R.A.F. S.E.5a
| R.A.F. S.E.5a | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | R.A.F. |
| Designer | H.P. Folland [1] |
| Introduction | June 1917 [1] |
| Primary user |  U.K. (RFC/RAF)
|
| Number built | 5,147 [2] [note 1] |
| Developed from | R.A.F. S.E.5 |
| Wingspan | 8.10 m (26 ft 7 in) [3][4][5][6] |
| Propeller Diam. | 2-blade: 2.40 m (7 ft 10.5 in)[5] 4-blade: 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in)[5] |
| Engine | 200 Hispano-Suiza or 200hp Wolseley Viper |
| Armament | fixed, sync. Vickers and Lewis on Foster mount[note 2] |
| Ammo | 400 (Vickers)[5][7] + 4[5]-5[7] drums of 97 rounds (Lewis) |
| Crew | 1 |
| Max Speed | see chart |
| Climb | see chart |
| Service Ceiling | see chart |
| Endurance | see chart |
The S.E.5 was found to be a capable plane, and when the geared 200hp version of the Hispano-Suiza became available, it was mounted, the result being the R.A.F. S.E.5a. The first plane with the new engine arrived at № 56 Squadron in June 1917 and S.E.5a's replaced the S.E.5 in that unit by the end of August. However, there was difficulty in obtaining large quantities of the 200hp engine, both from France and the native Wolseley company. Wolseley was ordered to fall back to making the original ungeared engine, but they chose to improve it to a high-compression version known as the "Wolseley Viper". By January 1918 there were four hundred airframes in storage awaiting engines. In the early months of 1918 the bugs began to be worked out and deliveries from the Mayen firm increased the stock.
In combat the S.E.5a was found to be sturdy and reliable. While it was not as hair-trigger maneuverable as the Sopwith Camel, it could be thrown about without fear of crack-up. Since it was a top-line fighter, it served mostly on the Western Front, but small numbers were used on other fronts and in Home Defense.
As 1918 progressed the engines were refined, moving to 220-240hp Hispano-Suiza's and (at last) the 200hp Wolseley Viper.
The S.E.5a was one of the great fighters of World War One. [1]
| Engine | Speed | Climb | Ceiling | Endurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200hp Hispano-Suiza | 2,000 m (6,500 ft) in 6:00[1][3][5] 3,000 m (10,000 ft) in 10:20[1][3][5] 4,600 m (15,000 ft) in 18:48[6]-18:50[5] |
6,700 m (22,000 ft) [1][8][3][5] | 3:00 [1][5] | |
| 200hp Wolseley Viper | 220 km/h (137 mph) [3][1][4] | 1,500 m (5,000 ft) in 4:55[3][1] 2,000 m (6,500 ft) in 6:20[5] 3,000 m (10,000 ft) in 10:50[5]-11:00[3][1] 4,600 m (15,000 ft) in 20:50[5] |
5,900 m (19,500 ft)[4][5] | 2:30 [1][4] - 3:00[5] |
For more information, see Wikipedia:Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5.
Timeline [note 3]
Game Data
Wings of Glory
| Availability | Maneuver | Damage | Dmg Points | Max Alt. | Climb | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun17-end | N [note 4] | A | 16 | 12 [note 5] | 2 [10] | 92 |
Plane and Crew Cards
-
56 Sqn
Burden
RAF -
60 Sqn
Caldwell
RAF -
60 Sqn
Fitzgerald
RAF -
74 Sqn
Mannock
RAF -
56 Sqn
McCudden
RAF -
56 Sqn
Rhys Davids
RAF -
60 Sqn
Soden
RAF
Card Links
Blue Max/Canvas Eagles
Miniatures and Models
1:144 Scale
- Full-color miniatures:
- Ares Wings of Glory: WGF124B Dallas (D3511), WGF124C McCudden (B4863)
- Shapeways Full Color: Reduced Aircraft Factory: Burden (C.1096), Caldwell (A'8898), Fitzgerald (B'507), Mannock (D'278), Rhys Davids (B'525), Soden (A'4853)
- Wings of War: WW23B Dallas; WW23C Boudwin
- Shapeways paintable:
- Hispano-Suiza engine: Columbia Aerodrome, Decapod, Reduced Aircraft Factory
- Wolseley Viper engine: Reduced Aircraft Factory, wow
- Plastic or Resin Kit: Sram 144/021 (company defunct), Valom 14404, 14418
- Resin Model: Paint & Glue
- Metal Kit: Red Eagle
1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale
- Shapeways: Decapod, Reduced Aircraft Factory, wow
- Metal Kit: CinC MS-12
- Metal Cast: Goblintooth/H.A./MSD UKG-05
1:300 Scale
- Metal Kit: Heroics & Ros GWA102
1:350 Scale
1:500 Scale
- Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory
1:600 Scale
- Metal kit: Tumbling Dice
- Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory
1:700 Scale
- Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory
Resources
Isometric Top Views
-
Hispano-Suiza engine and headrest
-
Wolseley Viper engine
References
- Notes
- ↑ 5,205 combined SE.5 and SE.5a total.[1]
- ↑ This allowed the Lewis to be pulled back to a position of firing directly upward.
- ↑ British usage numbers are approximate, derived from the squadron histories.[9]
- ↑ Previously "F".
- ↑ Previously 14, but was de-rated to 12 in Version 1.2. [10]
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Updated card
- Citations
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Bruce'69, p.445.
- ↑ Angelucci, p.57.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Lamberton, pp.214-215.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Angelucci, p.46.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 Bruce'65, p.12.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Argus Vol. 2, p.24.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kelly, p.230.
- ↑ Bruce'89, p.29.
- ↑ Philpott'13, pp.379-444.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ares Climb Rates and Maximum Altitude Table, version 1.2, Oct 2021
- Bibliography
- Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. New York: The Military Press, 1983 edition. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
- Argus Books, Airplane Archive: Aircraft of World War One, Volume 2. Great Britain: Argus Books, 1989. ISBN 0-85242-984-3
- J.M. Bruce. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. Great Britain: Funk & Wagnalls, 1957, 1969. ISBN 0370000382
- J.M. Bruce, Profile Publications 1: The S.E.5A. Great Britain: Profile Publications, Ltd., 1965.
- J.M. Bruce, Windsock Datafile 10: RAF SE5a. Great Britain: Albatros Publications, Ltd., 1989. ISBN 0-948414-16-2
- Kevin Kelly, "Belts and Drums: A Survey of First World War Aircraft Ammunition Totals". Over the Front, Vol. 5, No. 3, Autumn 1990. Walsworth Publishing Co, Inc. and The League of World War I Aviation Historians.
- W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1960.
- Ian Philpott, The Birth of the Royal Air Force. Great Britain: Pen & Sword Books Limited, 2013. ISBN 978-1-78159-333-2