by Griff Hosker
Max. take-off weight: 2,150 lb (977 kg)
Power plant: 1 × Clerget 9B rotary engine, 130 hp (97 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 100 mph (87 knots, 161 km/h) at 6,500 ft. (1,980 m)
Endurance: 3¾ hours
Service ceiling: 15,500 ft. (4,730 m)
Climb to 6,500 ft. (1,980 m): 9 min 10 s
Armament
Guns:
1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) forward-firing synchronised Vickers machine gun
1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun in observer's cockpit
Up to 130 lb of bombs
As you can see the two aeroplanes are very similar. The Camel was created as a result of experiences with the Pup and the Strutter. The two aeroplanes even have the same power plant but the performance of the Camel was superior. It was lighter, faster, smaller, had a higher ceiling and a better rate of climb. With the twin Vickers machine guns it was a better aeroplane for dogfights. The Strutter could carry more bombs and was therefore a better multi role aeroplane. The RNAS used the Strutter more extensively than had the RFC. The Sopwith Camel was considered by the pilots as the best all round aeroplane of the Great War. There were others which were faster but it was the culmination of all the lessons learned in the early days of aerial combat.
De Havilland DH 9
Crew: two
Length: 30 ft. 5 in (9.27 m)
Wingspan: 42 ft. 4⅝ in (12.92 m)
Height: 11 ft. 3½ in (3.44 m)
Wing area: 434 ft² (40.3 m²)
Empty weight: 2,360 lb (1,014 kg)
Max. take-off weight: 3,790 lb (1,723 kg)
Power plant: 1 × Armstrong Siddeley Puma piston engine, 230 hp (172 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 98 kn (113 mph, 182 km/h)
Endurance: 4½ hours
Service ceiling: 15,500 ft. (4,730 m)
Climb to 10,000 ft.: 18 min 30 sec
Armament
Guns: Forward firing Vickers machine gun and 1 or 2 × Rear Lewis guns on scarff ring
Bombs: Up to 460 lb (209 kg) bombs
Source: File: DH.9 F1258 LeB 05.07R.jpg - https://en.wikipedia.org
Sopwith Dolphin
Source: File: Sopdol2.jpg - https://en.wikipedia.org
Crew: 1
Length: 6.78 m (22 ft. 3 in)
Wingspan: 9.91 m (32 ft. 6 in)
Height: 2.59 m (8 ft. 6 in)
Wing area: 24.4 m² (263 ft²)
Empty weight: 641 kg (1,410 lb)
Max. take-off weight: 890 kg (1,959 lb)
Power plant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8B, 149 kW (200 hp)
Performance
Maximum speed: 211 km/h (131 mph) at sea level
Range: 315 km (195 mi)
Service ceiling: 6,100 m (20,000 ft.)
Rate of climb: 12 min 5 sec to 3,048 m (10,000 ft.)
Wing loading: 36.5 kg/m² (7.45 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 0.232 kW/kg (0.102 hp/lb)
Armament
2× 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns; up to 2× 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns
Up to four 25 lb bombs.
Sopwith Snipe
Source: File: Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe.jpg - https://en.wikipedia.org
Crew: one
Length: 19 ft. 10 in (6.05 m)
Wingspan: 31 ft. 1 in (9.48 m)
Height: 9 ft. 6 in (2.90 m)
Wing area: 271 ft² (25.2 m²)
Empty weight: 1,312 lb (596 kg)
Loaded weight: 2,020 lb (918 kg)
Power plant: 1 × Bentley BR2 rotary engine, 230 hp (172 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 121 mph (105 knots, 195 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
Service ceiling: 19,500 ft. (5,945 m)
Endurance: 3 hours
Climb to 6,600 ft. (1,980 m): 5 min 10 sec
Climb to 15,000 ft. (4,570 m): 18 min 50 sec
Armament
Guns: 2× 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns
Bombs: 4× 25 lb (11 kg) bombs
Vickers Vernon
Crew: three
Capacity: 11 passengers
Length: 42 ft. 8 in (13.01 m)
Wingspan: 68 ft. 1 in (20.76 m)
Height: 13 ft. 3 in (4.04 m)
Wing area: 1,330 ft² (124 m²)
Empty weight: 7,981 lb (3,628 kg)
Loaded weight: 12,554 lb (5,706 kg)
Power plant: 2 × Napier Lion, 450 hp (336 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 87 kn (100 mph, 161 km/h)
Cruise speed: 65 knots (75 mph, 121 km/h)
Range: 278 nautical miles (320 mi, 515 km)
Service ceiling: 11,700 ft. (3,600 m)
Wing loading: 9.44 lb/ft² (46.0 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.0717 hp/lb (0.118 kW/kg)
Source: File: Vickers Vernon on ground.jpg - https://en.wikipedia.org
(I have introduced this aeroplane a few months before it actually entered service.)
