Sopwith TF.2 Salamander

The Sopwith Salamander represents the first armoured combat aircraft in the service of the RFC/RAF (at that time the designation T.F. - trench fighter). The requirement for a new combat aircraft to be built for direct support of own troops and attacks on enemy ground forces was received by the Sopwith Aviation Company in January 1918. The original brief called for the modification of the Sopwith Camel into a combat aircraft but the Sopwith Aviation Company decided to convert the more modern Sopwith Snipe instead. This received an armoured pilot's seat, armoured fuel tanks and armour plates on the cockpit sides (hence the aircraft's angular shape compared to the Snipe). The armament was retained as in the Snipe (originally it was considered to mount four Lewis machine guns on the landing gear but due to its heavy weight it did not materialize), with the difference that the aircraft had a doubled ammunition supply for the machine guns (1000 rounds per gun).
The first take-off of the Salamander took place on 27 April 1918 and the aircraft was immediately put into serial production resulting in 526 aircraft produced (production ceased in November 1919). The first combat aircraft did not reach the front until August 1918 but their mass deployment against enemy troops was prevented by the end of the war.

Sources:
www.wikipedia.org
www.letouny.webz.cz
V.Němeček: Military aircraft I

Photos taken from www.earlyaviator.com.

Towards the end of 1917, the need for armoured aircraft for attacks against ground targets steadily increased as losses in such attacks grew. And so Sopwith was asked in January 1918 to developť such an aircraft. Accordingly, within the following month the standard F.1 Camel was fitted with additional armour and three guľplasters. It was given the designation T.F.1 (Trench Fighter 1). However, the Army slightly refined the requirement for an aircraft using the Bentley B.R.2 engine. This knocked the Camel out of the running. Sopwith therefore promptly modified the Snipe into the T.F.2 Salamander. Optically, the aircraft were virtually identical, only the Salamander looked more angular inďthanks to the 6-11mm thick armour plates (8mm at the front above the engine, 11mm at the bottom, 6mm at the sides and 10mm at the rear + ďanother 6mm thick plate). The aircraft greatly improved pilot protection as it had armoured protection for the pilot's seat, armoured fuel tanks and armoured plates on the side of the cockpit. The armament of two synchronized Vickers 7.7mm calibre Vickers guns was to be supplemented by ďan additional Lewis guns mounted above the upper wing. However, as the weight of the aircraft was not wanted to be increased, the decision was made to increase the ammunition carried by the two synchronised guns to 1000 rounds. In addition, the Salamander could carryť four 11kg bombs on hangers on the lower wing. It was flown on 27 April 1918 and a large order was placed virtually immediately. In all, four prototypes were built and several modifications were made to correct flight stability problems. Other companies involved in production were the Air Navigation Co, Glendower Aircraft, National Aircraft, Palladium Autocars and Wolseley Motors. By 31 October 1918 the RAF had received 31 Salamanders, which was not enough to arm one squadron. Although the war was over the order was not completely cancelled and so Sopwith delivered a total of 334 aircraft and other companies ďother 85 aircraft. The Salamander was included in the armament of the following units: No. 86 Squadron RAF, No. 95 Squadron RAF and No. 157 Squadron RAF. They served until the mid-1920s. One was delivered to the USA and was still at McCook in 1926.

[source:
avia.russian.ee
http://www.earlyaviator.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopwith_Salamander