Performance: Maximum speed 121 mph, Endurance 3 hours, Service ceiling 19,500 ft Armament: 2 x 7.92 mm machine guns Bombload 100 lbs Sopwith Snipe Dimensions: Wingspan 31 ft 1 ins, Length 19 ft 10 ins, Height 9 ft 6 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1918 Number built: 1,560 Even before the Camel entered widespread service in 1917 Sopwith had began to design its successor. The Snipe was basically a larger version of the Camel but without the distinctive hump which provided better visibility from the cockpit. Construction was stronger than earlier Sopwith types, and was easier to fly compared to the Camel, and although not particularly fast for 1918, it possessed a good climb rate and was highly manoeuvrable. They were first used operationally in September 1918, and remained the standard single seat fighter in the R.A.F. after World War One, the last aircraft not being retired until 1927. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,312 lbs, Maximum take-off 2,020 lbs Powerplant: One 230 hp Bentley rotary engine Performance: Maximum speed 188 mph, Range 370 miles, Service ceiling 26,900 ft Armament: 2 x 0.3 inch machine guns Bombload 332 lbs Boeing F4B-4 Dimensions: Wingspan 30 ft, Length 20 ft 1 in, Height 9 ft 4 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1930 Number built: 586 The Boeing F4B served as the primary fighter of the U.S. Navy in the early 1930s, while the denavalised version served with the U.S. Army Air Corps where it was known as the P-12. The aircraft made its maiden flight in June 1928 and began to enter service in 1930 and was used operationally in numerous roles with the U.S. Navy and Army, finally ending its days as a training aircraft in the early 1940s. The total production of the F4B/P-12 series reached 586 which established Boeing as a major aircraft manufacturer, the U.S.N. receiving 182 and the U.S.A.A.F. 366 aircraft, the remainder being demonstrators or exported. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,354 lbs, Maximum take-off 3,611 lbs Powerplant: One 550 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340 -16 radial engine Performance: Maximum speed 185 mph, Range 430 miles, Service ceiling 26,400 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 520 lbs Hawker Hart Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft 3 ins, Length 29 ft 3 ins, Height 10 ft 7 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1930 Number built: 1,000+ The Hawker Hart was designed in the late 1920’s to meet the Air Ministry Specification 12.26 for a light day bomber capable of a speed of 160 mph. Under the leadership of Sydney Camm, Hawker's design was a single-bay biplane powered by the new Rolls-Royce Kesrel water-cooled V12 inline engine, which allowed the designers to tightly fair the engine into the airframe which resulted in a sleek streamlined aircraft. The aircraft was faster than the fighters of the day and was immediately accepted for production, with the design being adapted for a variety of other roles throughout the 1930s. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 3,195 lbs, Maximum take-off 4,657 lbs Powerplant: One 640 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 223 mph, Range 270 miles, Service ceiling 29,500 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload none Hawker Fury Dimensions: Wingspan 30 ft, Length 26 ft 9 ins, Height 10 ft 2 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1931 Number built: 275 The Hawker Fury was designed to meet Air Ministry Specification F.20/27 for a new fighter aircraft for the R.A.F. The initial design was fitted with a radial engine and named Hornet, but was later revised to use the Rolls-Royce Kestrel inline engine, allowing the nose to be streamlined and increased the aircraft’s speed to 200 mph. Renamed Fury the aircraft was accepted for production and entered service with No. 43 Squadron at Tangmere in May 1931. Furys remained in front line service until January 1939 when the last aircraft were replaced by more modern types, many aircraft then being deployed in the training role. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,734 lbs, Maximum take-off 3,609 lbs Powerplant: One 640 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 223 mph, Range 270 miles, Service ceiling 29,500 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload none Hawker Fury Dimensions: Wingspan 30 ft, Length 26 ft 9 ins, Height 10 ft 2 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1931 Number built: 275 The Hawker Fury was designed to meet Air Ministry Specification F.20/27 for a new fighter aircraft for the R.A.F. The initial design was fitted with a radial engine and named Hornet, but was later revised to use the Rolls-Royce Kestrel inline engine, allowing the nose to be streamlined and increased the aircraft’s speed to 200 mph. Renamed Fury the aircraft was accepted for production and entered service with No. 43 Squadron at Tangmere in May 1931. Furys remained in front line service until January 1939 when the last aircraft were replaced by more modern types, many aircraft then being deployed in the training role. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,734 lbs, Maximum take-off 3,609 lbs Powerplant: One 640 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 194 mph, Range 300 miles, Service ceiling 28,000 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload none Hawker Nimrod Dimensions: Wingspan 33 ft 7 ins, Length 26 ft 6 ins, Height 9 ft 10 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1932 Number built: 92 In 1931 Hawker turned their attention to designing a naval version of the Fury for the Fleet Air Arm. A prototype was built and handed over for sea trials which proved successful, and with all the modifications needed to operate from an aircraft carrier the Nimrod, as it was named, still achieved a speed of 193 mph, which was only marginally slower than its land based counterpart. They began to enter service in 1932, the first aircraft joining 408 flight aboard HMS Glorious. Further development led to the Mk II, which became the principal naval fighter for the Royal Navy until they were retired in 1939. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 3,110 lbs, Maximum take-off 4,050 lbs Powerplant: One 525 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel II inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 170 mph, Range 500 miles, Service ceiling 21,500 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns 2 x 112 lbs supply containers Hawker Audax Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft 3 ins, Length 29 ft 3 ins, Height 10 ft 5 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1932 Number built: 700+ The Hawker Audax was based on the Hawker Hart and was designed for army co-operation duties. The Audax was fitted with a hook to pick up messages and powered by a modified Kestrel engine which gave the aircraft a speed of 170 mph. The Audax first flew in 1931 and entered service the following year, and by the time production ceased over 700 had been built with the type seeing service across the British Empire, as well as serving with the Air Forces of Canada, India, South Africa and Rhodesia, to name a few. In the R.A.F. the Audax began to be withdrawn from 1937 and were replaced by the Westland Lysander. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,938 lbs, Maximum take-off 4,386 lbs Powerplant: One 525 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel IB inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 170 mph, Range 500 miles, Service ceiling 21,500 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns 2 x 112 lbs supply containers Hawker Audax Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft 3 ins, Length 29 ft 3 ins, Height 10 ft 5 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1932 Number built: 700+ The Hawker Audax was based on the Hawker Hart and was designed for army co-operation duties. The Audax was fitted with a hook to pick up messages and powered by a modified Kestrel engine which gave the aircraft a speed of 170 mph. The Audax first flew in 1931 and entered service the following year, and by the time production ceased over 700 had been built with the type seeing service across the British Empire, as well as serving with the Air Forces of Canada, India, South Africa and Rhodesia, to name a few. In the R.A.F. the Audax began to be withdrawn from 1937 and were replaced by the Westland Lysander. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,938 lbs, Maximum take-off 4,386 lbs Powerplant: One 525 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel IB inline engine
Performance: Maximum speed 168 mph, Range 400 miles, Service ceiling 25,000 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 520 lbs
Hawker Osprey
Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft 3 ins, Length 29 ft 3 ins, Height 10 ft 7 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1932 Number built: 92
The Hawker Osprey was a development of the Hart for the Royal Navy, which were intended for use aboard large warships and aircraft carriers. They were the most heavily modified member of the Hart family, requiring the fuselage to be strengthened to absorb the strain of catapult launches and fitted with folding wings. The undercarriage was modified so they could easily swap between wheels or floats, while the more powerful 630 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel II engine was used. The Osprey entered service in 1932, but began to be replaced in 1938 and then used as training aircraft until 1944 when they were finally withdrawn. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 3,406 lbs, Maximum take-off 4,949 lbs Powerplant: One 630 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel II inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 168 mph, Range 400 miles, Service ceiling 25,000 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 520 lbs Hawker Osprey Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft 3 ins, Length 29 ft 3 ins, Height 10 ft 7 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1932 Number built: 92 The Hawker Osprey was a development of the Hart for the Royal Navy, which were intended for use aboard large warships and aircraft carriers. They were the most heavily modified member of the Hart family, requiring the fuselage to be strengthened to absorb the strain of catapult launches and fitted with folding wings. The undercarriage was modified so they could easily swap between wheels or floats, while the more powerful 630 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel II engine was used. The Osprey entered service in 1932, but began to be replaced in 1938 and then used as training aircraft until 1944 when they were finally withdrawn. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 3,406 lbs, Maximum take-off 4,949 lbs Powerplant: One 630 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel II inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 182 mph, Range 450 miles, Service ceiling 27,500 ft Armament: 3 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 80 lbs Hawker Demon Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft 3 ins, Length 29 ft 7 ins, Height 10 ft 5 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1933 Number built: 305 When the Hawker Hart light bomber entered service with the R.A.F. in 1930, the aircraft outperformed all the single seat fighters then in service. As a consequence a two seat fighter version of the aircraft was prepared, with the added bonus of having a rear gunner. They entered service in 1933, but the rear gunner had great difficulty in manoeuvring his gun against the slipstream. In response to this problem the last fifty aircraft were fitted with a hydraulically powered Frazer-Nash turret that included a protective shield for the operator. From 1938 the type began to be withdrawn from front line service in the R.A.F. