| 7F.1 Snipe | |
|---|---|
_(36367283106).jpg) A Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe replica | |
| General information | |
| Type | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Sopwith Aviation Company |
| Designer | |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 497 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1918 |
| First flight | October 1917 |
| Variants | Sopwith Salamander Sopwith Dragon |
TheSopwith 7F.1 Snipe is a British single-seatbiplane fighter of theRoyal Air Force (RAF). It was designed and built by theSopwith Aviation Company during theFirst World War, and came into squadron service a few weeks before the end of the conflict, in late 1918. The Snipe was not a fast aircraft by the standards of its time, but its excellent climb and manoeuvrability made it a good match for contemporary German fighters. It was selected as the standard postwar single-seat RAF fighter and the last examples were not retired until 1926.
In April 1917,Herbert Smith, the chief designer of the Sopwith Company, began to design a fighter intended to be the replacement for Sopwith's most famous aeroplane, theCamel.[1] The design, the Snipe, was in its initial form a single-baybiplane, slightly smaller than the Camel and intended to be powered by similar engines.[nb 1] The pilot sat higher than in the Camel while the centre-section of the upper wing was uncovered, giving a better view from the cockpit. Armament was to be twoVickers machine guns.[3][4] In the absence of an official order, Sopwith began construction of two prototypes as a private venture in September 1917. This took advantage of a licence that had been granted to allow construction of fourSopwith Rhino bomber prototypes, only two of which were built. The first prototype Snipe, powered by aBentley AR.1rotary engine was completed in October 1917.[1][4]
The second prototype was completed with the new, more powerfulBentley BR.2, engine, which gave 230 hp (170 kW) in November 1917. This promised better performance and prompted an official contract for six prototypes to be placed, including the two aircraft built as private ventures.[5] The third prototype to fly,serial numberB9965, had modified wings, with a wider centre-section and a smaller cut-out for the pilot, while the fuselage had a fully circular section, rather than the slab-sided one of the first two aircraft and the tail was smaller. It was officially tested in December 1917, reaching a speed of 119 mph (192 km/h) and was then rebuilt with longer-span [30 ft (9.1 m)] two-bay wings (compared with the 25 ft (7.6 m) single bay wings).[6] This allowed the Snipe to compete for Air Board Specification A.1(a) for a high-altitude single-seat fighter. This specification required a speed of at least 135 mph (217 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4,600 m) and a ceiling of at least 25,000 ft (7,600 m) while carrying an armament of two fixed and one swivelling machine gun. An oxygen supply and heated clothing were to be provided for the pilot to aid operation at high altitude.[7][8] The Snipe was tested against three other fighter prototypes, all powered by the Bentley BR.2 engine: theAustin Ospreytriplane, theBoulton & Paul Bobolink and theNieuport B.N.1. While there was little difference in performance between the aircraft, the Sopwith was selected for production, with orders for 1,700 Snipes placed in March 1918.[9]
The Snipe's structure was heavier but much stronger than earlier Sopwith fighters. Although not a fast aircraft for 1918, it was very manoeuvrable and much easier to handle than the Camel, with a superior view from the cockpit - especially forwards and upwards. The Snipe had a superior rate of climb and much better high-altitude performance compared with 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 afterwards. The Snipe was built around theBentley BR2 engine - the last rotary to be used by the RAF. It had a maximum speed of 121 mph (195 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m) compared with the Camel's 115 mph (185 km/h) at the same altitude and an endurance of three hours. Its fixed armament consisted of two0.303 in (7.7 mm)Vickers machine guns on thecowling and it was also able to carry up to four 25 lb (11 kg) bombs forground attack, identical to the Camel's armament. The design allowed for aLewis gun to be mounted on the centre section in a similar manner to those carried by theDolphin but this was not fitted to production aircraft.
Production began in 1918, with more than 4,500 being ordered but ended in 1919, with just under 500 being built, the rest being cancelled due to the end of the war. There was only one variant, theSnipe I, with production by several companies including Sopwith,Boulton & Paul Ltd,Coventry Ordnance Works,D. Napier & Son,Nieuport andRuston, Proctor and Company. Two aircraft were re-engined with a 320 hp (240 kW)ABC Dragonfly radial engine and these entered production as theSopwith Dragon. An armoured version entered production as theSopwith Salamander.
