Combat aircraft. Almost French "Beaufighter"

55

This is a very interesting car. In fact, only the Dutch Fokker G.1, which was discussed at the very end of last year, could compare with it in originality and versatility. And, if France did not implement all the plans for the construction of aircraft, but only the best, oh, how difficult it would have been for the Luftwaffe in 1940 ...

But let's go in order.



The middle of the thirties of the last century was marked by a simply frantic interest in twin-engine aircraft of a universal nature, from which, with minimal alterations, one could get a bomber, an attack aircraft, a heavy fighter, and a reconnaissance aircraft.

In general, the idea was quite imaginative, the question was only in execution. Some have succeeded, some have not. The Bf.110 from Messerschmitt was no match for the G.1 from Fokker, and the British Beaufighter from Bristol was just beginning to learn to fly.

Well, an interesting attempt in France could be called a competition for a three-seat fighter with a fixed forward-facing cannon armament, designed to intercept, escort, and also use single-engine fighters as a leader.

The competition brought together as many as eight wishing to win. And as a result, very promising machines appeared: Potet P.630, Anriot 220, Loire-Nieuport LN.20, Romano Ro.HO.

The Pote fighter even went into production and proved to be quite a combat vehicle.

Combat aircraft. Almost French "Beaufighter"

However, none of them could compare with the product of the work of the Breguet team under the leadership of the chief designer Georges Ricard.


The aircraft turned out to be very decent, many experts spoke of it as a kind of lighter predecessor of the Beaufighter, which was generally true.

The design was more than modern: a cantilever mid-wing monoplane. There is a lot of metal in the structure, which provides excellent strength. The fuselage, wings, tail - everything was made of metal.

The fuselage, which was made by a monocoque, accommodated three crew members: pilot, navigator and gunner-radio operator. Attacking weapons, consisting of two 20-mm Hispano-Suiza cannons, were placed on both sides of the pilot. The radio operator was armed with a 7,5-mm MAC 1934 machine gun.


As a power plant, two 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engines "Hispano-Suiza" 14AB 02/03 were used, which produced 680 hp each. at an altitude of 3500 m.

Each of them developed a power of 680 hp. at 3500 m and 650 hp on takeoff. The motors very progressively rotated the propellers in opposite directions, which had a very positive effect on the control of the aircraft during takeoff and taxiing. The wheel struts were retracted into the engine nacelles.

The process of building the prototype went so slowly, but, however, the customer did not strain the designers too much. The construction of the prototype Vg.690 began in 1935, and the official order for the aircraft came in early 1937, when the prototype was already waiting for the engines with might and main.

But maybe it happened for the best.


But simultaneously with orders for test vehicles, gentlemen from the military department drew up and began to ask all the participants in the competition questions about whether a fighter could magically turn into a bomber or attack aircraft?

Some designers said that “if you asked for a fighter, you will get it,” but Breguet was ready for this turn of events. And the option of a two-seater attack aircraft, if not worked out, then at least considered.

However, too much time has passed since the start of the work for everything to be played back. Therefore, they decided to leave the variant of the heavy fighter unchanged, calling it Vg.690-01, and to start the construction of the two-seat attack aircraft Vg.690-02 from scratch.

However, the trouble came from where they did not expect. The military liked the brainchild of the Pote company, the P.630, so much that the entire available stock of Hispano-Suiza engines was donated to the production of a series of these aircraft.

The Breguet plane waited about a year for the engines to be supplied. And only on March 23, 1938, Vg.690-01 first took to the air.


But when it took off, it immediately became clear that Breguet was beating Potet "by a clear advantage." Flight performance, controllability, maneuverability - everything was better with the Breguet. It is not surprising that on June 14, 1938, Breguet received an order for 100 aircraft in the variant of a two-seater attack aircraft-bomber, designated Bg.691AV2. And later this number was increased to 204 pieces.

