158 Squadron Association

"Strength in Unity"

Sopwith

Sopwith Salamander Fact Sheet

 

Sopwith Salamander

 

RAF 158 Squadron was originally formed at the tail end of World War I on 4 September 1918. The squadron was based at RAF Upper Hayford in Oxfordshire. Initially the squadron was to be supplied and equipped with Sopwith Snipe aircraft in May of 1918 however this was postponed and the Snipes were planned to be replaced by Sopwith Salamander ground attack aircraft. The Salamander was an armoured version of the Snipe. World War I ended before 158 saw any active service and the squadron was disbanded on 20 November 1918. The records are poor and it is unclear if any Salamanders were ever delivered to the squadron. Bill Chorley managed to track down one veteran of the squadron from those early days, Second Lt R.E. Walker. Chorley interviewed Walker for his book about the history of 158 "In Brave Company." Walker related that his training at the squadron had been carried out on Sopwith Pups and not on Salamanders.

   

Aircraft Specifications and Data

 

Roll: Ground Attack, single engine, single seat, biplane

Manufacturer: Sopwith Aviation Company

Crew: 1

 

Power Plant: 1x Bentley BR2 9 cylinder air cooled rotary piston engine. 230 HP

 

Dimensions

Wing Span: 31ft 2.6in

Wing Area: 272 sq ft

Length: 19ft 6in

Height: 9ft 4in

 

Weights

Empty: 1,844lbs

Max Weight Fully Loaded: 2,512lbs

 

Performance:

Service Ceiling at max weight: 13,000ft

Maximum Speed: 125 mph

Endurance: 1hr 30 min.

Time to altitude: 6,500 ft - 9 minutes, 10,000 ft - 17 minutes

 

Armament

Guns: 2 x .303 Vickers machine guns - 2000 rounds of ammunition

Bomb load: 4 x 25 lbs bombs

   

Service with RAF 158 Squadron

World War I ended and 158 squadron was disbanded before the squadorn was deployed and none of these aircraft types ever saw any action with 158 squadron.

For More information about the Sopwith Snipe and Sopwith Salamander see:

 

Websites

Wikipedia - Sopwith Salamnder

Wikipedia - Sopwith Snipe