Meet the Sopwith Snipe and SE5A: The Fighters That Changed WWI Air Battles Forever The Sopwith Snipe and S.E.5a represented the peak of British WWI aviation. Introduced in 1917, the S.E.5a was a stable, fast platform reaching 138 mph. The Sopwith Snipe, arriving in 1918, hit 121 mph and offered superior maneuverability and climb rates compared to its predecessor, the Camel. Armed with twin machine guns and powered by advanced rotary and inline engines, these fighters dominated the Western Front.