O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)

Sablatnig SF 1
   Only a single example of this two-seat seaplane was built, and it was accepted by the Navy in October 1917. Engine, 160 h.p. Mercedes D III. Span, 191 m. (62 ft. 8 1/8 in.). Height, 4.35 m. (14 ft. 3 1/4 in.). Weights: Empty, 1,015 kg. (2,233 lb.). Loaded, 1,650 kg. (3,630 lb.). Speed, 125 km.hr. (78.125 m.p.h.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 10 min. Armament, none.

Sablatnig SF 2
   The Sablatnig SF 2 was a conventional wood and fabric seaplane used for reconnaissance and coastal patrol. A radio transmitter was carried, but no armament. Some twenty-six aircraft were delivered from August 1916 onwards, and were allocated Navy Numbers 580-585, 609-618, 705-714. Nos. 791-800 were built by L.V.G. (Koslin) and were probably SF 2s. Engine, 160 h.p. Mercedes D III. Span, 18.53 m. (60 ft. 9 5/8 in.). Length, 9.525 m. (31 ft. 3 in.). Height, 4.25 m. (13 ft. 11 1/4 in.). Area, 56 sq.m. (605 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 1,078 kg. (2,372 lb.). Loaded, 1,697 kg. (3,733 lb.). Speed, 130 km.hr. (81.25 m.p.h.). Climb, 1,500 m. (4,920 ft.) in 18 min. N.B. Data applies to aircraft 609, each batch often differing slightly from each other.

Sablatnig SF 5
   A development of the earlier SF 2, the SF 5 was a conventional reconnaissance seaplane. Radio transmitter only was carried, and no armament. Altogether 101 aircraft of this type were delivered from March 1917 onwards, and it was only lack of sufficient data that prevented the type being dealt with in the main text. Navy Numbers allotted: 791-800 (L.F.G. built), 968-987, 1017-1036 (L.V.G. built), 1214-1223 (L.V.G. built), 1224-1233, 1352-1371, 1459-1468 (L.F.G. built), 1514. Engine, 150 h.p. Benz Bz III. Span, 17.3 m. (56 ft. 9 1/8 in.). Length, 9.6 m . (31 ft. 6 in.). Height, 3.55 m. (11 ft. 7 3/4 in.). Area, 50.5 sq.m. (545 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 1,052 kg. (2,314 lb.). Loaded, 1,605 kg. (3,531 lb.). Speed, 148 km.hr. (92.5 m.p.h.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 11.6 min., 2,000 m. (6,560 ft.) in 21.8 min. N.B. Data applies to aircraft No. 1361, each batch often differing slightly from the other.

Sablatnig SF 6 (B I)
   This machine was no more than an SF 5 fitted with an orthodox land undercarriage chassis and was intended for training duty. Only a single aircraft is thought to have been built. Engine, 150 h.p. Benz Bz III. Span, 17.3 m. (56 ft. 9 1/8 in.). Length, 8.3 m. (27 ft. 2 3/4 in.).

J.Herris German Seaplanes of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 15)

Sablatnig SF1

  The Sablatnig SF1 was designed as an unarmed, two-seat reconnaissance floatplane of conventional design and wire-braced, fabric-covered wood construction typical of the time. Powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine, only one airframe, Marine #490, was built. Delivered to the SVK (SVK - Seeflugzeug-Versuchskommando) on 26 August
1915, tests were satisfactory and it was transferred to Borkum in November. The SF1 flew several operational patrols from Borkum in December.
  On February 3, 1916, the SF1 failed to return from a patrol and no trace of the floatplane was found. Production orders for a modified SF1, the SF2, followed.


Sablatnig SF2
  
  The SF2 was derived from the earlier SF1 by enlarging the vertical tail surfaces for improved directional stability and modifying the wing bracing by deleting a diagonal strut on each side. Like the SF1, the SF2 was an unarmed, two-seat reconnaissance floatplane; however, a radio transmitter was carried, making it a naval category BFT. Powered by the 160 hp Mercedes D.III as was the SF1, the SF2 was slightly lighter and faster than the SF1.
  The SF2 was put into production for the German navy and 36 were produced in the following batches and Marine Numbers:
  First production batch: Marine Nr: 580-585 (6 aircraft)
  Second production batch: Marine Nr: 609-618 (10 aircraft)
  Third production batch: Marine Nr: 705-714 (10 aircraft)
  Fourth production batch: Marine Nr: 791-800 (LVG built) (10 aircraft)
  The first production SF2 floatplanes were delivered between June and September 1916. The SF2 was used both for operational reconnaissance missions and training.


