The Sopwith Snipe was a single-seat bi-plane fighter of the Royal Air Corps (RAC), designed and built by the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War and was arguably the definitive fighter of the Allied side by the end of World War I. The Sopwith Aviation Company was a British aircraft company that designed and manufactured aeroplanes mainly for the British Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service and later Royal Air Force in the First World War, most famously the Sopwith Camel. ... World War I, also known as the First World War, and (before 1939) the Great War, the War of the Nations, and the War to End All Wars, was a world conflict lasting from August 1914 to the final Armistice (cessation of hostilities) on November 11, 1918. ... World War I, also known as the First World War, and (before 1939) the Great War, the War of the Nations, and the War to End All Wars, was a world conflict lasting from August 1914 to the final Armistice (cessation of hostilities) on November 11, 1918. ...

History

The Snipe was designed by Herbert Smith, the chief designer of the Sopwith Company, in 1917. It was intended to be the replacement for arguably Sopwith's most famous aeroplane, the Sopwith Camel, which had performed remarkbly well during the First World War since it had entered service in 1916, and gained much fame for its exploits during the war. The Snipe began production in 1918, with over 4500 being ordered. It began to enter service that year, the last year of the war, and first joined No. 43 Squadron RAF. The Snipe also saw service with the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) and post-WW1, with the Canadian Air Force (CAF), but ended service with the Canadians in 1923, a year before the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was formed. 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... The Sopwith Camel Scout was a British World War I single-seat fighter aircraft that was famous for its manoeuvrability. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 - The Royal Army Medical Corps first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... No. ... The RAAF Roundel is based on that of the British Royal Air Force, with the central circle replaced by a Kangaroo, a symbol of Australia. ... The RCAF Roundel is based on that of the British Royal Air Force with a maple leaf, a symbol of Canada in the centre. ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was the air force of Canada from 1924 until 1968 when the three branches of the Canadian military were merged into the Canadian Armed Forces. ...

The Snipe's structure gave far better visibility for the pilot in the cockipit compared to the Camel. It was a quite a manoeuvrable aircraft and was much easier to handle compared to the Camel. The Snipe also had a superior rate of climb compared to its predecessor allowing it to fight Germany's newer fighters on more equal terms. Further modifications were made to the Snipe during the war and post-war. The Snipe was built around a single Bentley BR.2 rotary engine though its origins in the Camel design was still quite evident. It had a max speed of 121 mph compared with the Camel's 115 mph (185 km/h) and an endurance of three hours. Its armament consisted of two forward 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns and was also able to be armed with up to four 25 lb (11 kg) bombs, identical to the Camel's armament. Bentleys winged B badge and hood ornament Bentley Motors Limited is a British based manufacturer of luxury automobiles and Grand Tourers. ... Vickers Armstrong (Aircraft) company logo Vickers, founded as the Vickers Company in 1828, was a British manufacturer, primarily of military equipment, traditionally based in Barrow-in-Furness. ...

The Snipe entered service in time to be involved operationally in the First World War and would prove to be a potent fighter during its brief involvement in the war, performing a variety of duties. Arguably the most famous incident the Snipe was involved in, occurred on the 27th October 1918. Major William George Barker, a Canadian in No. 201 Squadron, attacked a two-seater German aircraft and swiftly shot it down. However, Major Barker was soon attacked by a Fokker D.VII, which after some resistance, was shot down by the Canadian. Major Barker, by himself, was subsequently attacked by about sixty German Fokker D.VIIsin formation, an aircraft that was widely considered to be the ultimate German fighter design of WWI. Despite the odds, Major Barker ripped into the German aircraft, and even though he was suffering from quite horrific wounds, eventually achieved four kills. Barker managed to return to British lines safely where he crashed his Snipe. Major Barker was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions. Note:This article is about the WWI pilot. ... The D.VII was a late World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz at the Fokker company. ... Victoria Cross medal, ribbon, and bar. ...

The Snipe gained rather a lot of combat victories in its short involvement in the war. In 1919, the Snipe also took part in the Allied intervention on the side of the White Russians during the Russian Civil War against the Bolsheviks. A small amount of RAF Snipes were actually captured by the Bolsheviks and pressed into service. The production of the Snipe ended in 1919, with just under 500 being built, the rest were cancelled due to the wide-ranging cuts imposed on the British armed forces post-WWI. By the early 1920s, the Snipe began to be phased out of RAF service and by 1926, the Sopwith Snipe's career with the RAF was over. 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The White movement, whose military arm is known as the White Army (Белая Армия) or White Guard (Белая Гвардия, белогвардейцы) and whose members are known as Whites (Белые, Беляки) or White Russians (a term which has other meanings) comprised some of the Russian forces, both political and military, which opposed... The Russian Civil War was fought from 1918 to 1922. ... Bolshevik Party Meeting. ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The 1920s were a decade sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Characteristics

Dimensions

• Crew: 1
• Capacity:
• Length: m ( ft)
• Wingspan: m ( ft)
• Height: m ( ft)
• Wing area: m² ( ft²)
• Empty: kg ( lb)
• Loaded: kg ( lb)
• Maximum takeoff: kg ( lb)
• Powerplant: Bentley BR.2 rotary engine, 230 hp (172 kW)

Bentleys winged B badge and hood ornament Bentley Motors Limited is a British based manufacturer of luxury automobiles and Grand Tourers. ...

Performance

• Maximum speed: 121 mph (195 km/h)
• Range: km ( miles)
• Service ceiling: m ( ft)
• Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)

Squadrons that operated the Sopwith Snipe

• Royal Flying Corps / Royal Air Force
  • No. 23 Squadron
  • No. 25 Squadron
  • No. 29 Squadron
  • No. 43 Squadron
  • No. 70 Squadron
  • No. 78 Squadron
  • No. 87 Squadron
  • No. 201 Squadron
  • No. 208 Squadron

• Australian Flying Corps
  • No. 4 Squadron
  • No. 8 Squadron

• Canadian Air Force (pre-Royal Canadian Air Force)
  • No. 1 Squadron

No. ... No. ...

See also