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weight and performance calculations for the Sopwith 2F.1 Ship's Camel
Sopwith 2F.1 Ship's Camel
role : shipboard fighter
importance : ***
first flight : operational : February 1918
country : United-Kingdom
design :
production : 340 aircraft
general information :
The fuselage of the 2F.1 was in 2 parts, rear piece could easily be detached to store the
plane on board of a ship. The main goal was to intercept Zeppelin's. On 11 Augustus
1918 Lt. Stuart Douglas Culley managed to shoot down Zeppelin L.53. He took off in
his 2F.1 Ship’s Camel s/n N6812 from a lighter towed by destroyer.
Also Ship’s Camels raided the Zep’s in their sheds. 19 July 1918 seven 2F.1’s took of
from HMS Furious each carrying two 50 lb bombs and flew to Tondern. Two Zeppelins,
L54 and L60 were destroyed in this raid.
Also the 2F.1 flew from the HMS Argus, HMS Manxman, HMS Pegasus and HMS
users : RNAS
crew : 1
armament : 1 synchronized 7.70 [mm] (0.303 in) Vickers machine-gun
and 1 fixed 7.70 [mm] (0.303 in) Lewis machine-gun on top plane
engine : 1 Bentley B.R.1 air-cooled 9 -cylinder two-valve rotary engine 150 [hp](110.3 KW)
dimensions :
wingspan : 8.21 [m], length : 5.72 [m], height : 2.77[m]
wing area : 20.5 [m^2]
weights :
max.take-off weight : 693 [kg]
empty weight operational : 470 [kg] bombload : 45 [kg]
performance :
maximum speed : 199 [km/u] op 1981 [m]
climbing speed : 265 [m/min]
service ceiling : 5273 [m]
endurance : 2.5 [hours]
estimated action radius : 224 [km]
description :
1-bay biplane with fixed landing gear and tail strut
two spar upper and lower wing
engines, landing gear, fuel and bombs in or attached to the fuselage
airscrew :
fixed pitch 2 -bladed tractor airscrew with max. efficiency :0.67 [ ]
estimated diameter airscrew 2.17 [m]
angle of attack prop : 27.43 [ ]
coarse pitch
reduction : 1.00 [ ]
airscrew revs : 1250 [r.p.m.]
pitch at Max speed 2.65 [m]
blade-tip speed at Vmax and max revs. : 152 [m/s]
calculation : *1* (dimensions)
mean wing chord : 1.25 [m]
calculated wing chord (rounded tips): 1.42 [m]
wing aspect ratio : 6.58 []
estimated gap : 1.23 [m]
gap/chord : 0.99 [ ]
seize (span*length*height) : 130 [m^3]
calculation : *2* (fuel consumption)
oil consumption : 6.2 [kg/hr]
fuel consumption(cruise speed) : 28.5 [kg/hr] (38.8 [litre/hr]) at 59 [%] power
distance flown for 1 kg fuel : 6.29 [km/kg]
estimated total fuel capacity : 110 [litre] (81 [kg])
2F.1’s ready on deck of the HMS Furious for take off to attack the Zeppelin sheds in Tondern.
calculation : *3* (weight)
weight engine(s) dry : 182.0 [kg] = 1.65 [kg/KW]
weight 23 litre oil tank : 2.9 [kg]
oil tank filled with 0.8 litre oil : 0.7 [kg]
oil in engine 1 litre oil : 0.6 [kg]
fuel in engine 1 litre fuel : 0.6 [kg]
weight 17 litre gravity patrol tank(s) : 1.6 [kg]
weight cowling 4.4 [kg]
weight airscrew(s) (wood) incl. boss & bolts : 19.0 [kg]
total weight propulsion system : 209 [kg](30.1 [%])
***************************************************************
fuselage skeleton (wood gauge : 5.03 [cm]): 37 [kg]
bracing : 1.5 [kg]
fuselage covering ( 6.2 [m2] doped linen fabric) : 2.0 [kg]
weight controls + indicators: 5.2 [kg]
weight seats : 3.0 [kg]
weight other details, lighting set, etc. : 5.1 [kg]
weight bomb storage : 3.2 [kg]
weight 94 [litre] main fuel tank empty : 9.0 [kg]
weight engine mounts & firewalls : 6 [kg]
total weight fuselage : 71 [kg](10.3 [%])
***************************************************************
weight wing covering (doped linen fabric) : 13 [kg]
total weight ribs (45 ribs) : 41 [kg]
load on front upper spar (clmax) per running metre : 610.8 [N]
load on rear upper spar (vmax) per running metre : 244.4 [N]
total weight 8 spars : 24 [kg]
weight wings : 78 [kg]
weight wing/square meter : 3.80 [kg]
weight 4 interplane struts & cabane : 5.1 [kg]
weight cables (40 [m]) : 1.5 [kg] (= 37 [gram] per metre)
diameter cable : 2.5 [mm]
weight fin & rudder (0.8 [m2]) : 3.1 [kg]
weight stabilizer & elevator (2.3 [m2]): 8.9 [kg]
total weight wing surfaces & bracing : 97 [kg] (13.9 [%])
*******************************************************************
weight machine-gun(s) : 28.6 [kg]
Admiralty Top Plane mounting :2.0 [kg]
weight ammunition magazine(s) :1.8 [kg]
weight C.C.(Constantinesco-Colley)hydraulic synchronization gear : 1.0 [kg]
weight Aldis gunsight : 0.8 [kg]
weight armament : 34 [kg]
********************************************************************
wheel pressure : 346.5 [kg]
weight 2 wheels (720 [mm] by 80 [mm]) : 16.0 [kg]
weight tailskid : 2.7 [kg]
weight undercarriage with axle 24.2 [kg]
total weight landing gear : 43.0 [kg] (6.2 [%]
*******************************************************************
The 2F.1 had external elevator control cables
********************************************************************
calculated empty weight : 454 [kg](65.5 [%])
weight oil for 3.0 hours flying : 18.5 [kg]
weight 5 drums empty : 1.0 [kg]
weight ammunition (635 rounds) : 18.5 [kg]
weight Very pistol with cartridges : 3.6 [kg]
weight automatic pistol with spare magazines : 1.2 [kg]
*******************************************************************
calculated operational weight empty : 496 [kg] (71.5 [%])
published operational weight empty : 470 [kg] (67.8 [%])
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"
weight crew : 81 [kg]
weight fuel for 2.0 hours flying : 57 [kg]
********************************************************************
operational weight : 634 [kg](91.4 [%])
bomb load : 45 [kg]
operational weight bombing mission : 679 [kg]
fuel reserve : 14 [kg] enough for 0.50 [hours] flying
operational weight fully loaded : 693 [kg] with fuel tank filled for 88 [%]
published maximum take-off weight : 693 [kg] (100.0 [%])
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calculation : * 4 * (engine power)
power loading (operational without bombload) : 5.74 [kg/kW]
total power : 110.3 [kW] at 1250 [r.p.m]
The armament differed from the normal Camel. A synchronized Vickers had been replaced by a Lewis on the upper wing, making it easier to attack Zeppelin's from below.
