Breguet Br. 690

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Breguet Br. 690
Breguet 690
Type: Fighter plane
Design country:

FranceFrance France

Manufacturer:

Breguet

First flight:

1938

The Breguet Br. 690 and its successor versions (691, 693, 695 etc.) were a series of twin-engine two-seat fighter aircraft made by the French manufacturer Breguet .

Development and production

In 1934 the Breguet Br. 690 was developed as part of a tender for a heavy fighter aircraft , but the Potez 630 won. In 1938 100 copies of a bomber variant were ordered as the Breguet Br.691AB2 , of which the first was delivered in 1939. The radial engine used by Hispano-Suiza did not work reliably. This was followed by the development of the Br.692 version with 980 hp Gnome Rhône 14 N star engines, but this did not get beyond the project stage. Instead, it was decided to launch a new series with more readily available 700 hp Gnome-Rhône 14 M6 / 7 engines, which were given the designation Br.693AB2 . After 75 completed 691s, production was switched to the 693, of which a total of 224 left the factory.

A reconnaissance bomber export version with two 710 hp Gnome-Rhône 14 M5 / 6s was named Br.694 , the prototype flew on January 20, 1940. Belgium acquired a production license for 32 units, while Sweden ordered 12 units from Breguet. However, these aircraft could no longer be produced before the Belgian and French surrender in 1940. The prototype was meanwhile in the inventory of the Aéronavale .

A further development of the Br.693 with US-American 825 HP engines Pratt & Whitney R-1535 -SB4-G Twin Wasp Junior received the designation Br.695AB2 . Although the prototype did not fly until March 3, 1940, almost 50 machines had been produced by the French surrender in June, 33 of which were delivered to the front lines.

A total of less than 350 machines of all series were produced.

Other, unrealized versions:

  • Br.696B2 : two-seat bomber version with two 700 HP Gnome Rhône 14 M6 / 7 star engines. Maiden flight on November 3, 1939, but no production.
  • Br.697 : Version with much more powerful 1070 HP Gnome Rhône 14N48 / 49 engines. The prototype flew on October 19, 1939 and achieved good performance data. The command of the French Air Force commissioned Breguet with the development of a fighter version based on it, which led to the development of the Br.700.
  • Br.698Bp2 : dive bomber version based on the Br.691 with airbrakes. Didn't get beyond the drafting stage.
  • Br.699B2 : the Br.696 similar bomber version with 825 HP engines Pratt & Whitney R-1535 -SB4-G Twin Wasp Junior . Not built.
  • Br.700C2 : planned heavy fighter with even more powerful Gnome Rhône 14N engines than in the Br.697. Two prototypes had been ordered, but could no longer be realized before the French surrender.

commitment

The machines were used against the Wehrmacht at the beginning of the war in 1940 . On May 10, 1940, despite the higher production numbers, only 19 Br.691 and 38 Br.693 were in operational use with the GBA I / 51 , GBA II / 52 , GBA I / 54 and GBA II / 54 (GBA = Groupe de Bombardement d'Assaut , German "attack bomber group"). The Br. 691 were gradually replaced by the 693 and 695 ( GBA II / 54 ). During deep attacks on German columns, they suffered heavy losses from German flak. In addition, they could not hold their own against the German Bf-109 fighters efficiently enough . By the time the French surrendered, the Armée de l'Air had taken over 106 Br. 693. 79 machines of all types (691, 693, 695) were lost in combat and accidents.

After the defeat in 1940, Br. 691 and Br. 693, which were still intact, later joined the Vichy Air Force , into which the GBA I / 54 and GBA II / 54 squadrons were incorporated. Remaining Br. 691 were replaced by a small number of Br. 695. After the rest of France was occupied by the Germans and Italians at the end of 1942, aircraft captured by the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica were used as training aircraft .

Technical specifications

Three-sided view of Breguet Br. 693
Gnome-Rhône M5
Parameter Data Breguet Br. 693
crew 2
length 9.67 m
span 15.37 m
height 3.19 m
Wing area 29.2 m²
Wing extension 8.1
Empty mass 3010 kg
Takeoff mass 4900 kg
Top speed 490 km / h
Rate of climb 555 m / min
Service ceiling 8500 m
Range 1350 km
Engines two radial engines Gnome-Rhône 14 M6 / 7 with 710 HP (522 kW) each
Armament a MK 20 mm, 4 or 5 MG 7.5 mm, 400 kg bombs

States of operations

Web links

Commons : Bréguet 693  - Collection of images, videos and audio files