The disputes were serious, not everyone in the Air Force leadership believed that France needed so many attack aircraft. Nevertheless, production went on. The alteration itself was not difficult, the main alteration was the installation of a bomb compartment for 8 bombs of 50 kg instead of the navigator's cabin.

One cannon, however, had to be removed. So the pilot was left with one 20 mm HS404 cannon on the starboard side in front of the fuselage. Instead of the second cannon, two MAS 1934 machine guns of 7,5 mm caliber were installed. And they added another 7,5 mm machine gun that fired obliquely down and back. Well, and a standard 7,5-mm machine gun for the defense of the rear hemisphere at the radio operator.

For the normal placement of bombs, it was necessary to slightly increase the nose of the aircraft, by 0,3 m. The bombs were placed, moreover, it became possible to increase the fuel supply from 705 to 986 liters thanks to the installation of two tanks in the engine nacelles.


True, there were problems with the engines. The Hispano-Suiza 14AB motor had the required power and, moreover, had a small diameter. However, the resource of this motor turned out to be significantly lower than what was stated by the company. Plus, the reliability was quite below average.

The manufacturer "Hispano-Suiza" itself, having worn out with this engine, decided to switch to water-cooled engines. This greatly undermined the prospect of mass production of Vg.691, since the conversion for a water-cooled motor took a lot of time. Therefore, it was decided to replace "Hispano-Suizu" with "Gnome-Ron" air-cooled 14M.


"Gnome-Ron" developed 700 hp. on takeoff and 660 hp. at an altitude of 4000 m., but had an even smaller diameter and drag.

So the aircraft with "Hispano-Suiz" received the marking Bg.691, and with engines from "Gnome-Ron" - Bg.693. Otherwise, apart from the engines, the planes were identical. The only difference in the later Vg.693 series was the installation of two stationary machine guns firing backwards in the engine nacelles.

At the same time, a tactical reconnaissance aircraft Vg.693 was developed on the basis of Vg.694. The scout retained the possibility of using it as an attack aircraft, however, for this it had to be seriously re-equipped. The scout's crew consisted of three people, an observer with an aerial camera was placed in the navigator's place, and the armament was reduced to one fixed course machine gun and a mobile machine gun by the radio operator.

In the troops of "Breguet" Bg.691 and 693 began to enter the troops in October 1939. In the flight units, the attitude was ambiguous, the pilots liked the plane, but the technical staff was clearly not happy. Mainly due to the low reliability of the Hispano-Suiza motors, although the chassis has also been criticized.


The first combat use of Vg.693 was made on May 12, 1940, on the German columns near Tongeren. 11 Bg.693 attacked the orders of the mechanized division. The Germans met the French attack aircraft more than harshly, shooting down 7 cars out of 11, and damaging the rest so that one fell a little later, the second crashed during a forced landing, and one of the two landed at their airfield could not be restored, since it was literally riddled.


The second group of seven aircraft carrying out a mission in the same area, it must be said, lost only one aircraft.

In general, the success of the Breguet attack aircraft mainly depended on how sudden the attack was. If it was possible to approach the enemy unnoticed, then the losses were small. If the enemy's anti-aircraft gunners managed to notice the planes and organize a rebuff, the French suffered losses.

Very quickly, the following regulations were developed: they approached the target on low level flight, then climbed to 900-1000 meters, dived, dropped bombs at 300-400 meters and moved away from the target again at low level.


For two weeks of combat use, attack aircraft "Breguet" Vg.693 performed more than 500 sorties in which 47 aircraft were lost. In general, the aircraft design proved to be more than durable and made it possible to withstand multiple hits of bullets and shells, despite the fact that the design was not burdened with armor.

The attack aircraft returned to their airfields, being badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire. The simple and maintainable design of the machine, which made it possible to quickly put the aircraft in order, was very helpful. For example, replacing the engine took only 1 hour and 20 minutes.

