Sopwith Strutter

The Sopwith 1-½ Strutter was named for its short central struts and single-bay wings. The Admiralty's official name was the Sopwith Type 9400 or 9700 and the RFC, the Sopwith Two-Seater. It was a fairly conventional plane, though the designers had the foresight to place the pilot in the forward seat. The tail pattern would be recognizable on all future Sopwith types, and the angle of tail incidence could be adjusted in-flight as trim control. The center section of each lower wing could be tipped upward to act as air brakes. Perhaps its biggest claim to fame would be that it was the first production British airplane to go to war with a synchronized gun. Early planes used a pillar-mount for the observer's Lewis, but later planes use a Scarff ring-mounting.

Seventy-seven Strutters were transferred to the RFC to fill shortages around the Battle of the Somme (along with Short Bombers), and the RFC started receiving their own in May 1916. The Strutter was a fairly stable, docile aircraft, but it was still sometimes flown as a single-seat fighter or light bomber, and -- in fact -- the Strutter was put to almost every conceivable use: reconnaissance, bombing, escort, anti-submarine patrol, fighter. By autumn 1916 it was looking a bit long in the tooth, but it wasn't until summer to autumn of 1917 that large-scale replacements began.

The French, who were struggling to produce an acceptable tractor two-seater, obtained the license and built even more Strutters than the British: perhaps as many as 4,500, many with the 110hp Le Rhône engine. French reconnaissance planes were known as the Sopwith 1A.2 and bombers the Sopwith 1B.1 or Sopwith 1B.2 (for the single and two-seater respectively). The first French-built Strutters arrived with units in Sept 1916, and it wasn't until around April 1918 that the last was produced, although the plane had been largely relegated to training by then.

Strutters also found their way into the Belgian air force, equipping at least three Escadrilles, including eight English-built units and the rest of French construction, and some survived the war. The Russians used the Strutter for reconnaissance and some served the White Russians during the Revolution. They were also used by Romania, Japan, and Latvia. The USA bought 514 for training, but a few made it into service with the 90th Aero Squadron, and perhaps the 88th and 99th in the period of May 1918 until they could be replaced with Salmson 2's in July.

After their main combat lifetime was over, Strutters continued to be used by the RNAS as two-seat reconnaissance from ships. Starting in April 1918 25-75 of them were modifed with detachable wings, skid undercarriages, float bags, and 140hp Clerget engines. This variation was known was the Ship Strutter.

Card Links

 * No 2 Wing RNAS
 * No 2 Wing RNAS
 * No 3 Wing RNAS - Collishaw/Portsmouth
 * No 3 Wing RNAS - Collishaw/Portsmouth
 * No 3 Wing RNAS - Landry/Landry
 * 45 Sqn - Garrett/Carey
 * 45 Sqn - Garrett/Carey
 * Esc 36 - Mayoussier/Milat
 * Esc 36 - Mayoussier/Milat
 * 3 Sqn
 * 3 Sqn
 * Russian
 * Soviet WPAF


 * Single-Seater Aircraft Chart
 * Two-Seater Aircraft Chart

1:144 Scale

 * Ares: WGF209A Costes/Astor; WGF209B Collishaw/Portsmouth; WGF209C 78Sqn.
 * Shapeways:
 * Two-Seater: Arctic Skunk, Decapod, Kampfflieger
 * Two-Seater with Scarff ring: Reduced Aircraft Factory
 * Two-Seater with Eteve mount: Reduced Aircraft Factory
 * One-Seater
 * One-Seater with Vickers: Decapod, Kampfflieger, Reduced Aircraft Factory
 * One-Seater with Lewis: Reduced Aircraft Factory
 * Nightfighter (Comic): Kampfflieger, Reduced Aircraft Factory
 * Metal kit: ,

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

 * Shapeways:
 * Two-Seater: Kampfflieger, Reduced Aircraft Factory
 * One-Seater:
 * One-Seater with Vickers: Reduced Aircraft Factory
 * One-Seater with Lewis: Reduced Aircraft Factory
 * Nightfighter (Comic): Reduced Aircraft Factory
 * Cast Metal:

1:300 Scale

 * Metal kit: Heroics & Ros GWA125

1:350 Scale

 * Shapeways: Decapod

1:600 Scale

 * Shapeways: Snafu Store

1:700 Scale

 * Shapeways: Snafu Store