Albatros D V
Crew: 1
Length: 7.33 m (24 ft. 1 in)
Wingspan: 9.05 m (29 ft. 8 in)
Height: 2.7 m (8 ft. 10 in)
Wing area: 21.2 m2 (228 sq. ft.)
Empty weight: 687 kg (1,515 lb)
Gross weight: 937 kg (2,066 lb)
Power plant: 1 × Mercedes D.III aü piston engine, 150 kW (200 hp)
Propellers: 2-bladed wooden propeller
Performance
Maximum speed: 186 km/h (116 mph)
Endurance: 350 km
Service ceiling: 5,700 m (18,700 ft.)
Rate of climb: 4.17 m/s (821 ft./min)
Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,281 ft.) in 4 minutes
Armament
Guns: 2 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) LMG 08/15 machine guns
Fokker D I (Triplane)
1 crew
23 feet 8 inches wingspan
9 feet 8inches high
Oberursel 110hpEngine
Maximum speed 115 mph
Ceiling 20015 feet
2 x 7.92 Spandau mg
Fokker D.1
1 crew
29 feet wingspan
7 feet 5inches high
Mercedes D 111 160 hp Engine
Maximum speed 93 mph
Ceiling 11000 feet
1 7.92 Spandau mg
Fokker D V
Crew: one
Length: 6.05 m (19 ft. 10 in)
Wingspan: 8.75 m (28 ft. 9 in)
Height: 2.30 m (7 ft. 6 in)
Wing area: 15.5 m2 (167 ft2)
Empty weight: 363 kg (800 lb)
Gross weight: 566 kg (1,248 lb)
Power plant: 1 × Oberursel U.I rotary, 82 kW (110 hp)
Performance
Maximum speed: 170 km/h (106 mph)
Range: 240 km (149 miles)
Service ceiling: 3,900 m (12,795 ft.)
Rate of climb: 2.6 m/s (520 ft./min)
Armament
1 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) LMG 08/15 machine gun
Albatros D.1
1 crew
27 feet 10 inches wingspan
9feet 8 inches high
Mercedes D 111 160 hp Engine
Maximum speed 109 mph
Ceiling 17000 feet
1 x 7.92 Spandau mg
Albatros D.11
1 crew
27 feet 10 inches wingspan
8 feet 8 inches high
Mercedes D 111 160 hp Engine
Maximum speed 109.4 mph
Ceiling 17000 feet
2 x 7.92 Spandau mg
Albatros D.111
1 crew
27 feet 6 inches wingspan
9feet 6 inches high
Mercedes D 111 160 hp Engine
Maximum speed 102 mph
Ceiling 18000 feet
1 x 7.92 Spandau mg
Fokker D.11
1 crew
28 feet 8 inches wingspan
8feet 4 inches high
Oberursel 100 hp Engine
Maximum speed 93 mph
&nbs
p; Ceiling 14700 feet
1 x 7.92 Spandau mg
Halberstadt D111
1 Crew
28 feet 10 inches wingspan
8 feet 8 inches high
Argus As.11 inline 120hp engine
Maximum speed 99.4 mph
Ceiling 14764 feet
1 7.92 Spandau mg
Fokker E.I
Crew: one, pilot
Length: 7.22 m (23 ft. 7 in)
Wingspan: 8.85 m (29 ft. 0 in)
Height: 2.9 m (9 ft. 5½ in)
Wing area: 15.9 m² (172.2 ft²)
Empty weight: 360 kg (789 lb)
Loaded weight: 563 kg (1,241 lb)
Power plant: 1 × Oberursel U.0 7-cylinder air-cooled rotary engine (clone of Gnome Lambda engine) using various makes of 2-blade propellers, from 2.3 to 2.5 meters (7.55 to 8.20 ft.) diameter, 80 hp (60 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 130 km/h (81 mph)
Range: 198 km at 110 km/h (123 mi at 68 mph)
Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,840 ft.)