calculation : *5* (loads)
manoeuvre load : 4.1 [g] at 1000 [m]
limit load : 3.75 [g] ultimate load : 5.6 [g] load factor : 1.9 [g]
design flight time : 2.00 [hours]
design cycles : 300 sorties, design hours : 600 [hours]
operational wing loading : 303 [N/m^2]
wing stress (3 g) during operation : 239 [N/kg] at 3g emergency manoeuvre
calculation : *6* (angles of attack)
angle of attack zero lift : -1.48 ["]
max. angle of attack (stalling angle) : 12.56 ["]
angle of attack at max. speed : 0.94 ["]
calculation : *7* (lift & drag ratios
lift coefficient at angle of attack 0° :0.12 [ ]
lift coefficient at max. angle of attack : 1.14 [ ]
lift coefficient at max. speed : 0.20 [ ]
induced drag coefficient at max. speed : 0.0033 [ ]
Construction that allowed the Lewis gun to be raised. Clearly the 47 round magazine drum can be seen
drag coefficient at max. speed : 0.0311 [ ]
drag coefficient (zero lift) : 0.0278 [ ]
calculation : *8* (speeds
stalling speed at sea-level (OW): 75 [km/u]
landing speed at sea-level (OW without bombload): 90 [km/hr]
min. drag speed (max endurance) : 121 [km/hr] at 2636 [m](power :32 [%])
min. power speed (max range) : 127 [km/hr] at 2636 [m] (power:33 [%])
max. rate of climb speed : 122.8 [km/hr] at sea-level
cruising speed : 179 [km/hr] op 2636 [m] (power:54 [%])
design speed prop : 189 [km/hr]
maximum speed : 199 [km/hr] op 1981 [m] (power:73 [%])
climbing speed at sea-level (without bombload) : 419 [m/min]
calculation : *9* (regarding various performances)
take-off distance at sea-level : 164 [m]
lift/drag ratio : 10.23 [ ]
max. practical ceiling : 5725 [m] with flying weight :568 [kg]
practical ceiling (operational weight) : 5275 [m] with flying weight :634 [kg] line 3385
practical ceiling fully loaded (mtow- 1 hour fuel) : 5075 [m] with flying weight :665 [kg]
published ceiling (5273 [m]
climb to 1500m (without bombload) : 4.00 [min]
climb to 3000m (without bombload) : 9.88 [min]
max. dive speed : 489.7 [km/hr] at 4075 [m] height
load factor at max. angle turn 2.37 ["g"]
turn radius at 500m: 51 [m]
time needed for 360* turn 9.8 [seconds] at 500m
calculation *10* (action radius & endurance)
operational endurance : 2.50 [hours] with 1 crew and 45 [kg] useful (bomb)load and 88.2 [%] fuel
published endurance : 2.50 [hours] with 1 crew and possible useful (bomb) load : 45 [kg] and 88.1 [%] fuel
action radius : 303 [km] with 1 crew and 20[kg] photo camera or bombload
max range theoretically with additional fuel tanks for total 190 [litre] fuel : 878 [km]
useful load with action-radius 250km : 60 [kg]
production : 10.75 [tonkm/hour]
oil and fuel consumption per tonkm : 3.22 [kg]
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2F.1 with single synchronized Vickers gun
Test with 2F.1 Ship’s Camel launched from an airship (Rigid R.23), 6 November 1918.
Literature :
Praktisch handbook vliegtuigen deel 1 page 197
Jane’s Fighting Aircraft WWI page 85f
Armament of British Aircraft 1909-1939 page 334
DISCLAIMER Above calculations are based on published data, they must be
regarded as indication not as facts.
Calculated performance and weight may not correspond with actual weights
and performances and are assumptions for which no responsibility can be taken.
Calculations are as accurate as possible, they can be fine-tuned when more data
is available, you are welcome to give suggestions and additional information
so we can improve our program. For copyright on drawings/photographs/
content please mail to below mail address
(c) B van der Zalm 12 April 2020 contact : info.aircraftinvestigation@gmail.com python 3.7.4