The Sablatnig SF-5 was a reconnaissance seaplane produced in Germany during the First World War.[1]
Design and development
Designed to meet a specification by the Imperial German Navy for a higher-powered replacement for the Sablatnig SF-2s then in service, the SF-5 was a very similar aircraft other than in its choice of engine.[2][3] The first batch (serials 968–987) were delivered between January and May 1917, built in the Navy's HFT classification (unarmed reconnaissance aircraft equipped with wireless transmitter and receiver).[2] They were followed by two further batches (1224–1233 and 1352–1371) between July and September.[2]LVG built the type under licence as a trainer aircraft without any radio equipment, delivering 20 aircraft (1017–1036 and 1214–1223) during the second half of 1917.[2]LFG produced the type in the BFT category (unarmed reconnaissance aircraft equipped with wireless transmitter but not receiver), building ten examples (1459–1468) between September 1917 and February 1918.[2] Sablatnig also produced a single BFT-configured aircraft in February 1918.[2]
Operational history
These machines served widely with seaplane stations throughout the North Sea and Baltic Sea.[2] The SF-5 was generally disliked by its aircrews, who dubbed it the "Lame Crow" on account of its poor banking and climbing performance and general sluggishness.[2] Crews found that the supposed cruising speed of production examples was in fact their top speed.[2] Some SF-5s perhaps saw action as bombers against Russian forces, but even those flying reconnaissance missions were easy prey for Russian fighters.[2] At least two SF-5s were captured by the Russians and put to use by them.[2]
A single SF-5 was fitted with wheeled undercarriage salvaged from another aircraft.[2] Designated SF-6 by the factory, and assigned the designation B.I by the Idflieg, it was intended to be a landplane trainer, but was not selected for production.[4]
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Herris, Jack (2015). German Seaplanes of WWI: Sablatnig, Kaiserliche Werften, Lübeck-Travemünde, LTG, & Oertz: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Seaplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 15. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN978-1-935881-27-8.
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