SPAD 13

From Wings of Linen
SPAD 13
Role Fighter
Manufacturer S.P.A.D.
Designer Louis Béchereau [1]
First flight 4 April 1917[1][2]
Introduction May 1917
Primary users France
U.S.A.
Italy
U.K. (RFC/RAF)
Belgium
Number built 8472[3][1][4][2] in France
Wingspan Rounded tips: 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in) [5][6][7]
Squared tips: 8.03 m (26 ft 4 in)[8] to 8.08 m (26 ft 6 in)[7] to 8.18 m (26 ft 10 in)[2]
Engine 200-220hp Hispano-Suiza 8B or
235hp Hispano-Suiza 8BEc[4]
Armament 2×sync. Vickers[note 1][note 2]
Ammo 840 rounds[9] [note 3]
Crew 1
Max Speed see table
Climb see table
Service Ceiling 6,650 m (21,800 ft)[10][6]
Ceiling 6,800 m (22,300 ft)[7][5][2][8]
Range 320–400 km (200–250 mi)[4]
Endurance see table

It was originally hoped that the twin-gunned SPAD 13 (aka "SPAD XIII C.1") would replace the SPAD 7 in mid 1917, but troubles with the geared Hispano-Suiza engine slowed production output and only 131 had been delivered by December 1917.[3] All of the early models had rounded wing tips, but by spring of 1918 the wing tips were squared off for better maneuverability.

As of 1 April 1918, 372 SPAD 7s were in use compared to 290 SPAD 13s. By 1 Oct 1918 there were 764 SPAD 13s.[2]

Production eventually picked up, and total SPAD 13 production numbers are over 8,400 aircraft. It was used by France, equipping 90 fighter escadrilles and 30-40 army cooperation escadrilles. It was used by roughly 11[11] to 20 Italian Squadriglias, Sq.23 RFC, and most American fighter squadrons. By the end of the war, most French and American fighter units were fully equipped with the SPAD 13.


EngineSpeedClimbEndurance
200hp Hispano-Suiza 8Ba,8Bb,8Bd 211 km/h (131 mph)[7][5][2] 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 2:20[7]
2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 5:17[7][5][8]
3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 8:45[7][5]
4,000 m (13,100 ft) in 13:05[7]
2:00 [7][10][5][6][4][2]
220hp Hispano-Suiza 8Bc, 8Be 215 km/h (134 mph)[4][8]-218 km/h (135 mph)[7] 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 1:55[4]
2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 4:40[7][4]
3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 7:50[4]
4,000 m (13,100 ft) in 12:10[4]
1:40[7][8]
235hp Hispano-Suiza 8BEc 222 km/h (138 mph)[4][8] 2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 4:30[8]

For more information, see Wikipedia:SPAD S.XIII.

Timeline [note 4] [note 5]

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Official Stats
Availability Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb Points
May17-end A A 16 15 2 85

Plane and Crew Cards

Card Links

Blue Max/Canvas Eagles

Aircraft Chart

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

  • Full-Color miniatures
    • Ares: WGF101A Rickenbacker; WGS101B Coadou; WGS101C Madon, WGF001B Luke ("26")
    • Shapeways Full Color: Reduced Aircraft Factory:
      • French: Guynemer (SPA 3), Marinovitch (SPA 94), Nungesser (SPA 65), Sinclair (SPA 68), de Slade (SPA 159)
      • Italian: Baracca (91ª), Constantini (91ª), Ruffo di Calabria (91ª)
      • USAS: Brooks (22nd AS), Chambers "Showbird" (94th AS), Dawson "Showbird" (94th AS), Holden (95th AS), Hunter (103rd AS), Jeffers "Showbird" (94th AS), Luke "21" (27th AS), Putnam (139th AS), Swaab (22nd AS)
      • RFC/RAF: Fitz-Morris (No. 23 Sqn.), Fry (No. 23 Sqn.), Hewett (No. 23 Sqn.)
    • Wings of War Deluxe Set: Baracca (1st Ed.); Luke ("26", 2nd Ed.)
    • Wings of War: WW07A Baracca; WW07B Fonck; WW07C Rickenbacker
  • Paintable 3D prints
  • Plastic or Resin Models: Valom 14412, 14419
  • Metal Kit: Reviresco

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

1:300 Scale

1:500 Scale

1:600 Scale

Resources

Orthographic Drawings

References

Notes
  1. American planes were armed with twin Marlin machine guns increasingly through 1918.
  2. Sometimes two 11 kg (25 lb) bombs would be carried.[8]
  3. Some carried only 640 rounds.[9]
  4. Plane counts are approximate and based of escadrille usage in Davilla'97.
  5. British usage numbers are approximate, derived from the squadron histories.[12]
Citations
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Angelucci, p.55.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Ferry'14, p.147.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Davilla, p.501
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Andrews, p.12.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Lamberton, pp.216-217.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Angelucci, p.44.
  7. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 Davilla, p.509.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Argus Vol. 1, p.55.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Kelly, p.230.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Munson, p.47.
  11. Andrews'66, p.10.
  12. Philpott'13, pp.379-444.
Bibliography
  • C.F. Andrews, Profile Publications 17: The SPAD XIII C.1. Great Britain: Profile Publications, Ltd., 1965.
  • 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 1. Great Britain: Argus Books, 1989. ISBN 0-85242-983-5
  • J.M. Bruce, SPAD Scouts SV11-SX111. Great Britain: Osprey Publications, Ltd.
  • Dr. James J. Davilla and Arthur M. Soltan. French Aircraft of the First World War. Flying Machines Press, 1997. ISBN 0-9637110-4-0.
  • Vital Ferry. French Aviation During the First World War. Paris: Histoire and Collections, 2014. ISBN 978-2-35250-370-5
  • Norman Franks, American Aces of World War 1. Great Britain: Osprey Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-85532-961-1
  • Jon Guttman, SPAD XII/XIII Aces of World War 1. Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Limited, 2002. ISBN 1-84176-316-0
  • 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.
  • Kenneth Munson, Fighters 1914-19, Attack and Training Aircraft. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1976. ISBN 0713707607
  • Ian Philpott, The Birth of the Royal Air Force. Great Britain: Pen & Sword Books Limited, 2013. ISBN 978-1-78159-333-2