- Author
- Issacs, Keith, AFC, ARAeS, Group Captain, RAAF (Retd)
- Subjects
- Naval Aviation
- Tags
- None noted.
- RAN Ships
- HMAS Sydney I
- Publication
- June 1974 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Sopwith Triplane
Although it was produced only in small numbers – about 140 were built – the Sopwith Triplane was one of the most successful aircraft of the 1914-18 War. The unorthodox arrangement of three staggered mainplanes not only led to the nickname of ‘Tripehound’ or ‘Tripe’, but bestowed on the aircraft some excellent flying characteristics. In spite of its medium-powered Clerget rotary engine of 110 horsepower, the aircraft could outclimb its contemporaries and had a remarkable rate of roll. Later modifications introduced the 130 horsepower Clerget, and a smaller type tailplane, which improved the aircraft’s diving capability. The Germans were very impressed, and surprised, when they tested a Triplane which had been captured intact. Partly as a result of these tests several different types of German and Austrian triplanes were produced, including the famous Fokker Dr 1.
When the Sopwith Triplane was first wheeled out, with its simple interwing bracing, there was some speculation that the design might be structurally weak. But Sopwith’s chief test pilot Harry Hawker had no such doubts and he confidently looped the prototype, N.500, within minutes of taking off on the first test flight in May 1916. Fellow Australian Harry Busteed, as a squadron commander in the Royal Naval Air Service, also took part in the testing of the Triplane; on 22nd September he flew the 130 horsepower second prototype, N.504, at 116 miles per hour over Hendon. The Triplanes served with the Royal Naval Air Service from about February 1917 until they were replaced by the Sopwith Camel later in the year.
Although their combat service was brief the ‘Tripes’ established a remarkable war record. One particular element of Triplanes – B Flight of No. 10 (Naval) Squadron – accounted for 87 German aircraft between May and July 1917. Known as Black Flight of ‘Naval Ten’ the machines were flown by five Canadians – Collishaw, Reid, Sharman, Nash and Alexander – and their Triplanes were named Black Maria, Black Roger, Black Death, Black Sheep and Black Prince. One Sopwith Triplane, N.5912, has been preserved and is on display in the RAF Museum, Henlow; another is in Russia.
On the list of British aces of the 1914-18 War two Australians – Little and Dallas – occupy the eighth and sixteenth positions, and both men achieved many of their victories with the Sopwith Triplane. The first, Australia’s own top scoring fighter pilot, was Robert Alexander Little, born on 19th July 1895 at Hawthorn, Victoria. Little went to England in 1915 to learn to fly at his own expense because the Central Flying School at Point Cook was accepting applications only from serving army officers. He obtained his pilot’s certificate on 27th October 1915 and entered the Royal Naval Air Service as a Flight Sub-Lieutenant in January 1916. After a period of training at Eastchurch and service at Dunkirk on bombing raids he was transferred to No. 8 (Naval) Squadron in October 1916 for scout pilot duties on the Western Front. The squadron was equipped with Sopwith Pups and Little joined B Flight, which was commanded by another Australian, Flight Commander S. J. Goble. On 11th November Little, flying a Pup, shot down his first enemy aircraft, an Aviatik Cl over Beaumont-Hamel. When the squadron re-equipped with Sopwith Triplanes in February-March 1917, Little’s score stood at nine.
In retrospect it would almost seem that Little, who acquired the nickname ‘Ricki’ (after ‘Riki, Tiki, Tavi’), and the ‘Tripe’ were made for each other. His keen judgment, quick thinking, expert marksmanship and indomitable courage were admirably complemented by the Triplane’s manoeuvrability and speed. Little preferred ‘in-fighting’ and would fire only at pointblank range. Once he flew so close to an Albatros biplane that he collided with the enemy’s tailplane, and had to land with a cracked undercarriage. On another occasion, after his guns had jammed, Little purposely ran his wheels over the top wing of a DFW two-seater in an attempt to force it down.
‘Naval Eight’, as the squadron was known, was in the thick of the fighting and was opposed by the German Jagdstaffel 11 commanded by Manfred von Richthofen. But Little was not one to be deterred by reputations. On 7th April 1917 he engaged, single-handed, 11 Albatros scouts which he outflew and outfought for almost 30 minutes. Watchers on the ground, including von Richthofen himself, later testified to the superb tactics of Little and his control of the situation. An enemy aircraft to Little was something that should not be in the sky, and scouts and two-seaters of many makes – Halberstadts, DFWs, Aviatiks, LVGs, Fokkers and Albatros aircraft – all fell to his guns. In most cases the impact of his close-in firing caused wings, tails, and even fuselages to break up in the air. The book Fighting Triplanes by Evan Sadingham, contained several vivid descriptions and eyewitness accounts of Little’s extraordinary ability as a fighter pilot, including an interesting study of Little written by Sir Geoffrey Bromet. Typical phrases from the book highlight the Australian’s technique: ‘Little’s tactics were unorthodox and startling in their audacity . . . on 10th May Little again found himself outnumbered when he engaged five Albatros scouts . . . meanwhile, Little was at it again this time attacking three two-seaters . . . during July Little was in good form; he was awarded the DSO immediately followed by a bar to it!’