The C.XII succeeded the C.X and began to emerge from the Albatros production lines in the autumn of 1917. A glance at the photgraph is sufficient to show that the design team had decided to put to use knowledge gained from the series of streamlined single-seat fighters. Few two-seaters surpassed it for nicety of proportion and profile. Yet the refinement of fuselage design did not produce any great improvement in performance. This was largely due to the inadequate wing sections in use, a really efficient lift/drag ratio having not yet been attained.

The fining down of the C.XII fuselage resulted in a considerable reduction of the keel surface, and to retain adequate directional stability a small under fin was incorporated in the vertical tail surfaces. To retain fore and aft sensitivity, the fixed tailplane was reduced in area. The wings were almost identical to those of the C.X and of the same construction.

The C.XII came into quite widespread service on the Wertern Front during 1918, and remained in operation until the cessation of hostilities.