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

LFG ROLAND D V Germany

   During the autumn of 1917, three prototypes of the D V were built in an attempt to eradicate the shortcomings revealed by the D III. Retaining the moulded two-piece shell-type fuselage construction of the earlier fighter, and being, in fact, the last LFG type to utilise this so-called Wickelrumpf, the D V employed the complete wing cellule of the D III. The fuselage cross section was reduced and the decking lowered to improve vision from the cockpit. Armament remained two 7,9-mm LMG 08/15 machine guns, and while one prototype retained the 180 hp Argus As III engine of the earlier D II and D III, the other two were powered by the 160 hp Mercedes D III. Testing revealed little advance over the D III and development was discontinued in favour of the D VI. No data relating to the D V are available.

J.Herris Roland Aircraft of WWI (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 9)

Roland D.V

   Three prototypes of the Roland D.V fighter were built in late 1917 with the intention of eliminating the shortcomings of the Roland D.III. Structurally, it was the last Roland fighter to use the Wickelrumpf structural technology, and used the complete wing cellule of the D.III. Two synchronized IMG 08/15 machine guns were carried.
   One prototype retained the 180 hp Argus As.III, but the other two used the 160 hp Mercedes D.III engine. Limited by the D.III wing cellule, testing revealed little advance over D.III performance and development was abandoned in favor of the more advanced Roland D.VI design.

Roland D.V Specifications
Engine: 160 hp Mercedes D.III or 180 hp Argus As.III