Heinkel HD 23

Image : Wikimedia Commons

Germany's HD 23 carrier-based fighter of 1926 represented early naval aviation development, designed for shipborne operations. Its compact 7.5-metre fuselage and tight 10.8-metre wingspan reflected carrier deck constraints and the need for rapid carrier take-off performance. The 250 km/h speed provided respectable fighter capability, though floatplane seaplane variants dominated Germany's early naval air arm.