The
Sopwith Camel was a British
First World War single-seat
biplane fighter aircraft introduced on the
Western Front in 1917. It was developed by the
Sopwith Aviation Company as a successor to the earlier
Sopwith Pup and became one of the most iconic fighter aircraft of the First World War.
The Camel was powered by a single
rotary engine and was armed with twin
synchronized machine guns. Though proving difficult to handle, it provided for a high level of manoeuvrability to an experienced pilot, an attribute which was highly valued in the type's principal use as a fighter aircraft. In total, Camel pilots have been credited with the shooting down of 1,294 enemy aircraft, more than any other Allied fighter of the conflict. Towards the end of the Great War, the type had also seen use as a ground-attack aircraft, partially due to it having become increasingly outclassed as the capabilities of fighter aircraft on both sides were rapidly advancing at that time.
The main variant of the Camel was designated as the
F.1; several dedicated variants were built for a variety of roles, including the
2F.1 Ship's Camel, which was used for operating from the flight decks of
aircraft carriers, the
Comic night fighter variant, and the
T.F.1, a dedicated 'trench fighter' that had been armoured for the purpose of conducting ground attacks upon heavily defended enemy lines. The Camel also saw use as a two-seat trainer aircraft. In January 1920, the last aircraft of the type were withdrawn from RAF service.