By the way, about engines. As mentioned above, "Gnome-Ron" 14M developed its maximum power at an altitude of 4000 meters. And the plane was used at altitudes from 200 to 1000 meters. In fact, it was worth using a lower-altitude version of the engines in attack aircraft, but the approach of the French military department was such that Vg.693 fought with engines that were not quite suitable for this throughout his short career.


The production of the Breguet 690 series was discontinued when German troops approached directly to Villacoublay and Bourget, where the aircraft were being assembled. Up to this point, Villacoublay had produced 274 Breguet aircraft of series 693 and 695, and at Bourges 30 copies of Bg.693 were assembled.

When France surrendered, the fate of the stormtroopers was sad. Three planes were hijacked by their crews to North Africa and their tracks were lost there. Most likely, having not received proper repair, the planes remained at some kind of airfield.

All other "Breguet" Vg.693 and 695 were transferred to the Vichy troops. But when the unoccupied part of France was occupied by Germany, the planes were captured by the Germans.


After testing, the German specialists did not show interest in the attack aircraft and handed them over to the Italian allies.

26 aircraft were used by the Italians as training vehicles. So, in fact, the fate of this very interesting aircraft ended, which became the first real attack aircraft of the French Air Force.


LTH Br.693
Wingspan, m: 15,37
Length, m: 9,67
Height, m: 3,19
Wing area, м2: 29,20

Weight, kg
- empty aircraft: 3 010
- normal takeoff: 4 500
- maximum take-off: 4 900

Engine: 2 x Gnome-Rhone 14M-6/7 x 700 hp

Maximum speed km / h
- at height: 427
- near the ground: 390
Cruising speed, km / h: 400

Practical range, km: 1 350
Rate of climb, m / min: 556
Practical ceiling, m: 8 400
Crew, prs: 2

Armament:
- one 20 mm Hispano-Suiza 404 cannon
- two 7,5-mm front machine guns Darne MAC1934
- one 7,5 mm Darne machine gun on a movable mount in the rear cockpit;
- one 7,5-mm stationary machine gun mounted obliquely under the fuselage to fire at the rear hemisphere from below;
- on later versions, one fixed 7,5-mm machine gun in the engine nacelles for firing at the rear hemisphere;
- bombs weighing up to 400 kg (8 x 50 bombs)
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55 comments
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  1. +14
    8 January 2021 07: 10
    I did not understand what was good about this "attack aircraft" (the Germans, by the way, did not understand either). But for general development, the article will do.
    1. +3
      8 January 2021 07: 43
      For a two motor attack aircraft, the load (400kg of bombs) is simply ridiculous. It's like our two-seater Il-2 (in the modification with a radio operator-machine gunner). Which could take from 600 to 1000 kg in overload.
      1. 0
        8 January 2021 09: 36
        And, practically, without booking ... With a big stretch, you can rank him as an attack aircraft ...
        1. +1
          8 January 2021 12: 30
          Yes, he had a reservation, he already answered.
      2. +1
        8 January 2021 11: 24
        So the power of two engines from the Frenchman is less than that of the only AM-38. But the Frenchman could reach the airfield with one engine. And the usual combat load at Ila did not exceed 300 kg. With a ton, he could only make a couple of circles over his airfield.
      3. +4
        8 January 2021 11: 44
        Quote: Kote pane Kohanka
        Which could take from 600 to 1000 kg in overload.

        What kind of overload is this that you can hang a ton on the Il-2? "Overload" is, as a rule, underfilled fuel, there is not that much of it on the IL-2. Or will you order the cannons to be removed, like on the notorious Il-2T?
        Quote: Kote pane Kohanka
        For a two motor attack aircraft, the load (400kg of bombs) is simply ridiculous.

        The French plane is 1,5 times lighter than the Il-2. It flies faster and farther. For aircraft of its class, the bomb load is average for the hospital.

        In the late 30s, the idea of ​​a (relatively) light strike aircraft was quite popular, but did not really enter the USSR. You can recall the Vultee V-11, aka BSh-1. From wartime aircraft - Su-2, perhaps.

