Misplaced Pages

Amiot 354: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 15:59, 19 May 2014 editChesipiero (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users72,791 edits →External links← Previous edit Revision as of 18:05, 28 August 2014 edit undoMarigold100 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users4,982 edits Operational para 2, "ten" "the aircraft" para 3, "as mail planes" "351/354s" Amiot 340.01, "single-tail" "one" throughout Amiot 351, "twin-tail"Next edit →
Line 30: Line 30:
In May 1940, the Amiot 351/354 was in the process of equipping just two bomber ''groupes'': GB 1/21 and GB II/21 based at Avignon. Though 200 were in the final stages of construction, only 35 were ready for flight. This situation was exacerbated by the Amiot 351/354 being built in three factories, two of which were later bombed by the Germans. On 16 May 1940, the Amiot 351/354's carried out armed reconnaissance sorties over ] in the Netherlands - the first operation conducted by planes of this type. In May 1940, the Amiot 351/354 was in the process of equipping just two bomber ''groupes'': GB 1/21 and GB II/21 based at Avignon. Though 200 were in the final stages of construction, only 35 were ready for flight. This situation was exacerbated by the Amiot 351/354 being built in three factories, two of which were later bombed by the Germans. On 16 May 1940, the Amiot 351/354's carried out armed reconnaissance sorties over ] in the Netherlands - the first operation conducted by planes of this type.


By June, the Amiot 351/354 was also delivered for GB I/34 and GB II/34, neither flying them in combat. At that time, all Amiot 351/354s were based on the northern front. Three had been lost in combat, 10 in training accidents. All aircraft were ordered to evacuate to Africa on 17 June, 37 surviving the trip. As their numbers were too few to engage the ], they planes were sent back to Metropolitan France and their ''groupes'' disbanded in August 1940. By June, the Amiot 351/354 was also delivered for GB I/34 and GB II/34, neither flying them in combat. At that time, all Amiot 351/354s were based on the northern front. Three had been lost in combat, ten in training accidents. All aircraft were ordered to evacuate to Africa on 17 June, 37 surviving the trip. As their numbers were too few to engage the ], the aircraft were sent back to Metropolitan France and their ''groupes'' disbanded in August 1940.


Five Amiot 351/354s continued to be used as a mail plane after the ]. Four Amiot 351/354 were commandeered by the '']'' as transports, two found service in the 1./]. Five Amiot 351/354s continued to be used as mail planes after the ]. Four Amiot 351/354s were commandeered by the '']'' as transports, two found service in the 1./].


Engines taken from these aircraft were later used on ] cargo transports. Engines taken from these aircraft were later used on ] cargo transports.
Line 40: Line 40:
==Variants== ==Variants==
;Amiot 340.01 ;Amiot 340.01
:Two 686 kW (920 hp) ], single tail prototype (1 built) :Two 686 kW (920 hp) ], single-tail prototype (one built)


;Amiot 350 ;Amiot 350
: 351 re-engined with two 686 kW (920 hp) ] / ] engines (1 built) : 351 re-engined with two 686 kW (920 hp) ] / ] engines (one built)


;Amiot 351.01 ;Amiot 351.01
Line 49: Line 49:


;Amiot 351 ;Amiot 351
: Two 707 kW (950 hp) ] / ], twin tail (17)(This number may be low) : Two 707 kW (950 hp) ] / ], twin-tail (17) (This number may be low)


;Amiot 352 ;Amiot 352
: 351 re-engined with two 820 kW (1,100 hp) ] / ] engines (1 built) : 351 re-engined with two 820 kW (1,100 hp) ] / ] engines (one built)


;Amiot 353 ;Amiot 353
: 351 re-engined with two 768 kW (1,030 hp) ] engines (1 built) : 351 re-engined with two 768 kW (1,030 hp) ] engines (one built)


;Amiot 354 ;Amiot 354
Line 61: Line 61:


;Amiot 355.01 ;Amiot 355.01
: 351 re-engined with two 895 kW (1,200 hp) ] / ] engines (1 built) : 351 re-engined with two 895 kW (1,200 hp) ] / ] engines (one built)


;Amiot 356.01 ;Amiot 356.01
: 354 re-engined with two 842 kW (1,130 hp) ] engines (1 built) : 354 re-engined with two 842 kW (1,130 hp) ] engines (one built)


;Amiot 357 ;Amiot 357
: high-altitude prototype with ] ], two 895 kW (1,200 hp) ] ] engines (1 built) : high-altitude prototype with ] ], two 895 kW (1,200 hp) ] ] engines (one built)


;Amiot 358 ;Amiot 358
: 351 re-engined post-war with two 895 kW (1,200 hp) ] engines (1 built) : 351 re-engined post-war with two 895 kW (1,200 hp) ] engines (one built)


;Amiot 370 ;Amiot 370
: single-tail racer with two 642 kW (860 hp) ] / ] engines, developed specifically for (later cancelled) Paris-New York race (1 built) : single-tail racer with two 642 kW (860 hp) ] / ] engines, developed specifically for (later cancelled) Paris-New York race (one built)


==Operators== ==Operators==
Line 89: Line 89:
<!-- Now, fill out the specs. Please include units where appropriate (main comes first, alt in parentheses). If an item doesn't apply leave it blank. For instructions on using |more general=, |more performance=, |power original=, and |thrust original= see ]. --> <!-- Now, fill out the specs. Please include units where appropriate (main comes first, alt in parentheses). If an item doesn't apply leave it blank. For instructions on using |more general=, |more performance=, |power original=, and |thrust original= see ]. -->
|ref=War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft <ref name="Green p92">Green 1967, p.92.</ref> |ref=War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft <ref name="Green p92">Green 1967, p.92.</ref>
|crew= Four (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier) |crew= four (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier)
|capacity= |capacity=
|length main= 14.50 m |length main= 14.50 m

Revision as of 18:05, 28 August 2014

354
Amiot 351 1/72 scale model by Johan De Wolf
Role BomberType of aircraft
Manufacturer Avions Amiot
Introduction 1940
Primary user Armée de l'Air
Number built ca. 86

The Amiot 354 was the latest in a series of fast, twin-engine bombers which fought with the Armée de l'Air in limited numbers during the Battle of France.

