History
The Sopwith 1½ Strutter finds its origin from a Sopwith design from December 1914. This was a small two-seat biplane with a 80 hp Gnome rotary engine. This aircraft was known as "Sigrist Bus"
The Sigrist Bus formed the base for a new larger aircraft, the Sopwith LCT (Land Clerget Tractor) with a 110 hp LeClerget. As with the Sigrist Bus both upper wing-halves were connected to the fuselage by a couple of smaller and larger struts, which together formed a W. The nickname soon became 1½ Strutter.
The first prototype made its maiden flight in January 1916.
The pilot and the observer sat in a separated tandem.
The observer had a movable gun available and the pilot had a fixed synchronized Vickers machine-gun. Initially the type of synchronization system varied and had some teething problems.
The aircraft could carry a bomb-load of four 10 kg bombs under the wings.
Versions.
The French aircraft was the largest customer of the Sopwith 1½ Strutter. It was ordered to succeed the Farman.
The Sopwith 1½ Strutter was built in France in three versions:
- Sopwith 1.A2 1½ Strutter:
- a two seat scout;
- Sopwith 1.B2 1½ Strutter:
- a two seat bomber;
- Sopwith 1.B1 1½ Strutter:
- a single seat bomber.
Also in Russia the Sopwith 1½ Strutter was built under license by Duks and Lebedev in a quantity of 100 examples. Also large amount s were delivered to Russia by Britain and France.
In Britain about 1500 examples were built for the RFC and RNAS and in France between 4200 and 4500 examples were built.
Variants
- Sopwith Type 9400:
- official Navy designation for two seat version.
- Sopwith Type 9700:
- naval designation for single seat bomber.
- Sopwith Two-seater:
- Official RFC designation.
- Sopwith 1½ Strutter:
- unofficial name for two seat reconnaissance version and bomber.
- Sopwith Comic:
- Single seat air defence fighter for home front.
- Ship Strutter:
- carrier version.
- SOP. 1:
- French version.
- LeO 1:
- Lioré et Olivier license version.
- So-shiki Model 1:
- Japanese license of bomber version.
- So-Shiki Model 2:
- Japanese license of reconnaissance version.
| Dimensions: | |||
| Length: | 7,7 m | Wingspan: | 10,21 m |
| Height: | 3,12 m | Wing area: | 32,14 m2 |
| Weights: | |||
| Empty weight: | 570 kg | Max. start weight: | 975 kg |
| Performances: | |||
| Max. speed: | 164 km/hr | Rate of climb: | - m/min |
| Range: | 565 km | Service ceiling: | 3960 m |
| Miscellaneous: | |||
| Engine type: | One le Clerget 9B rated 130 hp | ||
| Crew: | One aviator | ||
| Armament: | One fixed forward firing .303 inch Vickers machine gun | ||
| Dimensions: | |||
| Length: | 7,7 m | Wingspan: | 10,21 m |
| Height: | 3,12 m | Wing area: | 32,14 m2 |
| Weights: | |||
| Empty weight: | 592 kg | Max. start weight: | 975 kg |
| Performances: | |||
| Max. speed: | 164 km/hr | Rate of climb: | - m/min |
| Range: | 565 km | Service ceiling: | 3960 m |
| Miscellaneous: | |||
| Engine type: | One le Clerget 9B rated 130 hp | ||
| Crew: | Two men: one aviator plus one observer/air gunner | ||
| Armament: | One or two fixed forward firing .303 inch Vickers machine gun(s); 60 kg bombs |
||
The first Sopwith 1½ Strutter, with RNAS serial 9396 "A2" landed August 25, 1916 near Schoondijke and was interned as LA33.
A second aircraft also from the RNAS, with serial 9420, made an emergency landing on September 17, 1916 near Westkapelle and was interned as LA38.
A third examples, again from the RNAS with serial 9376 was grounded near Oostburg and entered Dutch service as LA42. Noteworthy is that this was the first production Strutter.
A fourth example with RNAS serial N5154 "Firefly" landed May 12, 1917 near Cadzand. This aircraft was equipped with a radio-receiver and transmitter. It was interned as LA34 [this serial was previously used by the Fokker A1, which was withdrawn from use].
The fifth and last 1½ Strutter was a French aircraft, built by Hanriot. This aircraft with serial 115, landed on July 7, 1917 near Beringen and entered service as LA45. It was a single seat plane. It had a Swan on the fuselage and inscription "Je t'sens bien".
