Book Review of PZL.23 Karas
Orange Series No. 8119
Author: Tomasz J. Kopanski
Mushroom Model Publications (MMP)
ISBN: 978-83-65281-63-0
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $35.00
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $35.00
HISTORY:
The PZL.23 Karaś (crucian carp) was a Polish light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft designed in the early 1930s by PZL in Warsaw.
During the interwar period, the Polish High Command had placed considerable emphasis upon the role of armed aerial reconnaissance aircraft.
To meet this interest, during 1931, PZL decided to embark on the development of a new combat aircraft to meet this role. An earlier proposal for a fast single-engine passenger airliner, designated the PZL.13, was adopted as the basis of the new design.
The new aircraft, which was designated as the PZL.23, a relatively modern design, which integrated features such as an all-metal body and unconventional wing construction.
As the British Bristol Pegasus radial engine was licensed for use in Poland only, export aircraft were instead equipped with the Gnome-Rhône 14K engine. Powered as such and along with some airframe changes, the PZL.23 became the PZL.43 Karaś.
It was the primary Polish reconnaissance bomber in use during the invasion of Poland. On 2 September 1939, a single PZL.23B of the 21st Escadrille was responsible for the bombing of a factory in Ohlau, inside Germany; the attack represented the first bombing raid to be conducted against a target in territory within the Third Reich.
During the following days, the PZL.23 bomber escadrilles were deployed to attack several advancing German armoured columns; they often conducted these attacks at low altitudes, which made them vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire.
By the end of 1939, around 120 PZL.23s (86 per cent of the Polish Air Force's inventory of the type) were destroyed; however, of these, only 67 had been lost as a direct result of enemy actions.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer: Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze
First flight: 1 April 1934
Introduction to service: 1936
Retired: 1946
Primary users: Polish Air Force, Bulgarian Air Force
Produced: 1936 - 1938
Number built: 250 (+3 prototypes)
Variants: PZL.43 Karaś
THE BOOK:
Mushroom Model Publications (MMP) is based in the UK. They have all of their books printed in Poland by their associate Stratus in English. Stratus also publishers their own line of books in both English and Polish.
This book is soft-cover of 144 pages in 8 1/2" x 11 1/2" page format.
The cover art shows a PZL.23 Karas flying over the country side.
The back cover shows a Karas sitting on a grassy airfield with other aircraft. It has a white fuselage no. of 8 and has its propeller removed and a canvas wrap around the cowling.
The book contains 266 black and white wartime photos. 100 of these are technical walk-around type photos.
There are 32 1/72nd scale line drawings, 16 color walk-around type illustrations and 34 color profiles of Karas's, mostly in Polish AF markings, with one in Polish civil marks and ones in Romanian AF, Luftwaffe and Bulgarian AF markings.
This book will be of great interest to aircraft modelers and aviation historians alike.
There are the following kits:
Heller 1/72nd is out of production
Mister Craft 1/72, Copyright 2018, is available 3 places overseas.
ZTS Plastyk 1/72 is available one place overseas.
SK Model 1/72 is out of production.
Smer 1/72 is available 4 places oversea and 1 place in the USA for $7.00.
I want to thank Casemate Publishing who sent me this review sample and Dr. Roger Walsgrove, head editor of MMP for this review sample.
All MMP titles can be viewed on Casemates web site at.
The PZL.23 Karaś (crucian carp) was a Polish light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft designed in the early 1930s by PZL in Warsaw.
During the interwar period, the Polish High Command had placed considerable emphasis upon the role of armed aerial reconnaissance aircraft.
To meet this interest, during 1931, PZL decided to embark on the development of a new combat aircraft to meet this role. An earlier proposal for a fast single-engine passenger airliner, designated the PZL.13, was adopted as the basis of the new design.
The new aircraft, which was designated as the PZL.23, a relatively modern design, which integrated features such as an all-metal body and unconventional wing construction.
As the British Bristol Pegasus radial engine was licensed for use in Poland only, export aircraft were instead equipped with the Gnome-Rhône 14K engine. Powered as such and along with some airframe changes, the PZL.23 became the PZL.43 Karaś.
It was the primary Polish reconnaissance bomber in use during the invasion of Poland. On 2 September 1939, a single PZL.23B of the 21st Escadrille was responsible for the bombing of a factory in Ohlau, inside Germany; the attack represented the first bombing raid to be conducted against a target in territory within the Third Reich.
During the following days, the PZL.23 bomber escadrilles were deployed to attack several advancing German armoured columns; they often conducted these attacks at low altitudes, which made them vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire.
By the end of 1939, around 120 PZL.23s (86 per cent of the Polish Air Force's inventory of the type) were destroyed; however, of these, only 67 had been lost as a direct result of enemy actions.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer: Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze
First flight: 1 April 1934
Introduction to service: 1936
Retired: 1946
Primary users: Polish Air Force, Bulgarian Air Force
Produced: 1936 - 1938
Number built: 250 (+3 prototypes)
Variants: PZL.43 Karaś
THE BOOK:
Mushroom Model Publications (MMP) is based in the UK. They have all of their books printed in Poland by their associate Stratus in English. Stratus also publishers their own line of books in both English and Polish.
This book is soft-cover of 144 pages in 8 1/2" x 11 1/2" page format.
The cover art shows a PZL.23 Karas flying over the country side.
The back cover shows a Karas sitting on a grassy airfield with other aircraft. It has a white fuselage no. of 8 and has its propeller removed and a canvas wrap around the cowling.
The book contains 266 black and white wartime photos. 100 of these are technical walk-around type photos.
There are 32 1/72nd scale line drawings, 16 color walk-around type illustrations and 34 color profiles of Karas's, mostly in Polish AF markings, with one in Polish civil marks and ones in Romanian AF, Luftwaffe and Bulgarian AF markings.
This book will be of great interest to aircraft modelers and aviation historians alike.
There are the following kits:
Heller 1/72nd is out of production
Mister Craft 1/72, Copyright 2018, is available 3 places overseas.
ZTS Plastyk 1/72 is available one place overseas.
SK Model 1/72 is out of production.
Smer 1/72 is available 4 places oversea and 1 place in the USA for $7.00.
I want to thank Casemate Publishing who sent me this review sample and Dr. Roger Walsgrove, head editor of MMP for this review sample.
All MMP titles can be viewed on Casemates web site at.