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PZL P.23 Karas

1936 GOLDEN AGE WORLD WAR 2

PZL p. 23 Kara's Story

Aircraft series PZL P. 23 "Karas" (meaning "Crucian Carp") is a traditional but outdated monoplane light bomber/reconnaissance platform of Polish design during World War II. The system was severely deficient in speed, firepower, and performance against Luftwaffe fighters, and numbers were declining.

Many get lost on the ground, and those who fly wild are not bound by the wishes of the crew, but more by the technological constraints of the past era of military aviation.

The P.23 is classified as a light bomber and also performs reconnaissance missions when required. As a light bomber, the fighter had little self-defense capability and was better reserved for non-combat reconnaissance missions.

With Poland clamoring to stop the tide of German invasion, P. 23 had to fight anyway. Weapons are purely defensive in nature, including three machine guns. Single 7.92mm wz. 33 machine guns remained in a fixed nose position. Two other 7.92mm PWU wz.

The 37 series (or sometimes the Vickers F-Type) is housed in a reasonably trainable gun located aft - one in the underside gun position and the other in the dorsal rear gun of the WWI style open cockpit Location. The pilot sits on the design of the glass canopy. The landing gear is sturdy and the overall design is very traditional.

Single-engine power comes from the British-designed, Polish-built Bristol Pegasus IIM2 9-cylinder radial piston engine rated at 670 hp (in the P.23B model with the Bristol Pegasus VII, the engine is boosted to 720 hp).

While in service, P. 23 took to the skies to defend Poland. Despite the utter impossibility of air superiority, P. 23 climbed to the skies to explore and assess the dangerous situation. It was also used to bomb targets in German-held areas where possible, although losses were mostly dire.

Despite the limitations of the system, Polish flight crews and pilots provided ammunition and fired several Luftwaffes for themselves.

The limited number of productions of the P. 23 - about 253 examples in total - did little to help the efforts of a declining nation. About 20 people fled the inevitable fall of Poland to Romania to fight another day, this time against the invading forces of the Soviet Union from the east.

Specification

Basic

Year:

1936

Staff:

Production

[253 units]:

Panstwowe Zaklady Lotnicze - Poland

Roles

- Ground Attack

- Reconnaissance (RECCE)

Dimensions

Length:

9.68m

Width:

45.77 ft (13.95 m)

Height:

10.83 ft (3.3 m)

Weight

Curb Weight:

1,980 kg

MTOW:

7,773 lbs (3,526 kg)

(difference: +3,408 pt)

Performance

1 x PZL Bristol Pegasus IIM2 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 670 hp.

Performance

Maximum Speed:

189 mph (304 km/h; 164 knots)

Service Limit:

23,950 ft (7,300 m; 4.54 mi)

Maximum range:

783 miles (1,260 km; 680 nautical miles)

Rate of climb:

390 m/min

Armor

Default:

1 x 7.92mm PWU wz. 33 machine gun fixed nose position

1 x 7.92mm PWU wz. 37 / Vickers F Supine

1 x 7.92mm PWU wz. 37 / Vickers F prone position behind the machine gun

Optional:

External throwing weapons up to 1,543 lbs.

Changes

p. 23/I - The first prototype

p. 23/II - The second prototype

p. 23/III - third prototype; improved pilot visibility in the cockpit by repositioning the engine and pilot seat; became the basis for the PZL production model line. 23A.

p. 23A - first production model; Bristol Pegasus IIM2 radial piston engine with 670 hp (production license in Poland); 40 copies made.

PZL. 23B - Equipped with 720 hp Bristol Pegasus VII; main production model, 210 examples produced.

Page 42 - Experimental model of a single example; fuselage position of retractable Bombardier nacelle; twin tails improve stability.