How many D.V and D.Va aircraft were there in May 1918?

Short answer

In May 1918, 131 D.V and 928 D.Va remained in service on the Western Front. Total production had been much higher: around 900 D.V and 1,612 D.Va built at Johannisthal and Schneidemühl before manufacturing ended in April 1918. The D.V had entered service in May 1917.

Published: November 1, 2026 · Updated: November 1, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

How many D.V and D.Va aircraft were there in May 1918?

Albatros D Va - DPLA - f03 cea926 ecb01a9bc4e7181ed00b54d (page 1)

The numbers in May 1918

In May 1918 there were 131 D.V and 928 D.Va in service on the Western Front. Cumulative production had been considerably higher: approximately 900 D.V and 1,612 D.Va left the Johannisthal and Schneidemühl factories before manufacturing was wound down in April 1918, despite the type's well-known shortcomings and general obsolescence.

A fighter derived from the D.III

The D.V entered service with the German Air Force in May 1917. It closely resembled the D.III and used the same 127 kW (170 hp) Mercedes D.IIIa engine, with a larger propeller spinner and a ventral fin. Compared with the D.III, the upper wing sat 121 mm (4.75 in) closer to the fuselage. Early examples carried a large headrest that was usually removed in service, because it obstructed the pilot's field of view.

The D.Va's reinforcement

Albatros responded with the D.Va, which incorporated stronger wing spars, heavier wing ribs, and a reinforced fuselage. The D.Va also reverted to the D.III's aileron cable routing, which ran outward along the lower wing before rising to the ailerons.