The PZL P.23 "Karas" (meaning "the crucian carp") series of aircraft was a conventional - yet outdated - monoplane light bomber / reconnaissance platform of Polish design in World War 2. The system was wholly inadequate in speed, firepower and performance against the fighters of the German Luftwaffe and fell in number. Many were lost on the ground while those that did fly in anger, were limited not by their crew's will but moreso in the technological limitations of a by-gone age of military aviation.
Classified as light bomber, the P.23 also undertook reconnaissance sorties as required. Hardly a fighter with very little in the way to defend itself as a light bomber, the aircraft was better reserved to the non-combat reconnaissance role. With Poland clamoring to stem the tide of German invasion, it was a necessity for the P.23 to fight regardless. Armament was purely defensive in nature and numbered three machine guns. A single 7.92mm wz.33 type machine gun was held in a fixed nose position. Two other 7.92mm PWU wz.37 series (or sometimes Vickers F types) were in somewhat trainable gun positioned at rear - on in an underside gun position and the other in a World War 1 style open cockpit dorsal rear gun position. The pilot sat forward on the design with a glazed canopy. The undercarriage was fixed and the overall design was quite traditional in nature. Power from the single engine was derived from a British-designed Polish-produced Bristol Pegasus IIM2 9-cylinder radial piston engine of 670 horsepower (this was uprated to 720 horsepower in the P.23B models which sported the Bristol Pegasus VII).
In service, the P.23 took to the skies in defense of Poland. Though air superiority was far out of the question, the P.23 nonetheless took to the skies to reconnoiter and assess the perilous situation. It was also used to bomb targets in German held territories when possible, though losses most times were horrendous. Despite the limitations of the system, Polish air crews and pilots delivered ordnance and notched a few Luftwaffe kills themselves.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
Length
31.8 ft (9.68 m)
Width/Span
45.8 ft (13.95 m)
Height
10.8 ft (3.30 m)
Empty Wgt
4,365 lb (1,980 kg)
MTOW
7,773 lb (3,526 kg)
Wgt Diff
+3,408 lb (+1,546 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the PZL P.23A Karas production variant)
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the PZL P.23A Karas production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
STANDARD:
1 x 7.92mm PWU wz.33 machine gun in fixed nose position
1 x 7.92mm PWU wz.37 / Vickers F in rear dorsal gun position
1 x 7.92mm PWU wz.37 / Vickers F machine gun in rear ventral gun position
OPTIONAL:
Up to 1,543lb of external drop ordnance.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 4
P.23/I - Initial Prototype
P.23/II - Second Prototype
P.23/III - Third Prototype; improved pilot vision from cockpit by repositioning engine and pilot's seat; became basis of production model line as the PZL.23A.
P.23A - Initial Production Model; fitted with Bristol Pegasus IIM2 radial piston engine of 670 horsepower (Poland production under license); 40 examples produced.
PZL.23B - Fitted with Bristol Pegasus VII of 720 horsepower; main production model with 210 examples produced.
P.42 - Single Example Experimental Model; retractable bombardier gondola fuselage position; double tail fins for improved stability.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Bulgaria; Poland; Romania