Sablatnig SF5
  
  Based on the modest success of the earlier SF2, the SF5 was developed to replace it in production.
  Like the SF2, the SF5 was an unarmed two-seat reconnaissance floatplane with wireless transmitter, naval category BFT. The SF5 was powered by the 150 hp Benz Bz.III instead of the 160 hp Mercedes D.III used in the SF2, probably because fighter aircraft had priority for the preferred Mercedes. The SF5 also had revised wing bracing; an additional pair of struts bracing the outer wingtips of the upper wing replaced the pylon struts over the outboard bay of interplane struts. This gave the SF5 a sleeker appearance and may have reduced drag. The SF5 also had enlarged vertical tail surfaces. The SF5 was somewhat lighter than the SF2; in light of subsequent experience this lighter structure may have compromised its strength. The final production batch had revised wing bracing to address shortcomings in the original design.
  A total of 91 SF5 floatplanes were built in the following series, with minor differences between them. The LVG machines omitted the wireless transmitter for their role as trainers. The first two LVG series were delivered from summer 1917 through the end of the year.
  Marine Nr: 968-987 [20 airplanes]
  Marine Nr: 1017-1036 (LVG) [20 airplanes]
  Marine Nr: 1214-1223 (LVG) [10 airplanes]
  Marine Nr: 1224-1233, [10 airplanes]
  Marine Nr: 1352-1371 [20 airplanes]
  Marine Nr: 1459-1468 (LVG) [10 airplanes]
  Marine Nr: 1514 [1 airplane]
  The first production batch by Sablatnig was delivered between January and May 1917. The SF5 was not popular with its crews, who had probably expected an improvement over the earlier SF2 but were disappointed. The SF5 had poor speed and climb rate; moreover, it was not especially stable. Some crews asserted that its rated cruising speed of 110 km/h (68 mph) was instead its maximum speed, and "Lame Crow" was reportedly its nickname amongst the crewmen who flew it.


Sablatnig SF6 / B.I
  
  The SF6 land plane, a derivative of the SF5 intended for training, is included here for continuity of the SF series and because it is not in the N-type book. Also known as the Sablatnig B.I, it was powered by the same 150 hp Benz Bz.III as the SF5. As far as is known, only one aircraft was built.
  


Sablatnig SF-Series Specifications
SF1 SF2 (#609-618) SF4 (#900)
Engine 160 hp Mercedes D.III 160 hp Mercedes D.III 150 hp Benz Bz.III
Span 19.1 m 18.53 m 12.0 m
Length - 9.525 m 8.33 m
Wing Area - 56 m2 28.26 m2
Wt. Empty 1,105 kg 1,078 kg 798 kg
Wt. Loaded 1,650 kg 1,697 kg 1,078 kg
Speed 125 km/h 130 km/h 158 km/h
Climb:
1,000 m 10 minutes - 5.5 minutes
1,500 m - 18 minutes -
2,000 m - - 14 minutes
Armament None None 1 Spandau
Notes:
1: SF3 was powered by a 220 hp Benz Bz.IV; no other data available.
2: SF4 #901 (triplane) spanned 9.25 m, was 8.33 m long, and had a wing area of 28.38 m2.


Sablatnig SF-Series Specifications
SF5 (#1361) SF6 SF7 SF8
Engine 150 hp Benz Bz.III 150 hp Benz Bz.III 240 hp Maybach Mb.IV 150 hp Benz Bz.III
Span 17.3 m 17.3 m - 16.0 m
Length 9.6 m 8.3 m - 10.2 m
Wing Area 50.5 m2 - - 54.6 m2
Wt. Empty 1,052 kg - - 1,183 kb
Wt. Loaded 1,605 kg - 2,120 kg 1,574 kg
Speed 148 km/h - 162 km/h 130 km/h
Climb:
1,000 m 11.6 minutes - 8 minutes 14.7 minutes
1,500 m - - - -
2,000 m 21.8 minutes - - 24.8 minutes
3,000 m - - 36 min. -
Armament None None 1 Spandau & 1 Parabellum None