 1935.3
The P.23A first flew in June 1936.3
- Prototypes: 33
- P-23a / P.23A: 401,3
- P-23b / P.23B: 2101,3
- Total: ~2502, 2533
- P-43: 541 Ordered by Bulgaria.1 Nine were used by Poland.1
- P-43A: 12 ordered by Bulgaria.2
- P-43B: 42 Ordered by Bulgaria.2
- P.43A and P.43B: 543
Variants
- P-23/I: Prototype.1,3 Had the Pegasus IIM.2 engine (590 HP).1
- P.23/II: 2nd prototype.3 Engine lowered.3 Bomb bay was redesigned.3 Canopy was redesigned.3
- P-23/III: 3rd prototype.1,3 Had Pegasus VIII engine (680 HP).1
- P-23a: Entered service in June 1936.1 Performance wasn't adequate so all models were turned into trainers.1,3
- P-23b: First operational version.1 Entered service in 1937.1,3
- P-42: Experimental.2 Had a twin tail fins.2
- P-43: Had Gnome-Rhône 14 NO 1 engine (970 HP/980 HP2).1
- P.43A: Built for Bulgaria.3
- P.43B: Built for Bulgaria.3
- P-46: Experimental.2
Usage
The PZL P.23 was used by Bulgaria (46), Poland, and Romania (41).3
There were twelve2,3 Polish squadrons equipped with 150 P-23s.1 Five Bomber Brigades and seven reconnaissance units.1
Heavy Losses
There were 112 P-23bs lost in 16 days.1 90 of them were lost in aerial combat.1
Bulgaria
Bulgaria received 33 P-43s by August 1939.2 These were used by four squadrons.3
| PZL P-23 Karas1 PZL P.233 |
PZL P.23A3 | PZL P-23B2 PZL P.23B3 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Bomber3 Light bomber1 Reconnaissance3 |
Attack2 | |
| Crew | 31,3 | 31 | |
| Engine (Type) | PZL built Bristol Pegasus VIII piston1 | PZL (Bristol) Pegasus IIM23 | PZL-Bristol Pegasus VIII2,3 |
| Cylinders | Radial1 | Radial 93 | Radial 92 |
| Cooling | Air2 | ||
| Net HP | 6801 | 5803 | 6802,3 |
| Propeller blades | 2 | 23 | 23 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 45' 9.25"1,3 13.95 m1,3 |
45' 9.5"2 13.95 m2 |
|
| Length | 31' 9 1/8"1, 31' 9.5"3 9.68 m1, 9.69 m3 |
31' 9.5"2 9.68 m2 |
|
| Height | 10' 10"1,3 3.3 m1,3 |
10' 10"2 3.3 m2 |
|
| Wing area | 288.5 ft2 1 26.8 m2 1 |
||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 4,250 lb1 1,928 kg1 |
4,250 lb3 1,928 kg3 |
|
| Loaded | 7,716 lb1 3,400 kg1 |
7,771 lb3 3,525 kg3 |
7,773 lb2 3,526 kg2 |
| Performance | |||
| Speed at sea level | 170 mph3 273 kph3 |
||
| Speed @ 6,560' / 2,000 m |
186 mph1 300 kph1 |
||
| Speed @ 11,975' / 3,650 m |
199 mph3 320 kph3 |
198 mph2 319 kph2 |
|
| Climb to 6,560' / 2,000 m |
4.75 minutes1 | 4.8 minutes3 | |
| Service ceiling | 23,950'1 7,300 m1 |
23,950'3 7,300 m3 |
23,950'2 7,300 m2 |
| Range | 782 miles1 1,260 km1 |
783 miles3 1,260 km3 |
782 miles2 1,260 km2 |
| Armament | 2: MG2 | ||
| Forward firing | 1: 7.7 mm MG3 1: 7.7 mm KM Wz33 MG1 |
||
| Dorsal position | 1: 7.7 mm MG3 1: 7.7 mm Vickers MG1 |
||
| Ventral gondola | 1: 7.7 mm MG3 1: 7.7 mm Vickers MG1 |
||
| Bombs | 1,543 lb1,3 700 kg1,3 |
1,543 lb2 700 kg2 |
Sources:
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Complete Book of World War II Combat Aircraft, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, Pierluigi Pinto, 1988
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