        As for the twin-engine, one AM-38 is more powerful than two gnomrons.
      4. +13
        8 January 2021 14: 48
        Especially for Cats and Leaders.
        For a two motor attack aircraft, the load (400kg of bombs) is simply ridiculous.
        Bre.693 AB.2 with a maximum takeoff weight of 4900 kg took 400 kg of bombs.
        For IL-2 in a two-seater version with an AM-38 engine with a maximum take-off weight of 6380 kg, in order to maintain more or less acceptable flight characteristics, a load of 300 kg of bombs and 8 RS-82 was set, that is, a total of 356 kg.

        About 1000 kg of bombs is unscientific fantasy.
        The Bre.693 had armor.
        1. +7
          8 January 2021 15: 29
          Judging by the minuses, a flock of kvass patriotic haters wanders along the branch, on which a page from the 1944 Soviet reference book on the Il-2 aircraft acts like phenolphthalein on peristalsis.
          1. 0
            8 January 2021 16: 07
            Come on, let him wander. But, in my opinion, this is a lone hunter. You can learn something new, this is more important. As I understand it, there were armor plates, but the bulletproof glass had not yet been attached. Before the war, there was still no understanding of what and how to book
            1. +6
              8 January 2021 19: 50
              Quote: sivuch
              Before the war, there was still no understanding of what and how to book

              If this is the case, then the first Farman also had a reservation. The pilot usually put a frying pan under his butt. Approximately as on this "attack aircraft" in terms of area and reliability it worked. laughing

              Comparison with IL-2 in terms of booking is completely frivolous. And not only with Il ..
              1. 0
                8 January 2021 20: 23
                Are you serious ? In your opinion, two 10 mm armor plates weighing a hundred kilos is not enough? This, let me remind you, is the 40th year. What did contemporaries have there? That's right, no armor, no design. Moreover, the Frenchman simply did not need an armored hull. And if you make a one-seater car, like Henschel or IL-2, then at least hang the entire plane with armor
              2. 0
                8 January 2021 22: 28
                Of course, not serious. For the Frenchman, there was simply no need to fence an armored box
        2. +3
          8 January 2021 15: 45
          Quote: Undecim
          About 1000 kg of bombs is unscientific fantasy.

          1000 kg is a 45-36AN torpedo, which was either hung on it, or they were lying, and somehow more like the second. But the audience likes it. You must admit that the Il-2 is one thing - this is the Soviet nine sleeps, yes, this sleeps nine, the weapons and bomb load are the same, but another thing is practically Avenger, only armored.
          1. +7
            8 January 2021 15: 49
            This refers to the mythical Il-2T (torpedo bomber), which no one has ever seen anywhere and about which nothing has been preserved in any archive.
            1. +2
              8 January 2021 15: 56
              Quote: Undecim
              This refers to the mythical Il-2T (torpedo bomber), which no one has ever seen anywhere and about which nothing has been preserved in any archive.

              Yes, he is. A certain part of the public lives in reality, where the supposedly existing Il-2T allows you to hang on all IL-2 sign "ton load", it is very convenient.
          2. 0
            8 January 2021 22: 48
            I didn't quite understand about the Avenger. Everything with his reservation was ok. Half-inch slabs were a must-have accessory
            1. +1
              8 January 2021 23: 18
              Quote: sivuch
              Everything with his reservation was ok. Half-inch slabs were a must-have accessory

              Sh-sh-sh
              By your statement, you are insulting the fans of the armored car. And then an aircraft with serious armor, with the ability to bomb from a dive 45 degrees, with a load of under a ton, with a crew of three, with such a huge belly that it can carry a wounded on a stretcher, with good takeoff and landing characteristics and the highest survivability - that's all. it is on a moderate by American standards engine, analogue of the ASh-82.

              What is this? Treason!
              1. 0
                12 January 2021 16: 03
                Quote: Cherry Nine
                And then an aircraft with serious armor, with the ability to bomb from a dive 45 degrees, with a load of under a ton, with a crew of three, with such a huge belly that it can carry a wounded on a stretcher, with good takeoff and landing characteristics and the highest survivability - and that's it. it is on a moderate by American standards engine, analogue of the ASh-82.

                In fairness, the Americans considered him insufficiently powered. However, they said the same about the B-29.
                1. 0
                  12 January 2021 16: 17
                  Quote: Narak-zempo
                  the Americans considered it insufficiently powered.

                  It certainly has 4,2 kg maximum takeoff weight per hp. Worse than IL-2.
        3. +8
          8 January 2021 16: 05
          Quote: Undecim
          Especially for Cats and Leaders.

          Viktor Nikolaevich, are you doing to humiliate or insult me ​​and Nazarius?
          So we will assume that you have achieved this.
          Especially for Arctic foxes and popov children.
          At the end of 41 in a number of assault regiments there was a practice of removing guns from single IL-2 attack aircraft, in connection with which the maximum load of missiles and bombs was reached up to 1000 kg. At least 5 converted cars are known.
          Normal overload in a single-seat version was 600 kg.
          Double 400 kg.
          The bulk of the IL fell on the armor, the Frenchman had it symbolic.
          An example of the loss of up to two-thirds of the aircraft that took part in the battles. Moreover, from anti-aircraft fire. And this is less than a month.
          That, beam two non-armored air-cooled engines or one water-cooled, in the armored box is a moot point. However, how to compare the Frenchman is necessary perhaps with the Pe-2, and not silt.
          Although if Il was so bad and the Frenchman was so good, why was Berlin ironed at 45 by Il, and not Bre-693.
          I have the honor!
          1. +6
            8 January 2021 16: 11
            Viktor Nikolaevich, are you doing to humiliate or insult me ​​and Nazarius?
            So we will assume that you have achieved this.

            Strange, I thought that quite a long time of our communication fixed the mutual respect of the communicating parties with the possibility of friendly humor.
            Probably he was in a hurry. I had no intention of humiliating or offending any of you. I apologize for the form of presentation.
          2. +1
            8 January 2021 19: 37
            two slabs of 10 mm each - for 40 years it is not enough.
            And your last question - sorry, demagoguery.
            1. +4
              8 January 2021 21: 39
              Quote: sivuch
              two slabs of 10 mm each - for 40 years it is not enough.
              And your last question - sorry, demagoguery.

              Am I lobbying the interests of the crowd or voters in some way?
              Attack aircraft - necessary for a frontal attack, in fact, it is a plane of the battlefield. He had no armor from the front and the bottom. Back protection is a rudiment from a fighter. IL Armor had over seven hundred kilograms, more than six times the 693.
              Again, the engines were also not armored. The "French" shot down with small arms. Many suffered disasters during landing, while combat losses were not taken into account. As well as those machines that were deemed not appropriate to restore.
              1. -2
                8 January 2021 22: 46
                This is about the question of why not Breguet over Berlin.
                In front, the pilot was covered with his battery, on the side with engines, so there was no need for an armored box. The engines themselves or their oil coolers, too, could not be booked (albeit desirable). The car, NNZ, could go with one engine without lowering, unlike. Rear hemisphere protection - a rudiment? Did the fighters disappear? By the way, they also fired in pursuit from the ground.
                And they shot down the attack aircraft not with a rifle, but with a well-organized FOR
                Well, the landing disasters were not only at Breguet.
                If the plane had a few more months of combat work, it would also have bulletproof glass. , and improved design and a pair of suspension assemblies.
          3. +1
            8 January 2021 20: 53
            Vlad, my friend, is it worth taking offense at his own people, especially since Vic did not write anything offensive. smile For example, Anton and I tease each other and that, quarrel over this. Just think, a thousand kg. there, a thousand here - anyway "Flyingfortress" carried more. laughing
        4. +3
          8 January 2021 16: 32
          Armor on any self-respecting "litaka" of that time naturally should have been, but you can see for yourself that in this case the armor protects from attacks from the air and not from ground fire. By the way, tell me the total weight of the armor? And what do you think about small arms and cannons?
          1. +5
            8 January 2021 17: 17
            The weight of the "Frenchman" armor, if I was not mistaken with the translation, was 120 kg. Engines and tanks were not armored. IL has over 700, I may be wrong, I write from memory.
            The Frenchman has a good culture of weight, but mainly due to the all-metal construction. The Il-2 had a wooden set of wings and a tail end of the fuselage. Essentially an armored capsule with a power pack integrated into a wooden case
            Well, the latter, by the end of hostilities, the French lost 9 out of 10 of their attack aircraft. I think if Br-693 (Br-695) was so outstanding, then the losses should not have been so catastrophic.
            And absolutely alaverdi. The Frenchman - in fact, it was not imagined to modernize. If a more powerful engine was installed on most aircraft of that time, it began to fly. For the Frenchman, any increase in engine power, speed was eaten by the weight and dimensions of the motors.
            Well, somewhere like that.
            1. +6
              8 January 2021 17: 36
              The wooden elements of the Il-2 appeared during the Second World War, and initially it was a very all-metal aircraft. The Frenchman clearly shows that this is not a front-line aircraft.
              1. +1
                9 January 2021 02: 26
                Quote: mark1
                Wooden elements of the Il-2 appeared during the Second World War, and initially it was a very all-metal aircraft.

