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Sopwith Triplane, Old Warden 2010 ©Nigel Key

ROLE
Fighter.

FIRST FLIGHT
28 May 1916.

The Sopwith Triplane was designed by Herbert Smith of the Sopwith Aviation Company.

The Triplane prototype was modelled closely on the Sopwith 'Pup' but had three narrow-chord wings with ailerons on all three wings and fitted with a Clerget 9Z rotary engine producing 110 hp.

The prototype Sopwith Triplane, serial number N500, first flew on the 28th of May 1916 flown by test pilot Harry Hawker. Almost immediately after take-off Hawker amazed on-lookers by looping the aircraft three times in succession.

'N500' was sent to Dunkirk for trials with 'A' Naval Squadron, 1 Naval Wing, which proved to be highly successful.

A second prototype serial number ‘N504’ was fitted with a Clerget 9B engine producing 130 hp, which first flew in August 1916 and sent to France in December 1916 serving as a conversion trainer.

After successful trials the Admiralty issued a number of production contracts, two with Sopwith, two with Clayton & Shuttleworth and one with Oakley & Co. Ltd, resulting in a total of 147 Triplanes being produced.

Although the Triplane proved extremely effective it was very difficult to repair and maintain. The fuel and oil tanks were inaccessible without major disassembly and even relative minor repairs had to be made at repair depots.

Also, due to the fact that the Triplane was vulnerable to structural weakness, with the wings known to collapse in a steep dive and it only had one machine gun, it was phased out in favour of the new Sopwith Camel.

PRODUCTION
The Sopwith Triplane was produced from 1916, with 147 built.

ENGINE
Clerget 9B engine, producing 130 hp.

ARMAMENT
1 or 2 x Vickers 0.303” machine gun.

No.1 Naval Squadron was issued with the Sopwith Triplane and became fully operational by December 1916. No 8 Naval Squadron was issued with Triplanes in February 1927 and Nos 9 & 10 Naval Squadrons were equipped between April and May 1917.

The Sopwith Triplanes exceptional rate of climb and high ceiling altitude gave it an advantage over the German Albatros D.III making the aircraft highly successful.

The Triplane was famously flown by No.10 Naval Squadron's B Flight which was better known as "Black Flight", distinguishable by their black painted fins and cowlings.

Naval Squadrons No.8 & No.9 changed over to Sopwith Camels between July and early August and No.10 Naval Squadron by late August.

No.1 Naval Squadron operated with the Triplane until December and suffered heavy causalities as a result.

By the end of 1917 all surviving Triplanes were sent to No.12 Naval Squadron to be used as advanced trainers.