А.Шепс Самолеты Первой мировой войны. Страны Антанты

SPAD S.XII CaI 1917 г.

   Фирмой было построено около 30 пушечных истребителей SPAD S.XII CaI. Машина в основном повторяла конструкцию истребителя S.VII C1. Отличался он более мощным двигателем HS-8Cb (220 л. с.; на опытном стоял HS-8C мощностью 200 л. с.), приспособленном для установки морской пушки Патэ, стреляющей через полый вал винта. Пулемет с верха фюзеляжа переносился на правый борт. Верхнее крыло для обеспечения необходимой центровки немного смещено вперед. Самолет не получил большого распространения, так как перезарядка пушки требовала времени и отвлекала от пилотирования, что в условиях скоротечного воздушного боя было неприемлемо. Однако некоторое время на S.XII СаI летал один из лучших асов Франции Поль Рене Фонк.


  
ЛЕТНО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ
  
   S.XII Cal 1917г.
   Размах, м 8,00/7,65
   Длина, м 6,40
   Высота, м 2,55
   Площадь крыла, кв.м 20,2
   Сухой вес, кг 587
   Взлетный вес, кг 883
   Двигатель: HS-8 Са
   мощность, л. с. 220
   Скорость максимальная, км/ч 203
   Скорость подъема на высоту
   2000 м, мин.сек 6,03
   Дальность полета, км 300
   Потолок, м 6850
   Экипаж, чел. 1
   Вооружение 1 пушка, 1 пулемет

J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)

SPAD 12

  While the SPAD 7 was a definite improvement over the Nieuport series and more than a match for contemporary German fighters, it had one definite weakness - its armament. Unlike many of the German fighters in 1917, the SPAD 7 was armed with only a single machine gun. One of the pilots who had put the SPAD 7 to such good use was Georges Guynemer. He approached Bechereau with the idea of fitting a cannon mounted to fire through the hollow hub of a 200-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Cb engine. Bechereau designed the SPAD 12 to meet Guynemer's request, and the prototype first appeared in December 1916.
  The cannon selected lor the SPAD 12 was a 12-round, 37-mm S.A.M.C. In addition to this powerful weapon, a single Vickers machine gun was fitted to starboard. The only other obvious changes were the elimination of the tear-drop cylinder fairings and a more streamlined cowling. More subtle additions were the increase in wing area (necessitated by the weight ol the cannon), positive stagger of the wings, and rounded wing tips. Subsequent modifications included fitting of a 220-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Cb engine and addition of pocket extensions to the wing tips. Initial examples of the SPAD 12 were tested in combat by Guynemer himself, and he achieved notable success with the type. However, it would seem that it took pilots of Guynemer’s skill to use the SPAD 12 successfully in combat.
  The SPAD 12 prototype was successful and a total of 300 were ordered, although it seems that not all were completed. These aircraft were supplied in limited numbers to some fighter units but it does not appear that they ever equipped an entire escadrille. In August 1917 only one was on strength. The mystery as to why the operational career of the SPAD 12 was so short may be found in a memo dated 28 November 1917. Here it was noted that there were only two SPAD 12s at the front several months alter the type was accepted for operational service. Because ol delays in production it was decided to abandon plans to supply more aircraft to front-line units. By April 1918 the number of SPAD 12s had risen to eight, and by 1 October there were still only eight at the front. The cannon-armed SPAD 12s remained available in small numbers and were intended lor use by the best pilots in each escadrille. Some French aces scored numerous victories with the SPAD 12.
   It was soon found that the weight of the cannon severely limited the aircraft's performance and that the cannon was at best tricky to aim and fire. The Vickers machine gun was apparently used to aim along the line of fire and, once this was determined, the pilot had to fire the cannon at the correct moment. The single-shot weapon had to be reloaded in flight by the pilot through the breech, which extended into the cockpit between the pilot's knees. This extension prevented a control stick front being fitted, so the aircraft used a control system similar to that developed by the Deperdussin firm. In addition to these difficulties, the engine vibration and gases from the cannon made the SPAD 12 extremely difficult to fly in combat. It has been recorded that for all these reasons the SPAD 12 was disliked by most pilots and saw little front-line service.


Foreign Service

Russia
  At least six SPAD 12s were in service with the RKKVF in the early 1920s. These had serials 1545, 1581, 1586, 1600, 1604, and 1609. They were withdrawn from service in 1925. For details on SPAD aircraft in service with the IRAS see the entry under SPAD 7.

United Kingdom
  A single SPAD 12 was acquired by the RFC and was tested in January 1918. It had serial S.449; it was given RFC serial B 6877. It was sent to the Candas site of the No.2 Aircraft Depot and on 18 March was flown to Martlesham Heath for testing. It crashed on 4 April 1918 while in transit to the Isle of Grain.

United States
  A single SPAD 12 was obtained by the A.E.F.


SPAD 12 Single-Seat Fighter with 220-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Cb
   Span 8.00 m; length 6.40 m; height 2.55 m; wing area 20.2 sq. m
   Empty weight 587 kg; loaded weight 883 kg
   Maximum speed:
2,000 in 203 km/h
3,000 in 198 km/h
4,000 in 190 km/h
5,000 in 177 km/h
   Climb:
2,000 m 6 minutes 3 seconds
5,000 m 10 minutes 2 seconds
4,000 m 1 5 minutes 42 seconds
5,000 m 2 3 minutes 1 3 seconds
   Ceiling 6,850 m; endurance 1.75 hours
   Armament; a 12-round, 37-mm S.A.M.C. and a synchronized 7.7-mm Vickers machine gun
   A total of 300 were ordered but it is unlikely all were built.

W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

SPAD S.XII France

   Late in 1916, France's leading fighter ace, Georges Guynemer, asked Louis Bechereau to design for him a fighter capable of mounting a 37-mm shell-firing gun. Bechereau developed from the S.VII a generally similar aircraft powered by a 200 hp Hispano-Suiza 8C engine and incorporating a 37-mm Puteaux cannon firing through a hollow propeller shaft, an arrangement made possible by the engine’s spur reduction gear. A supplementary 7,7-mm Vickers gun was fitted, and the main-planes, unlike those of the S.VII, had modest stagger. The SFA designation of the aircraft was Spa.XII Cal. Series aircraft were powered by the 220 hp Hispano-Suiza 8Cb engine, and, although 300 of the cannon-armed S.XII fighters were ordered, their operational use proved to be very limited. They could be flown with any hope of success only by pilots of considerable skill and experience. The cannon was a single-shot weapon, fumes filled the cockpit when it was fired and reloading in combat was tricky. Owing to the bulk of the gun, the S.XII used (at Guynemer’s suggestion) Deperdussin-type flying controls (ie, a wheel on a rocking arch). No escadrille was ever completely equipped with this fighter, which was allotted in small numbers and only to selected pilots. Guynemer made his first operational sortie on the S.XII on 5 July 1917, and 15 months later, on 1 October 1918, there were only eight S.XIIs with operational escadrilles.

Max speed, 126 mph (203 km/h) at 6,560 ft (2 000 m).
Time to 6,560 ft (2 000 m), 6.05 min.
Endurance, 1.75 hrs.
Empty weight, 1,295 lb (587 kg).
Loaded weight, 1,947 lb (883 kg).
Span, 26 ft 3 in (8,00 m).
Length, 21 ft 0 in (6,40 m).
Height, 8 ft 4 1/2 in (2,55 m).
Wing area, 217.44 sqft (20,20 m2).