Sopwith Pup

Sopwith Pup
Role	Biplane fighter Type of aircraft
Manufacturer	Sopwith Aviation Company
Designer	Herbert Smith
First flight	9 February 1916
Introduction	October 1916
Status	retired
Primary users	Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force Royal Naval Air Service
Produced	1916–1918
Number built	1,796
Variants	Beardmore W.B.III

The Sopwith Pup is a British single-seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good manoeuvrability, the aircraft proved very successful. The Pup was eventually outclassed by newer German fighters, but it was not completely replaced on the Western Front until the end of 1917. The remaining Pups were relegated to Home Defence and training units. The Pup's docile flying characteristics also made it ideal for use in aircraft carrier deck landing and takeoff experiments and training.