                Really? That is, all-metal silts of the 41st year of production, are you sure?
                1. +1
                  9 January 2021 07: 21
                  Quote: Cherry Nine
                  That is, the silts of the 41st year of production are all-metal,

                  You are trying to attribute to me something that I did not say. Wooden elements began to appear in the IL-2 design in the summer of 1941, i.e. during the Second World War, what is wrong?
                  1. +1
                    9 January 2021 16: 09
                    Il-2 went into series by order of A.I. Shakhurin No. 739 from 14.12.40 g. At that time it was an all-metal aircraft or what?
                    1. 0
                      9 January 2021 17: 26
                      On 22.06.41, 249 Il-2s were produced, which is quite comparable to the number of Breguet. You, my friend, breed some kind of turuses on wheels. Do you like being in a lateral position?
                      1. +1
                        9 January 2021 19: 08
                        Stay focused, if possible.
                        Quote: mark1
                        Wooden elements began to appear in the Il-2 design from the summer of 1941, i.e. during the Second World War, what is wrong?

                        You said that initially Ilyushin designed and issued for tests, which were carried out in the spring of 41, an all-metal airframe, and wooden elements and, accordingly, a drawdown in flight performance appeared already during the war. This is new information for me, so I would like more details.

                        But, judging by your stern maneuvers, there will be no details.
                      2. 0
                        10 January 2021 07: 06
                        Quote: Cherry Nine
                        You said that initially Ilyushin designed and issued for tests, which were carried out in the spring of 41, an all-metal airframe, and wooden elements and, accordingly, a drawdown in flight performance appeared already during the war.

                        It was not me who said it, you said it (you generally like to declare something for someone) It was about the first series and not about the design path in creating an attack aircraft. In the first series, the aircraft is all-metal.
                      3. +1
                        10 January 2021 11: 06
                        Quote: mark1
                        In the first series, the aircraft is all-metal.

                        Quote: Cherry Nine
                        This is new information for me,

                        OK, I'll find out.
            2. +4
              8 January 2021 18: 44
              Well, the latter, by the end of hostilities, the French lost 9 out of 10 of their attack aircraft.
              In the literature specifically on Bre.693s such figures are found.
              Participated in hostilities from 106 to 128 units. For 500 sorties, according to some data, losses amounted to 47 machines, according to others - 79. I am inclined to think that such a big difference because the second figure is most likely the total losses of Bre.691, Bre.693, Bre.695.
              1. +2
                8 January 2021 21: 15
                Then explain how, out of almost three and a half hundred, by the end of hostilities in France, 26 machines remained in service, plus 3 that flew to Africa?
              2. +1
                8 January 2021 21: 56
                Quote: Undecim
                Participated in hostilities from 106 to 128 units. For 500 sorties, according to some data, losses amounted to 47 machines, according to others - 79. I am inclined to think that such a big difference because the second figure is most likely the total losses of Bre.691, Bre.693, Bre.695.


