Siemens-Schuckert D.III

Siemens-Schuckert D.III
Role	Fighter
Manufacturer	Siemens-Schuckert
Designer	Harold Wolff , Glöckner, and Hauck
Introduction	Jan or Feb-Mar 1918
Primary user	Germany
Number built	80
Variants	Siemens-Schuckert D.IV
Wingspan	8.43 m (27 ft 7.75 in)
Engine	160hp Siemens-Halske Sh.III
Armament	2×sync. fixed LMG08/15
Crew	1
Max Speed	180 km/h (112 mph)
Climb	1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 1:45 2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 3:45 3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 6:00-6:11
Ceiling	8,000 m (26,200 ft) to 8,100 m (26,600 ft)
Endurance	2:00

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.

For more information, see Wikipedia:Siemens-Schuckert D.III.

Timeline

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Official Stats

Availability	Maneuver	Damage	Dmg Points	Max Alt.	Climb	Points
Feb/Mar18-end	O	A	14	17	2	93

Plane and Crew Cards

• 

  
  Jasta 12
  Greven
  RAF

• 

  
  Kest 4b
  Leim
  RAF

• 

  
  Jasta 4
  Udet
  RAF

• 

  
  Jasta 15
  Ziegesar
  RAF

• 

  
  Kest 4b
  RAF

Blue Max/Canvas Eagles

Aircraft Chart

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

• Full-color miniatures
  • Ares: WGF112A Lange; WGF112B Veltjens; WGF112C von Beaulieu-Marconnay
  • Shapeways Full Color: Reduced Aircraft Factory: Greven, Leim, Udet, von Ziegesar, Kest4b-striped
• Shapeways Paintable: Kampfflieger, Reduced Aircraft Factory, wow
• Metal kit: Red Eagle, Reviresco
• Table Top Flights

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

Resources

Orthographic Drawings

• 

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand M^cNally 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 3. Great Britain: Argus Books, 1989. ISBN 0-85242-998-3
• Peter Gray and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. Great Britain, Putnam, 1962, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
• Peter L. Gray, Profile Publications 86: The Siemens Schuckert D III & IV. England: Profile Publications Ltd., 1966.
• Peter M. Grosz, "Archiv -- Frontbestand". WW1 Aero, № 107, Dec 1985 and № 108, Feb 1986. Poughkeepsie, NY: World War I Aeroplanes, Inc.
• P.M. Grosz, Windsock Datafile 29: SSW D.III~D.IV. Great Britain, Albatros Publications, Ltd., 1991. ISBN 0-948414-33-2
• W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1960.
• Kenneth Munson, Fighters 1914-19, Attack and Training Aircraft. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1976. ISBN 0713707607