The late World War I fighter aircraft manufactured by Siemens-Schuckert was known as the D.IV (SSW). It was produced in insufficient quantities and entered service too late to make any impact on the war effort.

The Siemens-Schuckert D.I, which was closely based on the French Nieuport 17, was the company’s first fighter aircraft to go into production. The Siemens-Halske Sh.I, a geared rotary engine with an opposing crankshaft and propeller rotation, was used instead; otherwise, the D.I was a very near replica of the Nieuport. However, by the time the D.Is went into production in 1917, the design had lost its competitive edge. After 95 had been built, manufacturing was halted, with the type mostly being used as an advanced trainer.

The Siemens-Halske Sh.III, which generated 160 PS, was the product of the Siemens-Halske Sh.development. I’s (120 kW; 160 hp). The D.II, D.IIa, and D.IIb original prototype designs from the SSW works were equipped with the new engine. These had a stubby-looking aircraft that pilots later described to as the flying beer barrel. They had a short, round section fuselage that was made to fit a larger engine. Although the aircraft’s top speed was not particularly high when flight tests began in June 1917, they displayed exceptional rates of ascent. The enormously lengthy landing gear required to keep the massive 2-bladed prop off the ground was the only real cause for concern.