The Strutter was a two-seat multi role tractor biplane so named due to its arrangement of cabane struts supporting the upper wing. It was a first on two counts, being the first two seater fighter in British service and the first to have synchronised gears for firing through the propeller.

Introduced in early 1916 It was originally intended for use with the RNAS, as Sopwith were a naval aircraft manufacturer, but some were transferred to the RFC for the 1916 Somme offensive. Strutters began appearing in large numbers in the last half of 1916 and although they were excellent for long range reconnaissance and raids they were too stable for dogfighting so the type was outclassed becoming obsolete by early 1917 when the German Albatross fighters began to emerge.

There was also a single seat version which was designed purely as a bomber for long range raids into Germany. Type 9700 or Sopwith Bomber as it was known was armed with a single synchronised forward firing Vickers on the nose and had internal bomb bays fitted with doors in the floor behind the pilot’s seat. The vast majority of the type 9700 flew with the RNAS from mid-1916 until being replaced by the more modern DH.4 in 1917. There were other versions of this aircraft used by various air forces throughout Europe and the World. On the Western Front 9 RFC squadrons operated the two-seater and 3 RNAS squadrons operated the single seat bomber.

The last of the RFC Strutters were replaced with Sopwith Camels in October 1917 and were relegated to home defence duties.