Sopwith Triplane - Definition and Overview

The Sopwith Triplane was a single seater triplane fighter aircraft used by the British in World War I. It was manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company and was nicknamed the Tripe or the Tripehound.

Introduced in November 1916 the Sopwith Triplane was flown by the Royal Naval Air Service. 152 of them were built. The planes were more agile and faster climbers than early biplanes but they were slower and less well armed than the German aircraft of the time. Most of the triplanes were armed with a single fixed Vickers machine gun that fired, using an interrupter gear, through the propeller. Six of the planes however were fitted with twin Vickers.

After less than a year, the triplanes were withdrawn from service and replaced by Sopwith Camels.