Siemens-Schuckert D.III

Siemens-Schuckert D.III

Role	Fighter
Manufacturer	Siemens-Schukert Werke
First flight	October 1917
Introduction	April 1918
Primary user	Luftstreitkräfte
Produced	80

The Siemens-Schuckert D.III was a German single-seat fighter built by Siemens-Schuckert Werke. The D.III was a development of the earlier Siemens-Schuckert D.IIc prototype.^[1] The D.III was an (nearly) equal-span biplane powered by a 160 hp (119 kW) Siemens-Halske Sh.III bi-rotary engine. Idflieg placed an order for 20 aircraft in December 1917, followed by a second order of 30 aircraft in February 1918.^[2]

Operational history

Approximately 41 D.IIIs were delivered to frontline units between April and May 1918.^[2] Most aircraft were supplied to Jagdgeschwader II,^[3] whose pilots were enthusiastic about the new aircraft's handling and rate of climb. After only seven to 10 hours of service, however, the Sh.III engines started showing serious problems with overheating and piston seizure.^[4] The problem was later traced to the Voltol mineral oil that was used to replace the now-scarce castor oil.^[3] Furthermore, the close-fitting engine cowling provided inadequate cooling to the engine.^[5]

In late May 1918, Jagdgeschwader II replaced its D.IIIs with the older Fokker Dr.I.^[6] The remaining D.III aircraft were returned to the Siemens-Schuckert factory, where they were retrofitted with new Sh.IIIa engines, an enlarged rudder, and cutaway cowlings that provided improved airflow.^[1] A further 30 new production D.IIIs incorporated these modifications. Total production amounted to 80 aircraft.^[1]

In July 1918, the D.III returned to active service as an interceptor with home defense squadrons.^[4] By this time, the D.III had been replaced in production by the Siemens-Schuckert D.IV.

Operators

German Empire

Luftstreitkräfte

Switzerland

Swiss Air Force

Specifications

Siemens-Schukert D.III drawing

General characteristics

Crew: One
Length: 18 ft 8½ in (5.70 m)
Wingspan: 27 ft 7¾ in (8.43 m)
Height: 9 ft 2¼ in (2.80 m)
Wing area: 203.44 ft² (18.90 m²)
Empty weight: 1,177 lb (534 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,598 lb (725 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Siemens-Halske Sh.III bi-rotary, 160 hp (119 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 112 mph (180 km/h)
Service ceiling: 26,245 ft (8000 m)

Armament

2× 7.92 mm (0.31 in) LMG 08/15 machine-guns

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Siemens-Schuckert D.III.

Notes

1 2 3 Green and Swanborough 1994, p. 530.
1 2 Gray and Thetford 1962, p. 213.
1 2 VanWyngarden 2005, p. 43.
1 2 Gray and Thetford 1962, p. 214.
↑ Gray and Thetford 1962, p. 215.
↑ VanWyngarden 2005, p. 44.

Bibliography

Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-933852-71-1.
Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. London: Salamander Books, 1994. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8.
VanWyngarden, Greg. Jagdgeschwader Nr II Geschwader 'Berthold' (Aviation Elite Units No. 19). Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1-84176-727-1.

Aircraft produced by Siemens-Schuckert

1910 biplane Bulldog B D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI DD.5 Dr.I Dr.II DDr.I E.I E.II E.III L.I R.I R.II R.III R.IV R.V R.VI R.VII R.VIII Forssman

Idflieg D, DD- and DJ-class aircraft designations

D- and DD- class

AEG	D.I D.II D.III

Albatros	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI D.VII D.VIII D.IX D.X D.XI D.XII

Aviatik	(D.I not assigned) D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI D.VII

Daimler	D.I D.II

DFW	D.I D.II

Euler	D.I D.II

Fokker	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI D.VII D.VIII

Friedrichshafen	D.I DD.II

Halberstadt	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V

Junkers	D.I

Kondor	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI

LFG/Roland	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI D.VII D.VIII D.IX D.X D.XI D.XII D.XIII D.XIV D.XV D.XVI D.XVII

LVG	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI

MFW	D.I

Naglo	D.I D.II

Pfalz	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI D.VII D.VIII D.IX D.X D.XI D.XII D.XIII D.XIV D.XV

Rumpler	D.I

Schütte-Lanz	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI D.VII

Siemens-Schuckert	D.I D.II D.III D.IV D.V D.VI

Zeppelin-Lindau	D.I

DJ- class

AEG	DJ.I

World War I aircraft of the Central Powers

Fighters	AEG D.I AEG Dr.I Albatros D.I Albatros D.II Albatros D.III Albatros D.V Aviatik D.I Aviatik C.VI Daimler L.6 Euler D.I Euler D.II Fokker D.I Fokker D.II Fokker D.III Fokker D.IV Fokker D.V Fokker D.VI Fokker D.VII Fokker D.VIII Fokker Dr.I Fokker E.I Fokker E.II Fokker E.III Fokker E.IV Fokker E.V Halberstadt D.II Hannover CL.II Hannover CL.III Hannover CL.IV Hannover CL.V Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 Hansa-Brandenburg W.29 Junkers D.I Kondor D.6 Kondor E.III Naglo D.II Pfalz D.III Pfalz D.XII Pfalz Dr.I Pfalz E.I Pfalz E.II Phönix D.I LFG Roland D.II LFG Roland D.VI Siemens-Schuckert D.I Siemens-Schuckert D.II Siemens-Schuckert D.III Siemens-Schuckert D.IV Siemens-Schuckert L.I Zeppelin-Lindau D.I

Bombers and ground attack	AEG DJ.I AEG G.I AEG G.II AEG G.III AEG G.IV AEG G.V AEG J.I AEG J.II AEG R.I Friedrichshafen G.II Friedrichshafen G.III Gotha G.I Gotha G.II Gotha G.III Gotha G.IV Gotha G.V Gotha GL.VII Gotha G.IX Hannover CL.II Junkers CL.I Junkers J.I Rumpler G.I Rumpler G.II Rumpler G.III Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.II Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.III Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.IV Zeppelin-Staaken R.VI

Reconnaissance	AEG B.I AEG B.II AEG B.III AEG C.I AEG C.II AEG C.III AEG C.IV AEG C.V AEG C.VI AEG C.VII AEG C.VIII AGO C.I AGO C.II AGO C.III AGO C.IV AGO C.VII AGO C.VIII Albatros B.I Albatros B.II Albatros C.I Albatros C.III Albatros C.V Albatros C.VII Albatros C.IX Albatros C.X Albatros C.XII Aviatik B.I Aviatik B.II Aviatik C.I Aviatik C.VI DFW C.V LFG Roland C.II LVG B.I LVG C.II Rumpler C.I Rumpler C.IV Rumpler Taube

Trainers	Euler D.I

Prototypes	Albatros C.II Fokker V.1 Fokker V.2 Junkers J 1 Junkers J 2 Zeppelin-Lindau Rs.I

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