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
| Serial | 2nd Serial | Constr. nr. | RFC / RNAS Serial | Date in service | Date out of service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA33 | 9396 | 25-08-1916 | 02-1917 | |||
| LA34 | S-413 | N5154 | 12-05-1917 | |||
| LA38 | S-24 | 9420 | 17-09-1916 | |||
| LA41 | S-412 | 9376 | 22-04-1917 |
| Serial | 2nd Serial | Constr. nr. | French Serial | Date in service | Date out of service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA45 | S701 | - | 115 | 07-07-1917 |
1/72nd Scale
Kits
- Classic Planes
- Kit YY: Vacu formed kit of a Sopwith 1½ strutter
- Eastern Express
- Kit 72158: Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter "Single Seat Bomber"
- Flashback
- Kit KLH7962: Sopwith 1B1 1½ Strutter)
- Kit KLH7961: Sopwith 1A2 1½ Strutter)
- Merlin Models
- Kit xx: Sopwith 1½ strutter
- Toko
- Kit 140: Sopwith 1½ Strutter "Comic Fighter"
- Kit 118: Sopwith 1½ Strutter "Two Seat Fighter"
- Kit 138: Sopwith 1½ Strutter "Trainer"
- Kit 139: Sopwith 1½ Strutter "Single Seat Bomber"
A model of a Sopwith-Hanriot 1½ Strutter ,built by Peter Banis.
Modelling add-on
- Aeroclub Models
- Set E013: 9 cyl. Clerget Rotary (Diverse WW1)
- Set E081: Clerget 80PK
- Miniworlds
- Set A72-09: Double Lewis MKIII MG on scarff ring
- Set A72-08: Double Lewis MKII MG on scarff ring/li>
- Part Etchings
- Set S72-085: Conversion set Sopwith 1½ Strutter (Toko)
Decals
- Blue Rider
- Set BR212: Set for early LVA aircraft: Rumpler C.1,LA-49; Sopwith 1½ Strutter (LA-45) ; SE.5A and a Fokker D.VII LVA and D.VIIF RNlNAS
1/48th Scale
Kits
- Roden
- Kit 402: Sopwith 1½ Strutter two seat fighter
- Kit 404: Sopwith 1½ Strutter single seat bomber
- Kit 407: Sopwith 1½ Comic Fighter
- Kit 411: Sopwith 1.B1 1½ Strutter French Bomber
Modelling add-on
- Part Etchings
- Set S48-109: Ombouwset Sopwith 1½ Strutter two seat fighter (Roden)
- Set S48-110: Ombouwset Sopwith 1½ Strutter Single seat Bomber (Roden)
- Vector Resin
- Set 48012: Resin 9 cyl. Clerget Rotary (Diverse WW1)
Decals
- --
- Set --: --
| Scheme | Colour name | FS-number | BS-number | Humbrol | XtraColor | Vallejo Model Color | Vallejo Model Air | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sopwith-Hanriot 1.B1 1½ Strutter | ||||||||
| Standard #1 | Upper surfaces: Camouflage pattern | Bruin | 10 ? | |||||
| Green | 116 ? | X116 ? | 70.893 | |||||
| undersides : linen | Doped | 41 | 70.918 | |||||
| Sopwith 1½ Strutter | ||||||||
| Standard #1 | Fuselage | PC10 | 108 | X144 | ||||
| Wings: linen | Doped | 121 | 70.819 | |||||
Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.
Literature.
| Nederlandse Militaire Luchtvaart in Beeld. deel 1. | Hugo Hooftman | Pag. 26 - 27 | 1977 | Uitgever Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel |
| KLu Vliegtuigen: De vliegtuigen van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht vanaf 1913 | Wim Schoenmaker & Thijs Postma | pag. 23 | 1987 | Uitgeverij De Alk, Alkmaar |
| Vintage Warbird no 1, The Royal Flying Corps in worldwar One | Raymond Laurence Rimell | pag. 55 | 1987 | Uitgever Arms and Armour Press, Poole, Dorset |
| Aircraft Archive: Aircraft of World War One; Volume 1. | Pag. 39 - 41 | 1989 | Uitgever Argus Books, Hempsted | |
| Camouflage en Kentekens | J.Greuter e.a. | 1997 | Bonneville – Bergen (NH) | |
| Air Enthusiast no.80, The Historical Aviation Journal: Unexpected Windfalls | Bart van der klaauw | Pag. 54 - 59 | 1999 | Uitgever Key Publishing, Stamford |
Websites.
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Nederlands (nl-NL) 
English (United Kingdom)