World Military Forces Past And Present: Anatra DS Russian World War 1 Fighter

Anatra DS/Photo Public Domain

The Anatra DS or Anasal was a two-seat reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Anatra D (Anade). It was built in the Anatra factory in Odessa in the Russian Empire and flown during World War I and by both sides during the Russian Civil War.
The main difference from the previous model was the replacement of a primitive 100 hp rotary engine with a much more powerful 150 hp Salmson radial engine, which improved performance. The engine was unique, being one of the few water-cooled radial engines, hence the plane had a water radiator in front of the upper wing. This engine was license-built in Russia. The forward fuselage was similar to its predecessor, with a partial engine cowling, open at the bottom, with characteristic holes. The plane was also slightly larger and more heavily armed, adding a synchronised forward-firing machine gun for the pilot in addition to the observer's weapon.
The plane, named Anasal (short for Anatra Salmson) was first flown on 7 August 1916 (25 July 1916 old style). The first orders came only in 1917, and before the Soviet revolution in November 1917 some 60 to 70 had been manufactured, many others being in different stages of completion^[1]. Many details differed between individual aircraft.
In March 1918 Odessa was occupied by Austro-Hungarian forces, in accordance with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and in May the Austrian government ordered 200 Anasals, as the Anatra C.I, for training and observation. 114 were received by the Austrians by September 1918, some half being given to training units before the end of World War I. In October, the remainder of the order was cancelled.
The major post-war user of the Anasal was Czechoslovakia, with 23 former Austrian aircraft, used by the military, and later in civilian aviation. One of these has survived and is in the Prague Aviation Museum, Kbely. Eight Anasals were used by revolutionary forces in Hungary. Eight aircraft were acquired in March 1919 by the Polish 4th Rifle Division in Odessa, fighting in the Russian civil war on the White side, but only 4 were assembled and used until April. Another Anasal was captured and used by the Poles during the Polish-Soviet war in 1919-20.
A more advanced model was the Anatra DSS, with 160 hp Salmson engine, but few were made.

Variants

DS - two-seat reconnaissance aircraft
DSS - a small number of aircraft with a more powerful 160 hp Salmson radial engine for slightly higher speed
Anatra Anadis - fighter aircraft based on the Anasal design