                In the same special literature, it is indicated that half of the sorties fell on the period of a strange war, and then the tragedy of the first use of the "963" is described, when two of them returned, one crashed during landing, the other was recognized as not repairable. Most interestingly, both were not included in the total losses that day. Only one from the second group was taken into account as a plus.
                And finally, the Vichy government was allowed to leave all the remaining 26 attack aircraft. Three cars were taken by crews to Africa! Where did the rest of the aircraft of this type go?
                That is, out of more than 350 cars, a little more than three dozen remained in flight condition, taking into account 6 trophy ones !!!
                We subtract 350 from 35 and divide by 35 we get 9. Thus, 9 out of 10 cars of this brand went to "scrap" in three weeks.
                1. 0
                  8 January 2021 22: 44
                  This is an "inventory" of all French aircraft captured by Germany.

                  There are only 690 Breguet 99 series aircraft. Flew away - 5. Total - 104. Of them Bre.693 - 46.
                  1. +1
                    8 January 2021 23: 14

                    This is the production of aircraft. As you can see, during all the time Bre.693, 695, 696 produced 142 copies. How many of which, the table is not, but in other sources we find that there were at least 693 Bre.110. The Air Force received 106. Subtract the remaining 46. Losses - 64 pieces or 60 percent. If divided by 500 departures - 0,128 aircraft per departure.
            3. +1
              8 January 2021 19: 47
              not at all
              Well, the latter, by the end of hostilities, the French lost 9 out of 10 of their attack aircraft.
              What is it like ? like the author wrote that 47 cars were lost. It's not 9 out of 10 at all.
              And it was quite possible to modernize - see Bre-700C2.
              and at least - to make a couple of suspension brackets under the wings under 200 kilos. Actually, during the war, everyone did just that.
            4. 0
              10 January 2021 15: 54
              I think if Br-693 (Br-695) was so outstanding then the losses should not have been so catastrophic.
              We are looking at the results of the first sortie at the avenger. There were possibilities for modernization, even without replacing the engine. For example, the range - it was twice that of the IL-2, i.e. about 400 liters could be removed and the armament or armor reinforced. Lower machine gun mount - its effectiveness is highly questionable given the fact that there was only one gunner. There is nothing to say about the machine guns in the nacelles.
              And the most radical way, of course, is 14N. As you know, the Bre-700C2 prototype has shown excellent results. But this, of course, is not a one-month job.
          2. +1
            8 January 2021 21: 34
            We have to remind you that armor became the norm after the French company, and before that, its absence was the norm. The Krauts bf-109E3 with armored backrest, headrest and bulletproof glass appeared in the fall of 40
    2. +4
      8 January 2021 12: 07
      Yes, there were many good things. In terms of speed, rate of climb and range, it significantly surpassed the same Il-2 (even in a single-seat version), and the Hs-129. The range, by the way, could be cut, and a couple of hundred kilos could be put into service and protection. In principle, Breguet had both booking and protection, but it was never superfluous to strengthen it. The protection was ineffective, and the fact that most of the other aircraft simply did not have it, the French pilots had little comfort. As for the booking, it was. The French began to stage it earlier than others.
      According to this https://wiki.warthunder.com/Br.693AB2
      it was more than decent for the 40th year
      10 mm steel seat for pilot
      10 mm steel in front of gunner
      Self-sealing fuel tanks (3 in each wing)
      to be continued
    3. +2
      8 January 2021 16: 13
      What's good, I have already written as well. For now, I just want to add that Goering's department was generally very dismissive of the French planes and in vain - there were very interesting designs. Another thing is that interest could be in 40, maximum 41 years. And later, of course, the train left.
      1. +1
        8 January 2021 17: 18
        Quote: sivuch
        What's good, I have already written as well. For now, I just want to add that Goering's department was generally very dismissive of the French planes and in vain - there were very interesting designs. Another thing is that interest could be in 40, maximum 41 years. And later, of course, the train left.