Rate of climb: 20 min to 2,000 m (6,560 ft.)
Armament
1 × forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) Spandau l MG 08 machine gun (one Parabellum MG14 M/G on prototypes)
The Rolls Royce Armoured Car
Source: File: The Big Fella and The Fighting 2nd (6340864262).jpg - https://en.wikipedia.org
H.M.S Vindictive 1918
Source: File: HMS Vindictive carrier.jpg - https://en.wikipedia.org
Siddeley D- Easy 1912 Courtesy of Wikipedia (Captain Connor’s car)
Webley Service Revolver .455 calibre
Source: File: Webley IMG 6789.jpg - https://en.wikipedia.org
Coastal Motor Boats
In 1910, Thornycroft had designed and built a 25 ft (7.6 m) speedboat called Miranda IV. She was a single-step hydroplane powered by a 120 hp (89 kW) Thornycroft petrol engine and could reach 35 knots (65 km/h).
A 40 ft (12 m) boat based on Miranda IV was accepted by the Admiralty for trials. A number of these boats were built and had a distinguished service history, but in hindsight they were considered to be too small to be ideal, particularly in how their payload was limited to a single 18-inch torpedo.
Several companies were approached, but only Thornycroft considered it possible to meet such a requirement. In January 1916, twelve boats were ordered, all of which were completed by August 1916. Further boats were built, to a total of 39.
The restriction on weight meant the torpedo could not be fired from a torpedo tube, but instead was carried in a rear-facing trough. On firing it was pushed backwards by a cordite firing pistol and a long steel ram, entering the water tail-first. A trip-wire between the torpedo and the ram head would start the torpedo motors once pulled taut during release. The CMB would then turn hard over and get out of its path. There is no record of a CMB ever being hit by its own torpedo, but in one instance the firing pistol was triggered prematurely and the crew had a tense 20 minutes close to the enemy whilst reloading it."
Source: Coastal Motor Boat - https://en.wikipedia.org
Marskin ryyppy (lit. The Marshal's drink/shot; Swedish: Marskens snaps) is a strong alcoholic drink of Finnish origin, served as a schnapps. The drink is named after Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, the Marshal of Finland.
Source: Marskin ryyppy - https://en.wikipedia.org
Churchill’s use of the Royal Air Force in the Middle East and India
Taken from Pictorial History of the RAF Volume One 1918-1939- John W.R Taylor
“(Winston Churchill) approved the plan for basing seven squadrons in Egypt by I920-21, to be followed by a training wing and schools of air pilotage and gunnery by I922-23. Eight squadrons were to be based in India and three in Mesopotamia (now Iraq), with seaplane flights at Malta and Alexandria and afloat in a carrier in the Mediterranean. Thus, of the total of 33 Royal Air Force squadrons, including eight in process of formation, in March I920, more than half were in the Middle East. At home there were twelve squadrons: five with the Inland Area (including three in process of formation) and five with the Coastal Area (including two in process of formation). Two others were in Ireland and one on the Rhine. No increase was contemplated, the main emphasis being on building the squadrons to peak strength and efficiency, as specified in Trenchard's 'White Paper'”
Captain Henry Winslow Woollett from Southwold, Suffolk, was a medical student when war broke out. He at once joined the Lincolnshire Regiment, taking part in the Suvla Bay landings in the Dardanelles in 1915. He transferred to the RFC in 1916, joining No 24 Squadron in France in November. He claimed one victory in a D.H.2 during April 1917, and then four more in D.H.5 A9165 during the summer, becoming a flight commander and receiving an MC. He then returned to England as an instructor until March 1918, when he joined No 43 Squadron. During the next five months he claimed 30 more victories, 11 of them balloons - the second highest total of these opponents in the British service. He was awarded a DSO, a Bar to his MC, a Croix de Guerre and the Legion d'Honneur. (Taken from Christopher Shores’ book.)
The use of Vernons as bombers
‘Harris, typically, was not enamoured of the passive role of the Vernon, so he had bomb-racks fitted and cut a hole in the nose of each aircraft, into which a bomb-sight was installed, complete with a remarkable 'Heath-Robinson' bomb-release gear. Their efficiency was recalled by Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Embry in his auto- biography (Mission Completed, Methuen). Although serving as second pilot to Saundby, he related: 'When we carried out both training and active bombing, he always used the bombsight and released the bombs while I flew the aeroplane. We worked well together as a team, our average bombing error from 3,000 feet being only ten and a half yards . . . which enabled us to hit the smallest target with all our bombs when we carried out active operations.'
Taken from Pictorial History of the RAF Volume One 1918-1939- John W.R Taylor
Somaliland Campaign
The subjugation of Somaliland took place almost exactly as I described. ‘Black Hawk Down’ occurred almost a century later but things had not changed much in the intervening years. I find it incredible to think that they had to build an airfield and fly to the absolute limit of their fuel and yet they managed to end the rebellion in four weeks! Group Captain Robert Gordon, and his Chief of Staff, Wing Commander Frederick Bowhill were the actual officers. I have replaced them with my own characters.
By the January 1920, the following British forces were assembled for the ending of hostilities against the Mullah and his dervishes.
Z Force ('Z Unit' in some sources) provided by the RAF from their forces in Egypt. The force consisted of:
12 Airco DH.9a aircraft. used for bombing. One was converted into an air ambulance. A vehicle fleet made up of ten Ford trucks, two Ford ambulances, six trailers, two motorcycles and two Crossley light trucks.36 officers and 183 men.
The Somaliland Camel Corps which was permanently based in the field as the local gendarmerie regiment. One battalion of the King's African Rifles.
In the actual campaign the DH 9s were loaded at Malta and taken by the Ark Royal through the Suez Canal to Berbera. I have changed the events to suit my story.
The Mullah escaped Taleh but he spent the rest of his life hiding from the Camel Corps in the Ogaden. Z Force did just what they were ordered to.
The Mullah’s forts
Taleh
Ark Royal (Seaplane Tender)
Converted DH 9a (Air ambulance)
Eric Hobson was a real pilot who flew the DH 9a in Somaliland. It was he and his gunner who found the forts. He may even be one of the men in the photograph above. He was decorated for his action. He was involved in an air accident over Hendon in 1933 in which a friend died. He was based in Palestine at Ramelah in 1938 and when Arabs broke into the aerodrome he led the defence against them. For his actions, he was awarded the D.S.O. Some months later he shot himself. No explanation was given for he left no note. I have tried to get into the character who appeared to be a gifted
flier yet a troubled man.
I am not sure if I will write more about Bill. There are stories in my head. We will see.
Griff April 2017
I used the following books to verify information:
World War 1- Peter Simkins
The Times Atlas of World History
The British Army in World War 1 (1)- Mike Chappell
The British Army in World War 1 (2)- Mike Chappell
The British Army 1914-18- Fosten and Marrion
British Air Forces 1914-1918- Cormack
British and Empire Aces of World War 1- Christopher Shores
A History of Aerial Warfare- John Taylor
First World War- Martin Gilbert
Aircraft of World War 1- Herris and Pearson
Military History Monthly Issue 79
Pictorial History of the RAF Vol 1 1918-1939- John W. R. Taylor
I used Wikipedia for the photographs.
Other books
by
Griff Hosker
If you enjoyed reading this book, then why not read another one by the author?
Ancient History
The Sword of Cartimandua Series (Germania and Britannia 50A.D. – 128 A.D.)
Ulpius Felix- Roman Warrior (prequel)
Book 1 The Sword of Cartimandua
Book 2 The Horse Warriors
Book 3 Invasion Caledonia
Book 4 Roman Retreat
Book 5 Revolt of the Red Witch
Book 6 Druid’s Gold
Book 7 Trajan’s Hunters
Book 8 The Last Frontier
Book 9 Hero of Rome
Book 10 Roman Hawk
Book 11 Roman Treachery
Book 12 Roman Wall
The Aelfraed Series (Britain and Byzantium 1050 A.D. - 1085 A.D.