Development

The Amiot 350 series originated in the same 1934 requirement as a rival to the Lioré et Olivier LeO 451. Derived from the Amiot 341 mail plane, the Amiot 340 prototype was involved in a propaganda misinformation flight to Berlin in August 1938 to convince the Germans that the French employed modern bombers. Though 130 machines were ordered by the French government that year, production delays and ordered modifications ensured that September 1939 saw no delivered aircraft. Eventually, the ordered number of this very modern aircraft reached 830, though ultimately only 80 machines were received by the Air Ministry. The main variant was the twin-tailed 351; however, due to various delays, the single-tailed 354 was accepted into service as an interim type.

The Amiot 351 was planned to mount one 7.5 mm (.295 in) MAC 1934 machine gun in nose and ventral positions and one 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon in the dorsal position. Due to technical problems with the armament installation, many aircraft went to operational units with only a light machine gun in the dorsal position.

Operational history

In May 1940, the Amiot 351/354 was in the process of equipping just two bomber groupes: GB 1/21 and GB II/21 based at Avignon. Though 200 were in the final stages of construction, only 35 were ready for flight. This situation was exacerbated by the Amiot 351/354 being built in three factories, two of which were later bombed by the Germans. On 16 May 1940, the Amiot 351/354's carried out armed reconnaissance sorties over Maastricht in the Netherlands - the first operation conducted by planes of this type.

By June, the Amiot 351/354 was also delivered for GB I/34 and GB II/34, neither flying them in combat. At that time, all Amiot 351/354s were based on the northern front. Three had been lost in combat, ten in training accidents. All aircraft were ordered to evacuate to Africa on 17 June, 37 surviving the trip. As their numbers were too few to engage the Italians, the aircraft were sent back to Metropolitan France and their groupes disbanded in August 1940.

Five Amiot 351/354s continued to be used as mail planes after the Battle of France. Four Amiot 351/354s were commandeered by the Luftwaffe as transports, two found service in the 1./KG200 special service geschwader.

Engines taken from these aircraft were later used on Messerschmitt Me 323 cargo transports.

The Amiot 351/354 saw service with the Armée de l'Air (80?)

Variants

Amiot 340.01
Two 686 kW (920 hp) Gnome-Rhône 14P, single-tail prototype (one built)
Amiot 350
351 re-engined with two 686 kW (920 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Y-28 / Hispano-Suiza 12Y-29 engines (one built)
Amiot 351.01
Amiot 351 prototype.
Amiot 351
Two 707 kW (950 hp) Gnome-Rhône 14N-38 / Gnome-Rhône 14N-39, twin-tail (17) (This number may be low)
Amiot 352
351 re-engined with two 820 kW (1,100 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Y-50 / Hispano-Suiza 12Y-51 engines (one built)
Amiot 353
351 re-engined with two 768 kW (1,030 hp) Rolls-Royce Merlin III engines (one built)
Amiot 354
351 re-engined with two 798 kW (1,070 hp)Gnome-Rhône 14N-48 / Gnome-Rhône 14N-49, most with single-tail. (45) (This number is probably low)
Amiot 355.01
351 re-engined with two 895 kW (1,200 hp) Gnome-Rhône 14R-2 / Gnome-et-Rhone 14R-3 engines (one built)
Amiot 356.01
354 re-engined with two 842 kW (1,130 hp) Rolls-Royce Merlin X engines (one built)
Amiot 357
high-altitude prototype with pressurized cabin, two 895 kW (1,200 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Z-89 turbocharged engines (one built)
Amiot 358
351 re-engined post-war with two 895 kW (1,200 hp) Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engines (one built)
Amiot 370
single-tail racer with two 642 kW (860 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Yirs / Hispano-Suiza 12Yjrs engines, developed specifically for (later cancelled) Paris-New York race (one built)

Operators

 France
 Germany

Specifications (Amiot 354 B4)

Data from War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft

General characteristics

  • Crew: four (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier)

Performance

  • Climb to 4,000 m (13,100 ft): 8.7 min

Armament

  • Guns: 3 × 7.5 mm (.295 in) MAC 1934 machine guns or 2 × 7.5 mm (.295 in) MAC 1934 machine guns and 1 × 20 mm cannon
  • Bombs: 1,200 kg (2,650 lb)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. Green 1967, p.92.
Bibliography
  • Breffort, Dominique & Jouineau, André. French Aircraft from 1939 to 1942
  • Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Seven Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft. London:Macdonald, 1967.
  • Weal, Elke C., Weal, John A., Barker, Richard F. Combat Aircraft of World War Two
  • Various issues of Avions magazine

External links

Société d’emboutissage et de constructions mécaniques (SECM)/Amiot aircraft
SECM
Amiot
Aviation lists
General
Military
Accidents / incidents
Records
Categories: