Sopwith Cuckoo

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Sopwith Cuckoo
Type Torpedo Bomber
Manufacturer Sopwith
Retired 1923
Primary user RAF
Produced 1917 - 1919
Number built 233

The Sopwith T.1 Cuckoo was a bi-plane torpedo bomber used by the British Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), and its successor organisation, the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Cuckoo was built by the Sopwith Aviation Company, better known for making the Sopwith Camel and Sopwith Pup. Though the Cuckoo would also prove to be a good design, it had only a relatively brief career.

Contents

[edit] Development

The Cuckoo was developed to meet an RNAS requirement for a torpedo carrying landplane capable of carrying an 18 in torpedo which could be launched from an aircraft carrier. It first flew in June 1917, powered by a 200 hp Hispano Suiza engine. As the Hispano Suiza engines were unavailable, the heavier Sunbeam Arab was selected for production orders. A number of Cuckoos were fitted with Wolsey Viper engines as an alterative to the troublesome Arabs. A total of 350 were ordered, but initial production was slow and the end of World War resulted in a number of cancellations, with a total of 232 being completed (the majority by Blackburn by the time production finished in 1919.

[edit] Operational History

The first Cuckoos were delivered in September 1918. Elaborate plans were made by Admiral Sir David Beatty, the commander of the Grand Fleet, to attack the German High Seas Fleet at harbour using the Cuckoos which would have flown off the new carrier HMS Argus. These plans were one of the main reasons for the large orders placed for the Cuckoo. These plans were rejected , however, although a similar operation, launched by Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham's Mediterranean Fleet would take place in 1940, against the Italian Fleet at Taranto, which would prove successful. The war was on the point of ending when the Cuckoo entered squadron service with No. 185 Squadron RAF and the squadron did not undertake any operations before the Armistice.

The Cuckoo was the first land plane designed to operate off warships for use as a torpedo-bomber, its wings being foldable. The Cuckoo proved generally popular with its pilots, but continued in service until 1 April 1923, but by 1 April 1923, the Cuckoo's career was over when the last squadron to use her, No. 210 Squadron RAF, was disbanded. It was replaced in service by the two seat Blackburn Dart.

[edit] Variants

  • Cuckoo I : Single-seat torpedo bomber aircraft. Powered by a 200-hp (149-kW) Sunbeam Arab piston engine.
  • Cuckoo II : Single-seat torpedo bomber aircraft. Powered by a 200-hp (149-kW) Wolseley Viper piston engine.
  • Sopwith B.1 : Single-seat bomber aircraft. Powered by a 200-hp (149-kW) Hispano-Suiza piston engine. Two prototypes built.

[edit] Squadrons that operated the Cuckoo

  • No. 185 Squadron RAF - Used Cuckoo from October 1918 but was disbanded the following year.
  • No. 186 Squadron RAF - Used Cuckoo from late 1918. Was renamed 210 Squadron in 1920.
  • No. 210 Squadron RAF - Formed in 1920 from 186 Squadron, and continued to use the Cuckoo until 1 April 1923 when it disbanded.

[edit] Operators

[edit] Specifications (Sunbeam Arab powered)

Data from {The British Bomber}[1].

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 28ft 6in (m)
  • Wingspan: 46ft 9in (m)
  • Height: 10ft 8in (m)
  • Wing area: 566ft² (m²)
  • Empty weight: 2199lb (kg)
  • Loaded weight: 3883lb (kg)
  • Useful load: lb (kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)
  • Powerplant: 1× Sunbeam Arab , 200hp (kW)

Performance

Armament

    1 18 in torpedo

    [edit] References

    1. ^ Mason, Francis K (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0 85177 861 5. 
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