Nieuport 12

The underpowered Nieuport 10 two-seater was succeeded in 1915 by the Nieuport 12, with a 110hp Clerget 9Z rotary. Later, the 130hp Clerget 9B was fitted (for the Nieuport 12bis), and Beardmore built 50 for use by the UK. Roughly 7200 Nieuport 10s and 12s were built, and they formed the bulk of some French units until they were phased out at the end of 1916. They served with at least 26 French Nieuport escadrilles, serving alongside Nieuport 11 and 17's, and they were handed out in small numbers to non-Nieuport units as well. 194 Nieuport 12s were used by the RNAS as well as No.46 Squadron RFC. Small numbers were also used by Russia. They were not well-liked, but they gave good service until replaced by better machines.

Sometimes a Lewis machine gun was fitted for the pilot's use, firing over the top wing at an angle to avoid the propeller. Since the pilot was seated too far forward to service the top-wing, it was up to the observer to stand lean forward to access that Lewis -- surely a precarious proposition! Like the Nieuport 10, some Nieuport 12s were modified to be single-seat fighters with only the top-wing Lewis fitted.

Card Links

 * Russian
 * Beardmore - 46 Sqn - Babington
 * Busteed corrected
 * early French corrected
 * RNAS 2 Wing - Reid corrected

Aircraft Chart

1:144 Scale

 * Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory
 * Beardmore version: Reduced Aircraft Factory

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

 * Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory
 * Beardmore version: Reduced Aircraft Factory