In March 1918, an example was evaluated by No.1 Aeroplane Supply Depot (No.1 ASD) atSt-Omer in France. LieutenantLeslie Hollinghurst (later anace in Dolphins and anair chief marshal) flew to 24,000 ft (7,300 m) in 45 minutes. He stated that the aircraft was tail heavy and had "a very poor rudder", but that otherwise manoeuvrability was good.[10]
The first squadron to equip with the new fighter was43 Squadron, based atFienvillers in France, which replaced its Camels with 15 Snipes on 30 August 1918. After spending much of September training, it flew its first operational patrols equipped with the Snipe on 24 September.[11] The Snipe also saw service with4 SquadronAustralian Flying Corps (AFC) from October 1918. While 43 Squadron's Snipes saw relatively little combat, the Australians had more success, claiming five victories on 26 October and six on 28 October, while on 29 October, 4 Squadron claimed eightFokker D.VIIs destroyed and two more driven down out of control for the loss of one of 15 Snipes.[12][13]208 Squadron converted from Camels in November, too late for the Snipes to see action.[14]
One of the most famous incidents in which the Snipe was involved occurred on 27 October 1918 whenCanadian MajorWilliam Barker attached to201 Squadron flew over theForêt de Mormal in France. Barker's Snipe (No.E8102) had been brought with him for personal evaluation purposes in connection with his UK-based training duties and was therefore operationally a "one-off". The engagement with enemy aircraft occurred at the end of a two-week posting to renew his combat experience as Barker was returning to Britain. While on his last operation over the battlefields of France, he attacked a German two-seater aircraft and swiftly shot it down. He was soon attacked by a formation of at least 15 Fokker D.VIIs, an aircraft widely considered to be the best German fighter of the First World War. The ensuing melee was observed by many Allied troops. In the engagement, he was wounded three times, twice losing consciousness momentarily, but managing to shoot down at least three D.VIIs before making a forced landing on the Allied front lines. Barker was awarded theVictoria Cross for this action.[15][16] The fuselage of this Snipe is preserved at theCanadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.[14]
Following theArmistice with Germany that ended the First World War, Snipes formed part of theBritish Army of the Rhine, returning to the United Kingdom in August and September 1919, while Snipes replaced Camels in four home defence squadrons based in the United Kingdom. This force was quickly run down and by the end of 1919, only80 Squadron was equipped with the Snipe.[17]
In 1919, the Snipe took part in theAllied intervention on the side of theWhite Russians during theRussian Civil War between theBolsheviks and the counterrevolutionaries, twelve Snipes being used by the RAF mission in north Russia.[18] At least one of the RAF Snipes was captured by the Bolsheviks and pressed into service.[19] The Snipe of25 Squadron and56 Squadron were sent to Turkey during theChanak Crisis in September 1922, flying demonstration flights overConstantinople to deter Turkish forces from attacking British forces in theDardanelles.[20]1 Squadron was moved to Iraq in 1922, flying ground attack missions against Kurdish forces led by SheikhMahmud Barzanji until the squadron was disbanded in November 1926.[20]
Although the performance demonstrated by the Snipe was unimpressive (tests atMartlesham Heath in October 1918 had shown that the Snipe was inferior to theMartinsyde F.3 andFokker D.VII), it was selected as the standard postwar single-seat fighter of the RAF.[21] TheMartinsyde Buzzard development of the F.3 being 25 per cent more expensive than the Snipe and relying on a French engine that was in short supply (the 300 hp (220 kW)Hispano-Suiza 8), while the range of fighters powered by the ABC Dragonflyradial engine did not come to fruition owing to failure of that engine.[22][23][24] Snipes remained in squadron service as a fighter with the RAF until 1926 and was used as a trainer by the RAF until 1927.[25][26] It was declared obsolete in 1928.[17] TheCanadian Air Force operated the Snipe after the war, but it was phased out in 1923, a year before theRoyal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was formed.[citation needed]
Two complete, original, Sopwith Snipes survive.E6938 is displayed in theCanada Aviation and Space Museum inOttawa. Formerly owned by film starReginald Denny, it was restored in the 1960s.[30]
E8105 is exhibited at theNational Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Previously, it had been at theOld Rhinebeck Aerodrome, inRhinebeck, New York. It passed to the NASM afterCole Palen's death in December 1993.[31]The fuselage (minus landing gear, engine and cowl) of Major William G. Barker's Snipe,E8102 is on display at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa.
Antique Aero in California has completed construction of an airworthy, very detailed reproduction Sopwith Snipe. It awaits a new-build 230 h.p. Bentley B.R.2 engine.
Another Snipe reproduction marked asE8102 was built in New Zealand by The Vintage Aviator Ltd., and was subsequently purchased by Kermit Weeks for his Fantasy of Flight aviation museum in Polk City, Florida. This is airworthy and uses an original Bentley rotary engine.
The RAF Museum in August 2012 took delivery of a static display reproduction of the Snipe. MarkedE6655, it was constructed in the Wellington workshops of The Vintage Aviator Ltd. in New Zealand. The inclusion of original, non-airworthy parts precludes this aircraft from flight status.
The first reproduction was built by Richard Lincoln Day of Colonia, NJ. This Snipe, marked asE6837, flew for one summer at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, in Rhinebeck, NY before being purchased by Doug Champlin for his collection in Mesa, Arizona. This collection was later donated to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.
Tyabb Airport in Victoria, Australia, hosts a reproduction snipe VH-SNPE8050. The aircraft first flew on the 17th of October 2014, and is powered by a W670 Radial. This snipe has since been relocated to theRAAF Museum in Point Cook, Victoria
Data fromBritish Aeroplanes 1914–18.[32]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
