SPAD S.XII 37mm SAMC

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SPAD S.XII 37mm SAMC

I didn’t think it was possible to put a 37mm tank gun in a 1917 WWI fighter, meet the “SPAD S.XII 37mm SAMC”.

History
The SPAD S.XII 37mm SAMC was based on Louis Béchereau’s SPAD VII design, the aircraft was built on the proposal made by one of the pilots. The aircraft was designed to be a single engine fighter carrying a 37mm cannon, commonly used on most tanks in WWI. It was the first fighter to carry a gun of this size as they would normally be mounted on twin-engine pusher aircraft.

A specially designed engine/cannon combo was created for this aircraft having the cannon travel through the centre of the propeller shaft, so it can fire without travelling through the moving propeller blades. 12 rounds are stored in the cabin around the pilot, requiring a pilot to not only fly but, load the shells, ready the canon, fly and aim, fire the gun and repeat.

Operational History
The operational history of the SPAD S.XII 37mm SAMC is not well documented, it is recorded that many squadrons were sent one or two units each only for the piloting aces, and that in the later part of WWI eight aircraft were seen flying in formation in April and October of the war. The American Expeditionary Forces 13th Aero Squadrons aircraft received the designation code “0”. It is estimated that only 20 aircraft were produced before the end of WWI.

Specifications
General characteristics

  • Class: Heavy Fighter
  • Crew: 1
  • Production: 300 ordered, 20 est. produced total
  • Length: 6.40 m (21 ft 0 in)
  • Height: 2.55 m (8 ft 4 in)
  • Wingspan: 8.00 m (26 ft 3 in)
  • Wing Area: 20.2 sq.m (217 sq.ft)
  • Empty weight: 587 kg (1,294 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 883 kg (1,947 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8Cb V-8 water-cooled radial engine
  • Power: 164 kW (220 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 203 km/h (126 mph, 110 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 6,850 m (22,470 ft)
  • Climb rate:
    2,000m (6,562 ft): 6 min 3 secs
    3,000m (9,843 ft): 10 min 2 secs
    4,000m (13,123 ft): 15 min 42 secs
    5,000m (16,404 ft): 23 min 13 secs

Armament
Guns:

  • 37mm Puteaux SAMC (12 rounds)
  • 7.7mm synchronised Vickers machine gun

Bombs: None

In Game
The SPAD S.XII 37mm SAMC would probably feature in rank 1, of France’s aviation tech tree. Probably being one of War Thunders oldest aircraft ever added to the game so far, it would be a great handling biplane if a little heavy, with great air-to-ground capabilities too, ammo count of 12 rounds is quite limiting but it would be great fun.

Photos





The Hispano-Suiza 8Cb engine with Puteaux 37mm barrel running through block.

Sources

SPAD S.XII - Wikipedia
SPAD XII-Canon Collector Plane - Suggestions - IL-2 Sturmovik Forum
SPAD S.XII Single-Seat, Single Engine Biplane Fighter Aircraft
SPAD S.XII (Spa 12 C-1)

Thanks for reading :)

5 Likes
2

Nice little plane. I believe it was the famous French ace Georges Guynemer who had the idea of putting a 37mm in there.

Anyway, provided Gaijin ever decide to add WW1 vehicles, it would certainly fit nicely in the game.

5 Likes
3

How strong is the 37mm though?

4

there should be WW1 planes

1 Like
5

Long story short, it’s the same 37mm as the one you see on the removed tier 1 French tank. Only with special “shrapnel” ammo or explosive ammo. It was still in the experimentation phase at the time. The shot was more or less 400 m/s, and it was to be manually reloaded by the pilot in flight. However, it would most likely pulverise anything solid it did hit at the time.

Here’s (in french) an idea of the shells available.

https://www.histavia21.net/Histoire/munitions_37_Spad-Canon.htm

6

Not very good then?
I actually started playing the french when i first playing the game.
That was rough partly due to that gun

7

I mean, if it’s used to destroy 1930’s tanks with it, indeed, it’s not very good. If it’s to destroy planes made of wood and canvas, it’ll obviously be more efficient.

1 Like
8

It would have the performance of a Snail. Literally unable to attack any aircraft in the game or be a threat to any ground vehicle.

Without other WW1 aircraft it has no purpose in the game. And even then I have my doubts it could achive anything.

1 Like
9

anything to get WW1 Added

1 Like
10

-1, would suffer at the current rank 1 due to terrible speed.

11

Cannon breach right in front of the pilot, that’s hilarious! Does it smash the pilot’s nuts every time he fires?

12

It’s a short 37mm mate, not the schwerer Gustav. Though, if I recall correctly, smoke would fill the cabin every time the pilot reloaded the gun, which was obviously not very practical.