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,938 lbs, Maximum take-off 4,386 lbs Powerplant: One 485 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel IIS inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 182 mph, Range 450 miles, Service ceiling 27,500 ft Armament: 3 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 80 lbs Hawker Turreted Demon Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft 3 ins, Length 29 ft 7 ins, Height 10 ft 5 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1933 Number built: 305 When the Hawker Hart light bomber entered service with the R.A.F. in 1930, the aircraft outperformed all the single seat fighters then in service. As a consequence a two seat fighter version of the aircraft was prepared, with the added bonus of having a rear gunner. They entered service in 1933, but the rear gunner had great difficulty in manoeuvring his gun against the slipstream. In response to this problem the last fifty aircraft were fitted with a hydraulically powered Frazer-Nash turret that included a protective shield for the operator. From 1938 the type began to be withdrawn from front line service in the R.A.F. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,938 lbs, Maximum take-off 4,386 lbs Powerplant: One 485 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel IIS inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 170 mph, Range 500 miles, Service ceiling 21,500 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns 2 x 112 lbs supply containers Hawker Hardy Dimensions: Wingspan 37 ft 3 ins, Length 29 ft 3 ins, Height 10 ft 5 ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1935 Number built: 47 The Hawker Hardy was a development of the Hawker Audax which was specifically designed for service to meet Air Ministry Specification G.23/33 for a Westland Wapiti replacement for service in Iraq and the Middle East. The prototype first flew in September 1934, with the first production aircraft entering service with No 30 Squadron in Iraq during January 1935. They were never produced in large numbers, while the last operational sortie by a Hardy was made on the 9th May 1941 in East Africa, after which they were withdrawn from operational service and briefly used as communications aircraft or training aircraft. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,938 lbs, Maximum take-off 4,386 lbs Powerplant: One 525 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel IB inline engine
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Performance: Maximum speed 113 mph, Endurance 4½ hours, Service ceiling 15,500 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload 460 lbs Airco DH.9 Dimensions: Wingspan 42 ft 4¾ ins, Length 30 ft 5 ins, Height 11 ft ½ ins Crew: 2 Entered service: 1917 Number built: 4,091 The Airco DH.9 was designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and based on the company’s earlier DH.4. The new aircraft used the same wings and tail unit, but had a redesigned fuselage to accommodate a new 230 hp B.H.P. inline engine that promised an increase in performance. The DH.9 was ordered in large numbers, but on entering service the aircraft’s performance was found to be poorer than the aircraft it was designed to replace. The DH.9 suffered heavy losses over the Western Front, but the the aircraft were transformed when the engine was replaced with an American 400 hp Liberty L-12 engine which became the DH.9a model. SPECIFICATION: Weights: Empty 2,360 lbs, Maximum take-off 3,790 lbs Powerplant: One 1 239 hp Siddeley Puma inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 117 mph, Endurance 2 hours, Service ceiling 20,000 ft Armament: 2 x 7.92 mm machine guns Bombload 100 lbs Fokker D.VII Dimensions: Wingspan 29 ft 2 ins, Length 22 ft 10 ins, Height 9 ft Crew: 1 Entered service: 1918 Number built: 3,300+ The Fokker D.VII was arguably the best scout fighter of World War One. The first D.VIIs to enter service were given to the best pilots in early 1918, and when they appeared over the Western Front in April 1918 they took the allies totally by surprise and quickly proved to be a formidable aircraft. At the time of the Armistice in November 1918 there were 775 D.VIIs in service, with total production being around 3,300 aircraft. Under the terms of the Armistice Germany was required to surrender all their D.VIIs aircraft to the Allies, with many of the type then being supplied to number countries. SPECIFICATION: Weights: Empty 1,477 lbs, Maximum take-off 1,997 lbs Powerplant: One 180 hp Mercedes D.IIIa inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 112 mph, Endurance 2 hours, Service ceiling 26,240 ft Armament: 2 x 7.92 mm LMG 08/15 Spandau machine guns Siemens Schuckert D.III Dimensions: Wingspan 27 ft 7 ins, Length 18 ft 8½ ins, Height 9 ft 2¼ ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1918 Number built: 80 The Siemens-Schuckert D.III was a development of the earlier D.II powered by a 160 hp Siemens-Halske Sh.III bi-rotary engine. Around 40 were delivered between April and May 1918, with most being supplied to Jagdgeschwader II, whose pilots were enthusiastic about the new aircraft's performance. However, after only 7-10 hours of operational flying, the engines started to develop serious problems, and in late May the aircraft were withdrawn from service and returned to the factory. After major modifications the Siemens-Schuckert D.IIIs were returned to service in July 1918 and used by home defence squadrons. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,175 lbs, Maximum take-off 1,595 lbs Powerplant: One 160 hp Siemens-Halske Sh.III bi-rotary engine Performance: Maximum speed 145 mph, Endurance 2½ hours, Service ceiling 24,000 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload none Martinsyde F.4 Buzzard Dimensions: Wingspan 32 ft 9½ ins, Length 25 ft 5½ ins, Height 8 ft 10 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1918 Number built: 370+ In 1917 George Handasyde designed a single seat fighter powered by a 275 hp Rolls-Royce Falcon engine. During trials the prototype demonstrated an impressive performance which resulted in an order for 150 aircraft from the ministry, but at the time the Falcon engine was required for the Bristol Fighter. The aircraft was redesigned to take a 300 hp Hispano-Suiza 8 engine which became the F.4 Buzzard. Over 1,400 were ordered, but by the time of the armistice only about 50 had been delivered before the order was cancelled, and despite its superior performance the F.4 Buzzard was not adopted by the post war R.A.F. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,811 lbs, Maximum take-off 2,398 lbs Powerplant: One 300 hp Hispano-Suiza 8 inline engine Performance: Maximum speed 114 mph, Range 275 miles, Service ceiling 9,000 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Bombload none Sopwith Buffalo Dimensions: Wingspan 36 ft 6 ins, Length 23 ft 3½ ins, Height 9 ft 6 ins Crew: 2 Prototype: 1918 Number built: 2 In July 1918, the British Air Ministry requested Sopwith to design an armoured two-seat aircraft to carry out dangerous contact patrol missions which involved flying at low altitude over the battlefield. Sopwith came up with the 3F.2 Buffalo which had an armoured box that reached back to the observer's cockpit, protecting the crew, fuel tanks, and major parts of the engine. Two prototypes were built which first flew in September 1918 and showed good promise, but the end of the war ended plans for any production. The two prototypes were sent to Germany as part of the occupation force, but both were damaged in crashes. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,178 lbs, Maximum take-off 3,071 lbs Powerplant: One 230 hp Bentley rotary engine Performance: Maximum speed 121 mph, Endurance 3 hours, Service ceiling 19,500 ft Armament: 2 x 7.92 mm machine guns Bombload 100 lbs Sopwith Snipe Dimensions: Wingspan 31 ft 1 ins, Length 19 ft 10 ins, Height 9 ft 6 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1918 Number built: 1,560 Even before the Camel entered widespread service in 1917 Sopwith had began to design its successor. The Snipe was basically a larger version of the Camel but without the distinctive hump which provided better visibility from the cockpit. Construction was stronger than earlier Sopwith types, and was easier to fly compared to the Camel, and although not particularly fast for 1918, it possessed a good climb rate and was highly manoeuvrable. They were first used operationally in September 1918, and remained the standard single seat fighter in the R.A.F. after World War One, the last aircraft not being retired until 1927. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 1,312 lbs, Maximum take-off 2,020 lbs Powerplant: One 230 hp Bentley rotary engine Performance: Maximum speed 178 mph, Endurance 3 hours, Service ceiling 29,300 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch Vickers machine guns Bristol Bulldog Dimensions: Wingspan 33 ft 10­­ ins, Length 25 ft 2 ins, Height 8 ft 9 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1929 Number built: 443 The Bristol Bulldog was designed as a pure interceptor fighter aircraft, with the speed and rate of climb to reach any enemy aircraft then in service. This differed from previous thinking where the scout fighters of World War One were expected to escort bombers and take part in standing patrols over the Western Front. The Bulldog entered service with the R.A.F. in 1929 and eventually equipped ten squadrons, but the rate of aircraft development in the 1930s soon made them obsolescent, and they were replaced by the Gloster Gauntlet in 1936 after they proved to be slower than the new Hawker Hart light bomber. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,205 lbs, Maximum take-off 3,490 lbs Powerplant: One 440 hp Bristol Jupiter radial engine Performance: Maximum speed 178 mph, Endurance 3 hours, Service ceiling 29,300 ft Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch Vickers machine guns Bristol Bulldog Dimensions: Wingspan 33 ft 10­­ ins, Length 25 ft 2 ins, Height 8 ft 9 ins Crew: 1 Entered service: 1929 Number built: 443 The Bristol Bulldog was designed as a pure interceptor fighter aircraft, with the speed and rate of climb to reach any enemy aircraft then in service. This differed from previous thinking where the scout fighters of World War One were expected to escort bombers and take part in standing patrols over the Western Front. The Bulldog entered service with the R.A.F. in 1929 and eventually equipped ten squadrons, but the rate of aircraft development in the 1930s soon made them obsolescent, and they were replaced by the Gloster Gauntlet in 1936 after they proved to be slower than the new Hawker Hart light bomber. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Weights: Empty 2,205 lbs, Maximum take-off 3,490 lbs Powerplant: One 440 hp Bristol Jupiter radial engine Contents Contents 4 4 3 3 2 2
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