Siemens-Schuckert D.III
The Siemens -Schuckert D.III was towards the end of World War constructed by the Siemens - Schuckert and employed on the German side in the air force single-seat biplane fighter.
- 4.1 References / Notes
- 4.2 Literature
- 4.3 External links
- 4.4 See also
Development
The D.III was developed by graduate engineer Harald Wolff from a series of D-II prototypes to insert the new Siemens & Halske Sh.III rotary engine. The D.II, D.IIa and D.IIb were tested from June 1917 with the new engines, later, the trial types D.IIc. The last known as D.IIe prototypes were renamed D.III.
Use
The inspection of the Air Force ordered on December 26, 1917 first pre-series of 20 aircraft with the numbers D.8340/17 -D.8359/17 that was delivered from January 1918 to the front. In February 1918, there was a further order for 30 pieces. The pilots of Jagdgeschwader 2 were the first to the new machine, but after some time complained that the new Sh.III engine tended to overheat and threatened after only 10 hours of piston seizure and crankshaft breaks when using conventional lubricating oil. Siemens -Schuckert therefore had to take back the delivered aircraft and cut for better cooling a Strück from the round hood out. The commander of Jagdgeschwader 2 Captain Bert Gold urged that as soon as possible to put the fighters back to the front line service, as they would promise after elimination of child diseases to become the best Kamp fine -seaters at the front. When the planes came back in July 1918 for use, the order was now increased to 200 pieces.
Despite average speed, the D.III and her soon -appearing successor D.IV now proven to be excellent fighters. Your climb rate reached no other aircraft of this time, which makes them particularly suitable for use as an interceptor in the fight single-seater squadrons of homeland defense.
A number of famous World War II pilots flew the Siemens -Schuckert D.III, including Ltn Ernst Udet ( with the red paint of Jagdgeschwader 1), Ltn Fritz Beck Hardt ( a green airplane with swastikas ), Ltn Joseph Veltjens and Ltn Freiherr von Beaulieu- Marconnay (both machines with blue and red paint Jagdstaffel 15).
Performance Comparison approximately May 1918
Associations, who used the Siemens Schuckert D.III
- German Empire German Empire: Fighter squadrons ( Western Front ): Jasta 2
- Jasta 4
- Jasta 12
- Jasta 13
- Jasta 15
- Jasta 19
- Jasta 26
- Jasta 27
- Jasta 36
- Kest 4a
- Kest 4b
- Kest 5
- Kest 6
- Kest 8
- Jagdstaffel School No. 1
- Swiss Air Force