The Gloster Gamecock was a British single-seat biplane fighter developed in the mid-1920s as a direct successor to the Gloster Grebe.
Designed by Henry Folland and built by the Gloster Aircraft Company, the Gamecock emerged from Air Ministry Specification 37/23, which called for a Jupiter-powered fighter to replace the Grebe in Royal Air Force service.
While the Grebe had been well-liked by pilots for its agility, it suffered from structural weaknesses and an unreliable Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar engine.
The Gamecock addressed these issues by adopting the Bristol Jupiter IV and VI radial engines, which offered improved reliability and performance.
The airframe was strengthened, and the armament was revised to include two internally mounted .303 Vickers machine guns, improving both aerodynamics and pilot safety.
The prototype, J7497, first flew on 22 February 1925, followed by two additional prototypes (J7756 and J7757) that tested engine variants and minor aerodynamic refinements.
Technical Characteristics
Construction
Wood and fabric biplane with single-bay wings.
Engine
Bristol Jupiter VI (Mk I), producing 425 hp.
Armament
Two synchronised. 303 Vickers machine guns.
Max Speed
~155 mph (249 km/h).
Ceiling
~22,000 ft (6,705 m).
Dimensions
Wingspan 30 ft 9 in;
Length: 20 ft 8 in;
Height 10 ft.
RAF Service and Operational Use
The RAF placed its first order for 30 Gamecock Mk I aircraft in September 1925, under Specification 18/25.
Production totalled 90 aircraft, delivered between 1926 and 1927.
The Gamecock equipped several squadrons, including No. 23, No. 43, and No. 56 Squadrons, and was praised for its nimbleness and climb rate.
However, the Gamecock’s short fuselage and sensitive controls led to a high accident rate.
Its operational career with the RAF was relatively brief, with the type withdrawn from frontline service by mid-1931.
Despite this, it played a key role in interwar fighter development and pilot training.
Variants and Experimental Models
Gamecock Mk II
Featured a steel-tube centre section in the upper wing, enlarged tail surfaces, and narrow-chord ailerons.
Two aircraft were built for the RAF: one new build and one Mk I conversion.
Exported to Finland
Three aircraft were delivered in 1928, followed by 15 license-built by Valtion Lentokonetehdas (Finnish State Aircraft Factory) between 1929 and 1930.
Finnish designation
Kukko (Rooster).
Served until 1944, including during the Winter War against the Soviet Union.
Gamecock Mk III
A single Mk II modified with a lengthened fuselage for spin trials.
Used to study stall and recovery behaviour, contributing to RAF safety protocols.
Gambet / Nakajima A1N
A carrier-capable derivative developed as a private venture.
Licensed to Nakajima Aircraft Company in Japan.
Produced as the Nakajima A1N, with ~150 units built between 1929 and 1935.
Operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy aboard carriers such as Hōshō and Akagi.
Saw combat during the Shanghai Incident of 1932, marking Japan’s early use of carrier-based fighters.
Legacy and Historical Significance
Though short-lived in RAF service, the Gamecock was a pivotal transitional design between WWI-era biplanes and more modern interwar fighters.
It demonstrated the potential of radial engines in frontline combat aircraft and influenced subsequent designs like the Gloster Gauntlet and Gladiator.
Its export success in Finland and adaptation for naval use in Japan underscore its versatility.
The Gamecock also contributed to early carrier aviation doctrine and spin recovery research, making it a valuable stepping stone in aviation history.
