Halberstadt D.II
Halberstadt · Germany · first flew 1915 · fighter
The Halberstadt D.II was an early German single-seat biplane fighter that entered service in 1915, providing the Luftstreitkräfte with a capable inline-engine scout before the more famous Fokker Eindeckers took centre stage. It was a transitional design in German fighter development.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.3 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Early WWI German single-seat biplane fighter from 1915–16
- Inline engine with radiator on the side of the nose rather than the front
- Preceded and outperformed by later Albatros and Fokker fighters
Equal-span biplane with a squared-off tail and the distinctive side-mounted radiator on the nose, giving an asymmetric appearance to the cowling area; the inline engine and clean fuselage lines distinguish it from rotary-engine contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Halberstadt D.II has a length of 7.3 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.8 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 150 km/h (93 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The D.II entered service in late 1915 and saw combat on the Western Front. Although effective initially, it was overtaken by more powerful designs by 1916 and gradually relegated to training and secondary duties. It influenced the later Halberstadt CL series of two-seat fighters.
Variants
The D.II was followed by the D.III and D.IV with more powerful engines; the basic airframe concept was developed into the CL.II two-seater.
Where you'll see it
Served with the German Luftstreitkräfte on the Western Front in 1915–16.
Related aircraft
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