Sopwith Camel

United Kingdom

Thomas Sopwith 1910

Sopwith Camel

Variants

Camels were powered by several makes of rotary engines:

130 hp Clerget 9B rotary (standard powerplant)
140 hp Clerget 9Bf rotary
110 hp Le Rhône 9J rotary
150 hp Bentley BR1 rotary (gave best performance – standard for R.N.A.S. machines)
100 hp Gnome Monosoupape 9B-2 rotary
160 hp Gnome Monosoupape 9N rotary

Sopwith Camel F.1]The F.1 was the main production version. It was armed with twin synchronised Vickers guns.
Camel 2F.1 The 2F.1 was a shipboard variant, flown from HMS Furious. It had a slightly shorter wingspan and a Bentley BR1 as its standard engine. Additionally, one Vickers gun was replaced by an overwing Lewis gun.
Sopwith Camel "Comic" Night fighter. The "Comic" was a Camel variant designed specifically for night-fighting duties. The twin Vickers guns were replaced by two Lewis guns on Foster mountings firing forward over the top wing, as the muzzle flash of the Vickers guns could blind the pilot. To allow reloading of the guns, the pilot was moved about 12 inches (30 cm) to the rear and to compensate the fuel tank was moved forward. It served with Home Defence Squadrons against German air raids. The "Comic" nickname was unofficial, and was shared with the night fighter version of the Sopwith 1½ Strutter.
F.1/1 The F1/1 was a version with tapered wings.
T.F.1 The T.F.1 was an experimental trench fighter used for development work for the Sopwith Salamander. Its machine guns were angled downwards for efficient strafing, and it featured armour plating for protection.
Trainer The trainer variant had a second cockpit behind the normal pilot's position. The weapons were removed, although the hump was sometimes kept.