BRIEF HISTORY As the successor to the Pup, the Sopwith Camel entered Royal Navy squadron service in July 1917. It was designed to help the British take control of the skies above the trenches of World War I. The Sopwith Camel scored 1,294 victories, more than any other Allied aircraft type. The Sopwith Camel was the first British fighter to mount two synchronized Vickers .303 machine guns in front of the cockpit. A fairing surrounding the gun installation created a hump, giving the Camel its name. The Sopwith Camel F.1 had a wingspan of 28 feet, was 18 feet 9 inches long, and was powered by a 130 hp 9-cylinder Clerget rotary engine, producing a top speed of 101-113 mph. The 26-gallon fluid capacity allowed for 2.5 hours of flight time. Fierce and temperamental, the Camel had wicked torque.