Roden 1/32 Sopwith 1½ Strutter WWI Fighter, 1916/17 ROD635

Description

Roden 1/32 Sopwith 1½ Strutter WWI Fighter, 1916/17 ROD635

The Sopwith 1½ Strutter was a British biplane fighter aircraft that was used during World War I. It was designed and built by the Sopwith Aviation Company and entered service in 1916. The 1½ Strutter was primarily used as a fighter and reconnaissance aircraft, and was operated by the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service.

The aircraft was named “1½ Strutter” due to the unusual configuration of its struts, which formed a “V” shape. It was powered by a 110-horsepower Clerget rotary engine, which gave it a top speed of approximately 98 miles per hour.

The 1½ Strutter was armed with one or two Vickers machine guns, and could also carry up to eight 25-pound bombs for ground attack missions. The aircraft had a maximum range of approximately 300 miles, making it suitable for reconnaissance missions over enemy lines.

The Sopwith 1½ Strutter saw significant action during the later years of World War I, particularly during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917. It was widely used for reconnaissance and artillery spotting, and also proved to be an effective fighter aircraft in the hands of skilled pilots.

Overall, the Sopwith 1½ Strutter was a successful and versatile aircraft that played an important role in World War I. It was eventually replaced by more advanced aircraft such as the Sopwith Camel and the SE.5a, but it remained in service with some air forces until the early 1920s.