WWI Aviation Pictorial History An Illustrated history of  World War 1
British Aviation 1918
Sopwith Snipe
A descendant of the Sopwith Camel, the Sopwith Snipe was equipped with a more powerful engine and provided better visibility from the cockpit. Though not much faster than the Camel, the Snipe had a better rate of climb and pilots found it much easier to fly.
On 27 October 1918, Canadian ace William Barker made the Sopwith Snipe famous in a single-handed battle with more than 60 enemy aircraft that earned him the Victoria Cross. Flying the Sopwith Snipe, Captain Elwyn King scored 7 victories making him the highest scoring ace to fly this aircraft.
Sopwith Snipe
Manufacturer: Sopwith Aviation Company
Type: Fighter
First Introduced: 1918
Number Built: 497
Engine: Bentley B.R.2, 230 hp
Wing Span: 31 ft 1 in
Length: 19 ft 10 in
Height: 9 ft 6 in
Empty Weight: 1312 lb
Gross Weight: 2020 lb
Max Speed: 121 mph
Ceiling: 19,500 ft
Endurance: 3 hrs
Crew: 1
Armament: 2 machine guns
Previous Page | British Aviation 1914 - 1918 | Return To Main Page | Email

Original material copyright © 7/8/99 W. Ira Boucher. All Rights Reserved.
Website by Ira Designs