PZL.23 Karaś

The PZL.23 Karaś, designed by Stanisław Prauss and built by Poland’s state aircraft factory PZL in the mid‑1930s, was a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft that became the backbone of the Polish Air Force before World War II. First flown in 1934, the Karaś incorporated a low‑wing, all‑metal monoplane layout with a retractable undercarriage, a novel feature for Polish designs at the time. Powered by a 12‑cylinder radial Gnome‑Rhone 14K engine delivering about 560 hp, it could reach a maximum speed of 340 km/h and carry a modest bomb load of up to 500 kg, while its glazed nose provided excellent visibility for the crew of three. Operationally, the aircraft served in the 2nd and 3rd Light Bomber Regiments and performed reconnaissance, artillery spotting and tactical bombing during the 1939 September Campaign, where its rugged construction and maneuverability earned respect despite being outmatched by newer German aircraft. Though quickly superseded after the war, the PZL.23 Karaś demonstrated Poland’s capability to produce modern, multi‑role military aircraft and influenced later designs such as the PZL.37 Łoś, marking an important step in interwar aviation development history.

Stanisław Prauss

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification