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| The Sopwith Pup quickly became a favorite with pilots of the Royal Naval Air Service. It was superior to the Fokker D.III and more than a match for any of the new Halberstadt and Albatros scouts. Armed with a single synchronous machine gun, it was lighter and less dangerous than it's successor, the Sopwith Camel. Although underpowered, pilots liked the plane because it was maneuverable and fast. It could climb and hold its altitude better than any other fighter. In August 1917, the Sopwith Pup was the first aircraft to land aboard a moving ship, the Royal Navy's H.M.S. Furious. |
| | "We saw at once that the enemy airplane was superior to ours." Manfred von Richthofen, after encountering the Sopwith Pup in combat
"When it came to maneuvering, the Sopwith [Pup] would turn twice to an Albatros' once." James McCudden |
| | Country: | Great Britain | Manufacturer: | Sopwith Aviation Company | Type: | Fighter | First Introduced: | October 1916 | Number Built: | 1,770 | Engine(s): | Le Rhône 9C, 9 cylinder, air cooled rotary, 80 hp Gnome Monosoupape, air cooled rotary, 100 hp | Wing Span: | 26 ft 6 in [8 m] | Length: | 19 ft 3¾ in [5.86 m] | Height: | 9 ft 5 in | Empty Weight: | 856 lb | Gross Weight: | 1225 lb [555 kg] | Max Speed: | 106 mph [161 kmh] | Ceiling: | 18,500 ft [563 m] | Endurance: | 3 hours | Crew: | 1 | Armament: | 1 Vickers .303 machine gun |
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