Crucian Carp

Brand New Karas – IBG’s kit in 1/72

- Ken Allway

The 1930s saw some very charismatic designs as growing tensions spurred armaments development and many nations struggled to make the transition from biplanes to modern monoplanes. One of the most handsome of these is the PZL.23 Karas (Crucian Carp), an aircraft developed in 1931 to replace the Breguet 19 and Potez 25 in Polish service. The new recon bomber was based on a proposed passenger aircraft that never saw production, the PZL.13. The first series PZL.23A was fitted with a Bristol Pegasus IIM2 radial engine produced in Poland under licence but as this engine proved to be unreliable the subsequent PZL.23B was fitted with a newer Pegasus VIII of 720 hp (537 kW).

The aircraft was a low-wing cantilever monoplane of all-metal construction. The crew of three consisted of a pilot, a bombardier, and a rear gunner. The bombardier's combat station was situated in a gondola underneath the hull, where he could also operate an underbelly machine gun. The fixed undercarriage was enclosed in spats and bombs were carried under the wings with a maximum load of 700kg (1500lb).

Forty PZL.23As were delivered to the Polish Air Force in late 1936. Due to engine faults, their service ceiling was limited and they were used only in the training role, being fitted with dual controls. A total of 210 PZL.23Bs were delivered from 1937 and it was these that became the main armament of Polish bomber and reconnaissance line squadrons.