The Sopwith Salamander was a British ground attack aircraft that saw limited service in World War I. It was designed and built by the Sopwith Aviation Company and was intended to be used primarily for attacking enemy ground targets.

The Sopwith Salamander was a single-engine biplane with a wooden structure and fabric covering. It was powered by a 230-horsepower Bentley BR2 rotary engine and had a top speed of around 106 miles per hour (170 kilometers per hour). The aircraft was armed with two 7.7mm Lewis machine guns mounted on the top wing, as well as bombs and rockets for ground attack missions.

The Sopwith Salamander was heavily armored, with steel plates covering the cockpit, engine, and fuel tank areas. This made it highly resistant to small arms fire and other ground-based attacks, but it also made the aircraft heavy and sluggish in the air. The Salamander’s heavy armor and ground attack capabilities made it well-suited for attacking heavily fortified positions, such as enemy trenches and pillboxes.

The Sopwith Salamander entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in late 1918, and only a small number were produced before the end of the war. Despite its advanced features and specialized role, the Salamander did not see much use in combat and was quickly retired from service after the war.

Overall, the Sopwith Salamander was an innovative design that attempted to address the challenges of ground attack missions during World War I. Its heavy armor and ground attack capabilities made it well-suited for certain types of missions, but its weight and limited speed and maneuverability made it less effective in other roles. Despite its limited service, the Salamander was an important step in the development of ground attack aircraft and helped pave the way for more advanced designs in the future.