Sopwith Triplane

From Wings of Linen
Sopwith Triplane
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Sopwith
Designer Herbert Smith [1][2]
First flight 29 March 1916[1] or May 1916[2][3]
Introduction prototype: mid-June 1916[2]
production: Dec'16-Jan'17[2]
Primary user U.K. (RNAS)
Number built 144 [1] or 147-150[4]
Wingspan 8.08 m (26 ft 6 in)[5][6][3] to
8.69 m (28 ft 6 in)[7]
Propeller Diam. 2.59 m (8 ft 6 in)[6] to 2.74 m (9 ft)[6]
Engine 110hp or 130hp Clerget rotary[note 1]
Armament sync. fixed Vickers [note 2]
Ammo 500 rounds[6][10]
Crew 1
Max Speed 187 km/h (116 mph)[3] to
188 km/h (117 mph) [11][12][7][5] to
195 km/h (121 mph)[6]
Climb 1,500 m (5,000 ft) in 4:35[7]
1,800 m (6,000 ft) in 5:16[6]-5:50[11]
3,000 m (10,000 ft) in 9:20[6]-10:30[3]-11:50[11][7][13]
4,600 m (15,000 ft) in 22:20[13]
5,000 m (16,400 ft) in 26:30 [11][7]
Service Ceiling 6,100 m (20,000 ft)[12] to
6,200 m (20,500 ft) [11][7][5][13]
Endurance 2:45 [11][12][5][13]

The Sopwith Triplane was a revolutionary aeroplane whose goal was to improve the pilot's vision with narrow-chord wings while giving excellent maneuverability. It was regarded as slightly less nimble than the Sopwith Pup, but it had more power and better sight lines. Like the Pup, the armament was a single synchronized Vickers. While it was initially ordered for both the RFC and RNAS, the two services did some trading and sent all RNAS SPAD 7s to the RFC in exchange for all RFC triplanes. Hence, the Triplane was only flown by the RNAS.

While the prototype was tested at the front in June 1916, it wasn't until late 1916 that production machines reached units, and only in April 1917 did offensive patrols begin. The Triplane soon earned the respect of German pilots, especially in the hands of pilots like Raymond Collishaw, and the Germans soon began their own experiments to produce a nimble triplane. In February 1917 a new smaller tailplane was introduced, which improved the triplane's responsiveness.[8]

The Triplane's lifetime was fairly brief, though: by late autumn 1917 the Triplanes had been traded in for better-armed Sopwith Camels.[11] In October, only one squadron was still equipped with Triplanes.[1]

For more information, see Wikipedia:Sopwith Triplane.

Timeline [note 3]

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Official Stats
Version Availability Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb Points
normal Dec16-late17 U [note 4] B 13 14 3 66
twin-gun U [note 4] A 13 14 3 86

Plane and Crew Cards

Card Links

Blue Max/Canvas Eagles

Aircraft Chart

Miniatures and Models

1:100 Scale

1:144 Scale

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

1:300 Scale

1:350 Scale

1:600 Scale

Resources

Orthographic Drawings

Color Schemes

References

Notes
  1. Most machines that saw combat used the 130hp engine.[8]
  2. A small number were completed with twin Vickers machine guns.[9]
  3. British usage numbers are approximate, derived from the squadron histories.[14]
  4. This was instead the "D" deck in the original release.
  5. Updated card
Citations
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Angelucci, p.57.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Bruce'66, p.3.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Argus Vol. 1, p.36.
  4. Bruce'66, p.10.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Angelucci, p.46.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Bruce'66, p.12.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Lamberton, pp.214-215.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Bruce'66, p.5.
  9. Bruce'90, p.3.
  10. Kelly, p.230.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Bruce'69, p.563.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Munson, p.76.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Bruce'90, p.32.
  14. Philpott'13, pp.379-444.
Bibliography
  • Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. New York: The Military Press, 1983 edition. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
  • Argus Books, Airplane Archive: Aircraft of World War One, Volume 1. Great Britain: Argus Books, 1989. ISBN 0-85242-983-5
  • J.M. Bruce. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. Great Britain: Funk & Wagnalls, 1957, 1969. ISBN 0370000382
  • J.M. Bruce, Profile Publications 73: The Sopwith Triplane. England: Profile Publications Ltd., 1966.
  • J.M. Bruce, Windsock Datafile 22: Sopwith Triplane. Great Britain: Albatros Publications, Ltd., 1990. ISBN 0-948414-26-X
  • Kevin Kelly, "Belts and Drums: A Survey of First World War Aircraft Ammunition Totals". Over the Front, Vol. 5, No. 3, Autumn 1990. Walsworth Publishing Co, Inc. and The League of World War I Aviation Historians.
  • W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1960.
  • Kenneth Munson, Fighters 1914-19, Attack and Training Aircraft. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1976. ISBN 0713707607
  • Ian Philpott, The Birth of the Royal Air Force. Great Britain: Pen & Sword Books Limited, 2013. ISBN 978-1-78159-333-2