Sopwith F.1 Camel

This was probably the ultimate fighting plane of it's era. It was nick-named the "Camel" because of the hump sahped fairing over the two synchronised forward firing machine guns. It became famous for its manoevarability and oustanding performance in combat. It shot down 1294 enemy planes during the first WWI. It differed radically from its predecessors in handling characteristics. The Pup and the Tri-plane were docile and easdy to fly. The Camel was a real pilot's aeroplane, it was as jumpy and highly strung as any thoroughbred. This made it icredibly manoeverable in skilled hands and ideal for close combat. It was more manoeverable than any of its contempories, with the possible exception of the Fokker Dr I tri-plane.

It was developed by Herbert Smith at the end of 1916 and the prototype flew on December 22 of that year.

For the first time on a British plane the armament was standardised. There were two forward firing fixed and synchronised Vickers machine guns.

Delivery of Camels began in May 1917, and they first saw action in July of that year. Pilots were not enthusiastic about the plane at first because it was so difficult to fly. It was however the very same characteristic which made it the supreme fighting machine in experienced hands. The same is true of the best fighting aircraft today.

Camels were also used as ground attack aircraft. During the batles of Ypres and Cambrat, Camels carried 9 kg bombs and riaded enemy trenches, rear facilities and road junctions. Many were shot down on these missions and as a result a special "trench warfare" version was developed. It had an armour plated cockpit and it had two machine guns firing obliquely down adn forward. This design never reached production but it did serve as the model for the Sopwith Salamander.

A carrier based version was also built, which went into operation in early 1918. Its armament was a Lewis machine gun and some were used as dive bombers. During WWI camels served on four carriers and 17 cruisers.

More than 5450 Camels were built.

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