Sopwith Snipe
In
1918, the Snipe entered the war as a replacement for the Sopwith Camel
and Dolphin. The performance of the Snipe was not much better than that of the Camel,
but it had a high ceiling (like the Dolphin), improved handling and visibility. It entered
WWI too late to make a significant difference to the war. The 497 built became the most
important British single-seat fighters of the era, serving until the mid-twenties.
Major W.G. Barker made the Snipe famous by single-handedly battling 15 enemy fighters. Barker later received the Victoria Cross from King George V for his bravery.
Snipe cockpit
SPECIFICATIONS
Country: Great Britain
Manufacturer: Sopwith
Designation: Snipe
Type: Fighter
Wing Span: 31 ft 1 in (9.5 m)
Length: 19 ft 10 in (6 m)
Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m)
Weight, Empty: 1,312 lb (595 kg)
Weight, Gross: 2,020 lb (916 kg)
Armament
Twin, front mounted, Vickers 0.303 machine guns
Four 20 lb bombs under the bottom wing
PERFORMANCE
Engine: 230 hp Bentley BR2 rotary
engine
Maximum speed: 121 mph (195 km/h)
Ceiling: 19,700 ft (6000 m)
Rate of Climb: 6,500 ft (1,980 m) 5 min 10 sec
Range: 3 hours (Endurance)