        They put French motors on their gliders at most.
        1. +2
          8 January 2021 19: 20
          They put French motors on their gliders at most.
          that's what I say - stupid.
  2. +1
    8 January 2021 10: 40
    Two stationary machine guns firing backwards - very unexpected. And what is the ammunition for the barrel?
    1. +1
      8 January 2021 12: 56
      https://www.armedconflicts.com/Breguet-Bre-695-AB-2-t110396
      1x fixed, forward-firing 20 mm HS-404 canon (60 bullets)
      2x fixed, forward-firing 7,5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun (500 bullets)
      1x flexible, rearward-firing 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun in rear cockpit (700 bullets),
      1x fixed, rearward-firing 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun in ventral position (500 bullets)
      but other sources, respectively
      https://wiki.warthunder.com/Br.693AB2
      The Br.693AB2 is armed with:
      1 x 20 mm Hispano 404 cannon, nose-mounted (90 rpg)
      2 x 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns, nose-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total
      Defensive armor
      2 x Turret7.5 mm MAC 1934T machine gun
      Ammunition500 rounds
      Fire rate1350 shots / min
  3. +4
    8 January 2021 11: 57
    From current photos on German Ebay. Described as Poland in 1939, but in my opinion belongs to the Breuget 690 family.
  4. +5
    8 January 2021 12: 46
    In my opinion, the author described the history of the aircraft creation somewhat casually. First of all, it would be worth saying that the main problem of the aircraft was the engines and these problems were not always objective. For example, the competition with Henri Potet was too unequal - he opened the doors in the minaviation with his foot. Therefore, he received all the Hispano-Suizy then at his disposal.
    Further, the author mentioned the 695 model, but did not say how it differs. And it was distinguished by the American engine Pratt & Whitney R-1535-SB4-G Twin Wasp Junior (552 kW / 750 k), three-bladed propeller Hamilton-Standard. The engine was more powerful than both Frenchmen, but it had a greater mass, a larger midsection, so the flight characteristics sagged, and even the handling deteriorated. And as for the standard gnome-rons, the same stood on the Henschels. It is known what fame they had, the French were still lucky - summer in France and summer in North Africa or in the Don steppes are two very big differences.
  5. +2
    8 January 2021 19: 58
    Almost French "Beaufighter"

    Did the author not even quite understand this in praise or in a mockery? Frankly speaking, both machines are absolutely miserable, as are the vast majority of these same twin-engine half-bomber half-fighters ..

    Tell me honestly, well, nobody succeeded! Rare exceptions can be counted on the fingers of one hand .. Well, maybe Lightning P-38, almost the same 1939 .. But it has 2x1475 l / s (Allison V-1710-111). What are the 600-700 French horses?
  6. +1
    8 January 2021 23: 23
    Bf.110 from Messerschmitt was not a candle to G.1 from Fokker

    Bold but reckless.

    After testing, German experts did not express interest in attack aircraft

    Naturally, because the next "masterpiece" in the dreams of Roman.
  7. 0
    9 January 2021 16: 40
    Roman, I would slightly change the title of the article: "French almost" Beaufighter ".
    It is still not "almost French", but completely French, but precisely "almost" Beaufighter.
    This is me, finding fault with trifles. And the article is very interesting - thank you very much!
  8. wow
    0
    15 March 2021 09: 30
    He is writing an article like a specialist, then why does he talk about "wings"? If the aircraft is not a biplane according to the scheme, then it has one wing, consisting of two CONSOLES and a CENTROPLANE (left wing console and right wing console). The biplane has two wings - an upper and a lower one.

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