L.F.G. Roland D.I

From Wings of Linen
L.F.G. Roland D.I
Role Fighter
Manufacturer L.F.G. Roland
Designer Tantzen [1]
First flight July 1916 [1]
Introduction October 1916 [2]
Primary user Germany
Number built 80 [2] [note 1]
Developed from L.F.G. Roland C.II
Variants D.II, D.IIa
Wingspan 8.9 m (29 ft 2 in) [4]
Engine 100hp Mercedes D.I[5] or 160hp Mercedes D.III[6]
Armament 1×fixed, sync. LMG08/15 [5]
Max Speed 180 km/h (112 mph)[4]
Climb 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 4:00[4]
2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 8:00[4]
3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 13:30[4]

The successful L.F.G. Roland C.II led the designer to think about fighter designs, and a slimmed-down version resulted in the LFG Roland D.I, nicknamed the Haifisch (Shark). Unlike the C.II, the upper wing was somewhat above the fuselage and joined to it by a fuselage extension, making forward vision problematic (the greatest detriment to this type). [1] The D.I featured a top-wing crash pylon and ear radiators, aerodynamic inefficiencies addressed in the D.II. The exhaust was directed over the wing, which must have been problematic with the pilot sitting so high in the cockpit.

Production was spread between the parent company (with an initial order of sixty) and Pfalz (with a supplemental order of twenty). Pfalz-built planes were originally known as the Pfalz D.I but were later renamed LFG Roland D.I(Pfal). The poor visibility from the cockpit limited its deployment to a maximum of twelve in February 1917. By June 1917 all the D.Is had been lost, scrapped, or relegated to training schools, as it was no longer in front-line service.[2]

For more information, see Wikipedia:LFG Roland D.I.

Timeline [note 2]

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Preliminary Stats
Availability Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb
16Q3-17Q2 V B 15 10? 3

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

Resources

Orthographic Drawings

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Three prototypes and batches of 60 and 40 were ordered from the parent company plus 20 from Pfalz, but it's likely that second LFG order was never completed.[3]
  2. ↑ German numbers are from bi-monthly Frontbestand records (Effective Frontline Strength).[7]
Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Gray, p.162.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Grosz'94, p.2.
  3. ↑ Grosz'94, p.36.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Grosz'94, p.35.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gray, p.448.
  6. ↑ Grosz'94, p.1.
  7. ↑ Grosz'85, p.60 and Grosz'86, p.66.
Bibliography
  • Peter Gray and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. Great Britain, Putnam, 1962, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
  • 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 47: LFG Roland D.II. Great Britain: Albatros Publications, Ltd., 1994. ISBN 0-948414-62-6
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