Snipe -v- D V11

[Vin]

On the face of it, you would think that the Snipe would outperform the DV11. Although a slightly shorter wingspan, it was bigger, faster and had a much more powerful engine available to it so its rate of climb was probably superior, too. Anyone know how the snipe performed against the D V11 ?


Vin

I have been studying Snipes in service with 4AFC and can answer your question as far as they are concerned.
4AFC equipped with Snipes in early Oct 1918 and first took them into action on 8 Oct 1918. Their last action was 4 Nov 1918.
In this period this squadron claimed 37 victories of which 35 were against D.VIIs. These 35 claims were broken down into 20 Destroyed and 15 OOC.
About 30 of these claims were in a 3-4 day period from 26 Oct to 30 Oct.
In the same period they lost 7 in aerial combat (1 to AA and 6 to German a/c, almost certainly D.VIIs).
Their worst day was 4 Nov 1918 when they lost 5 in two patrols. The second patrol was a disaster as they lost 2 aces (Capt T C R Baker and Lt. A J Palliser) and one well liked and experienced pilot (Symons). Two of these and 1 in the previous patrol were claimed by Karl Bolle of Jasta Boelke.
When flown by aggresive and experienced pilots (like those of 4AFC) the Snipe certainly seemed to be a match for the D.VII. I guess there was an element of surprise when the Snipe first hit the front so if the Germans tried to fight a Snipe like a Camel they would have got a shock (the Snipe climbed a lot quicker than a Camel) so the Aussies scored well at first. Whether the losses of 4 Nov 1918 indicate the Germans (and particularly Karle Bolle) had started to get the measure of the Snipe can only be conjecture.
I do recall reading an article that the D.VII overall was a better a/c but I guess we will never know for sure.
As for 43RAF (the only other unit to take the Snipe into action) I do not know their story. I think they had some success but nothing like that of 4AFC.

Taking with it the best characteristics of the Camel (turn ability - maybe not as fast to the right) and the climb ability of the dolphin, the Snipe was a killer.

Matched against the Mercedes equiped D7 it would find it easy meat I would think. Against the BMW D7....may the best pilot win(as is usually the case regardless) , what i am saying is the two are a match.

To see what an ace could do with a Snipe, look at William Barker. Sort of like the Voss fight only Barker lived...

[stephen]

The following are unpublished excerpts from an old penpal of mine, Lt. Fred K. Tully of RAF 29 and 43. Despite his repeated requests for posting to an active squadron, he remained an instructor and test pilot for the duration. He flew every type you can imagine and evaluated each of them, including a number of German types at the EAD in Rely. And you guys are right about the climbing advantage of the Snipe; Tully was in mock combat in Snipes and Fkr DVII's, and flew both types. He claimed that the Snipe had a clear advantage in climb, and in maintaining height during maneuvers. The following quotes are from our personal correspondences:

"I had numerous opportunities to engage in maneuvers with experienced combat pilots - and at that time I would have been glad to settle for either the SE5 or the Snipe in order to maintain the advantage of height or top position." June 6, 1988

"Re SE5 vs Snipe superiority - my recollection, based on maneuvers with seasoned pilots - was that there was little to choose between these two aircraft and it would largely depend on the individual at the controls as to who could gain the advantage of height in any maneuver. In the case of the SE5 and/or Snipe vs the Fokker DVII, my impression was that the same situation would apply - although I prefer to be in the SE5 or Snipe simply because the feel of either of these two aircraft was more to my liking, plus the fact that there was nothing lacking in performance compared with the Fokker." Sept 19, 1988

"The only preference I would have for the Snipe would be the sensitivity of control due to the rotary engine, which contributed to the thrill and precision in some aerobatics. My 6 foot one inch frame fitted into the cockpit of the Snipe very neatly. Incidentally I could adjust the seat so that my shoulders could rest on the padded rim of the cockpit when in an upside down position, without having to rely on harness or feel it necessasry to hang on to something for security." Oct 13, 1988

Tully had a soft spot for the SE5, which he spent most of his time on, but acknowledged that the Snipes "touch" was much better. He'd have taken either of them over the DVII in a moment... the SE5 because he was more accustomed to it, and the Snipe because it would outmaneuver and outclimb the Fokker. So far as the SE5 vs the Fokker, he told me several times it was a dead heat. He also flew the Pfalz DXII, Rumpler, Roland, and a bunch of other evaluation flights. He and a friend/student of his named Wiseman were assigned to different squadrons shortly after the armistice; he got an SE, Wiseman got a Snipe. They got together at an airfield socially later and discovered they'd not flown each other's types yet... so up they went. Reading between the lines, I always got the impression from him that the Snipe had the edge... but he'd never come right out and admit it. He loved the SE5. It was HIS plane.