Breguet 521
| Breguet 521 | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Long-range reconnaissance flying boat |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
September 11, 1933 |
| Commissioning: |
1935 |
| Number of pieces: |
30th |
The Breguet 521 Bizerte was a flying boat of the French manufacturer Breguet in Anderthalbdecker design for remote reconnaissance.
history
The Bizerte was a further development of the Short Calcutta , for the construction of which Breguet had received the license rights in 1931. The development took place in 1932 on the basis of a tender by the French Navy for a long-range flying boat. The prototype Br.521.01 flew for the first time on September 11, 1933, flight testing lasted until September 1934. Some improvements were made, for example the engines, which were initially bare, were given NACA hoods . On April 1, 1935, the first machine was handed over to the Escadrille 1E2 of the French naval forces for operational testing .
A pre-series batch of three machines was commissioned as early as 1934, with the first unit completing its preliminary field testing in October 1935 in Le Havre. Further changes were made to the second machine, including the extension of the glazed cockpit structure and the elimination of the open bow weapon station. Instead of the 20-mm cannon there, a double machine-gun was attached to weapon stands on the sides of the fuselage in front of the leading edge of the wing.
A few small series orders were placed, with the seventh machine being delivered in March 1936 and the twelfth before the end of 1936. The twelfth Bizerte received three Hispano Suiza 14AA engines and was designated Br.522 , but remained the only machine in this configuration. Another nine machines were commissioned on November 30, 1936, followed by three copies on October 18, 1937. A total of 30 copies were made by the end of 1938. On August 15, 1940, 20 Bizerte were still in service with the French Navy.
After the German occupation of Vichy France , the German air force confiscated a total of eight Bizerte and deployed them from Lorient and Saint Mandrier for sea rescue operations.
construction
The Bizerte was an all-metal construction with the entire fuel supply of a maximum of 4000 kg in the lower wing and three 14-cylinder radial engines from Gnome-Rhône with 900 hp each. The hull was two-tiered and keeled , with three box main frames that were planked with duralumin at the top and with sheet steel at the bottom. Two single-stage support floats were located at the ends of the lower wing. There was a laundry room, kitchen, four beds, and a fresh water tank.
The Bizerte was a one and a half decker; Upper wing and lower wing connected two parallel struts on the left and right outside, another four double struts were arranged between the upper wing and the three engines mounted on the lower wing. The wings were clad in sheet metal up to the front spar, the rest was covered with fabric. There were ailerons only on the upper wing. The tail unit was self-supporting made of fabric-covered duralumin, supported with N-struts.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 8th |
| length | 20.50 m |
| span | 35.15 m above / 18.90 m below |
| height | 7.45 m |
| Wing area | 162.60 m² |
| Empty mass | 9,470 kg |
| Takeoff mass | normal 15,000 kg maximum 16,600 kg |
| Top speed | 245 km / h at an altitude of 1,000 m |
| Marching speed | economical 165 km / h maximum 200 km / h |
| Rate of climb | 228 m / min |
| Summit height | 6,000 m |
| Range | normal 2,000 km maximum 3,000 km |
| Radius of action | 1,200 km |
| Flight duration | 10 h at 200 km / h |
| Engine | three Gnome-Rhône 14KIrs or 14N-11 each with 671 kW (approx. 910 PS) |
| Armament | five 7.5 mm MG Darne |
| Bomb load | 300 kg at under wing stations |
See also
literature
- Ulrich Israel: Flying Boats of the Second World War . German Military Publishing House, Berlin 1972, p. 50/51 .
- Heinz A. F. Schmidt: Historical aircraft . Transpress, Berlin, p. 88 (VLN 162-925 / 25/68).
- William Green: War Planes of the Second World War . Volume V, Flying Boats. McDonald & Co, 1969, p. 6-9 (English).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.aviafrance.com/breguet-bre-521-bizerte--aviation-france-791.htm aviafrance Bizerte
- ↑ http://www.aviastar.org/air/france/breguet-521.php aviastar
- ↑ http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/BregeriePierre/10115.htm 1000aircraftphotos.com