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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 0169.PDF
* FEBRUARY 6, 1919 The Sopwith Snipe € leads to a sensible simplification of the wiring system. Ailerons of the unbalanced type are fitted to all three planes. The Sopwith " Camel." (December 22, 1916) Few aeroplanes have done more to repulse German attempts at aerial supremacy than the famous " Camel," so called from the hump which it carries on the forward top side of its fuselage by virtue of the fitting of two fixed machine guns, both firing through the propeller. Furnished with a 130 h.p. Clcrget, and designed to achieve a very high performance both in climb and speed, the " Camel " showed itself a redoubtable fighter against antagonistic scouts, and also performed extraordinarily well as a Zeppelin catcher, in which latter connection its ability to climb with great rapidity was extremely valuable. A good angle of vision was obtained by keeping the pilot fairly well forward, and also by the positive stagger of the planes. In place of the large transparent panels fitted into the middle of the top plane in the " Pup," that of the " Camel " was provided with a faired-off slot. The remainder of the design followed " Pup " lines pretty closely, but it is of interest to note that this machine was the first to be fitted with two machine guns, a practice that has since been extensively adopted in both Allied and enemy aeroplanes of a similar type. The Sopwith " Camel " (Sea Type) This design was almost identical with the above, except that the fuselage was made detachable at the rear of the pilot's seat, enabling the machine to be conveniently stowed aboard ship. It was used for flying from the deck of seaplane carriers, and, in addition to this, was also carried on some of our fast cruisers. The method of launching was off the Barbet guns. It will be appreciated that it required a machine of considerable efficiency to get off with certainty and satisfaction with so short a run. The Sopwith " Snipe." (March 17, 1917) This machine was produced primarily with a view to the attainment of a very high performance and exhibits charac teristics of both the " Camel " and " Dolphin." From the latter it differs in point of stagger and plane dimensions, and also in having a 200 h.p. B.R. engine in place of the Hispano-Suiza. As in the " Dolphin," the rudder is of large size and balanced, and the " Snipe," as might be expected from its general fines and arrangement of weights, was highly manoeuvrable. The pilot's head, owing to the deep fuselage and small gap, is on a level with the top plane, the centre of which is partly cut away and partly slotted. A double-bay system of struts is used, giving, with the relatively small span, great constructional strength. Owing to the large diameter of the B.R. 2, the rectangularity of the fuselage only appears towards the tail, and the body is more pronouncedly circular than in previous Sopwith designs. The " Snipe " did not make its appearance until well on in the middle of 1918, and had thus very little chance of introducing its qualities to the German Flying Corps. In the short time at its disposal, however, it made an enviable reputation for itself. In four days a single " Snipe " squadron accounted for 36 enemy areoplanes, and downed 13 in one day. At this rate German aerial personnel would have become rapidly exhausted. An outstanding feat was that performed by Major Barker, who, on a Sopwith " Snipe," when attacked by 60 hostile machines, crashed four of them and drove down no less than 10 out of control. In addition, it might be mentioned that a " Snipe " fitted with an A.B.C. engine attained a speed of 156 m.p.h., and climbed to 10,000 ft. in 4J minutes. The Sopwith " Dolphin." (May 23, 1917) Two principal objects were borne in mind in the design of this single-seater fighter—firstly, to make good use of the 200 h.p. Hispano-Suiza engine (which had reached a pro ductive stage), and, secondly, to afford the pilot a range of vision greater than that of any other existing aeroplane. The former necessitated a departure from the usual lines of the Sopwith fuselage, the upper surface of which in the rear of the cockpit is more pronouncedly arched than in previous types. The span of the planes was increased beyond that of the " Camel," and a double-bay arrangement of struts adopted in order to provide great structural strength. At the same time the gap was shghtly diminished, and, what The Sopwith Dolphin 169
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