Siemens-Schuckert D.III

The revolutionary Siemens-Halske engine was the foundation of the Siemens-Schuckert D.III fighter, but the engine proved troublesome and the type was frequently grounded. The engine was an eleven-cylinder engine with the crankshaft rotating in one direction at 900rpm and the crankcase and cylinder rotating in the other at 900rpm, which was supposed to reduce the gyroscopic forces and allow the propeller to run at a lower, more efficient speed. All good in theory. Then engine ran hot (since it was rotating at half speed compared to a conventional rotary) and frequently seized due to poor-quality lubricant.

The first batches of production machines were sent to Jasta 12 and 15 of JGII in April and May of 1918. They were found to be nimble and outstanding climbers, but the engines would frequently seize up after only a few hours of flight. Repairs were made near the end of May (and to machines still in production), and the D.IIIs returned to combat use later in the summer.

When its engine was working, the D.III had outstanding climbing characteristics and it was quite nimble.

Aircraft Chart

1:144 Scale

 * Full-color miniatures
 * Ares: WGF112A Lange; WGF112B Veltjens; WGF112C von Beaulieu-Marconnay
 * Shapeways Full Color: Reduced Aircraft Factory: Leim, Udet, von Ziegesar
 * Shapeways: Kampfflieger, Reduced Aircraft Factory, wow
 * Metal kit: ,

1:200 Scale

 * Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

 * Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory

1:300 Scale

 * Metal kit: Heroics & Ros GWA305

1:350 Scale

 * Shapeways: wow