The pilot sat in an open cockpit in a cut-out at the leading edge of the top wing's centre section. Decking ahead of him was cut away to clear the control wheel, with the gap closed by a Triplex windscreen. The sharply sloping engine cowling gave him a good view of the carrier deck during landing. A Vickers gun with 500 rounds was mounted externally on the port side of the pilot's cockpit and fired through the airscrew. A Lewis gun on a Scarff ring immediately behind the rear cockpit fired rearwards and downwards, with three ammunition drums.
Notable Point · 2:12-2:44
Deck-landing visibility and defensive guns
The R.1's sloping cowling gave the pilot a good view of the carrier deck, while a forward-firing Vickers gun and a rear Lewis gun provided defensive armament.