Campania

The Fairey Campania was a British single‑engine seaplane developed by the Fairey Aviation Company during the final years of the First World War. First flown in October 1917, it was adapted from the land‑based Fairey III prototype and equipped with a detachable hull that allowed operation from both water and aircraft carriers. Powered by a 260 hp (194 kW) Rolls‑Royce Eagle V12 engine, the Campania could reach 115 mph (185 km/h) and had a range of roughly 300 miles, making it suitable for long‑duration patrols over the North Sea. Its open cockpit accommodated a pilot and observer, while the observer’s position featured a flexible Lewis gun and provisions for dropping depth charges, giving the aircraft an early anti‑submarine capability. Approximately 80 examples were built, serving primarily with the Royal Naval Air Service and later the Royal Air Force’s Coastal Command. The Campania’s carrier‑based operations from HMS Campania and HMS Argus demonstrated the practicality of shipborne aviation and paved the way for future naval patrol aircraft. Its dual‑role design and successful integration of seaplane and carrier functions mark it as a pivotal step in the evolution of maritime air power.