Sopwith Special torpedo seaplane Type C

The Sopwith Special torpedo seaplane Type C was the first British aircraft designed to drop torpedoes. A single-engine biplane floatplane, it flew in July 1914 but proved unable to lift the design load and was soon abandoned.

Design and development

The

The Special's performance turned out to be very disappointing. It was first taxi tested on 6 July 1914 at Calshot but would not take off. It flew for the first time three days later, though with only the pilot aboard and with little fuel. After it became clear that it could not lift its design load, it went back to Sopwith's for wing modifications. It returned to Calshot but was found still unfit for the torpedo dropping role. In November it was modified to carry bombs, but by January it was being broken up.[1] In the meantime, a modified Short Admiralty Type 81 (S.84, RNAS serial 121) had become the first British aircraft to drop a torpedo, on 27 July 1914.^[2]

Specifications

Data from British Aircraft Before the Great War^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
• Upper wingspan: 66 ft 0 in (20.12 m)
• Lower wingspan: 58 ft 0 in (17.68 m)
• Height: 12 ft 10 in (3.91 m)
• Wing area: 785 sq ft (72.9 m²)
• Empty weight: 3,243 lb (1,471 kg)
• Gross weight: 4,324 lb (1,961 kg) with fuel for 2 hours and torpedo
• Powerplant: 1 ×
  Salmson 2M7 (Canton-Unné
  ) 14-cylinder, 2-row, water-cooled radial, 200 hp (150 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed, 9 ft (2.7 m) diameter

• Sopwith Admiralty Type C

Related lists

• List of flying boats and floatplanes

References