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France's Amiot 143 twin engine bomber1

Amiot 143:

Design

The Amiot 143 was designed for a Armée de l'Air 1928 specification that called for a day and night long range bomber, escort, and reconnaissance aircraft.1,2

The Amiot 143 was an all metal design.2

Prototype

Amiot, Blériot, Breguet and SPCA submitted prototypes and the Amiot 140 was picked.1,2 The 143 and 143M were in service from the middle 1930s.1

The 140MX prototype first flew in April 1931.2

The first flight of the Amiot 143M production model was in April 1935.2

Production

An order was placed for 40 of the Amiot 140s in late 1933.1,2 With a new engine this was changed to the Amiot 143.1 A total of 178 140s, 143s, and 143Ms were built.1

Variants

Usage

The Armée de l'Air used the Amiot 143M starting in July 1935.2

Start of World War II

After France declared war these were used for night reconnaissance and leaflet dropping.1,2

After the invasion of France they were used against the bridges of Sedan on May 14, 1940.1,2 They were also used against railways and bridges in Belgium, France, and Germany.1

There were six bomber groups that were equipped with the Amiot 143M.2

Vichy

The Vichy government used them as transports mostly in North Africa until 1944.1,2

  Amiot 1431 Amiot 143M1
Amiot 143M2
Type   Night bomber1
Reconnaissance1,2
Crew   51,2
Engine (Type)   2: Gnome-Rhône 14 Kirs/Kjrs Mistral Major1
2: Gnome-Rhône 14K Mistral Major2
Cylinders   Radial 141,2
Cooling    
Net HP   870 each1, 900 each2
Propeller blades   3 each2
Dimensions    
Span   80' 5"1, 80' 6"2
24.53 m1,2
Length 59'1
17.951
59' 10"1, 59' 11"2
18.26 m1,2
Height   18' 6"1, 18' 8"2
5.68 m1,2
Wing area   1,076 ft2 1
100 m2 1
Weight    
Empty   13,420 lb1, 13,448 lb2
6,100 kg1,2
Normal load   19,568 lb2
8,876 kg2
Loaded   21,385 lb1,2
9,700 kg1,2
Performance    
Speed @ 13,000' /
4,000 m
  192 mph1
310 kph1
Speed @ 13,120' /
4,000 m
  193 mph2
310 kph2
Cruising speed   154-168 mph2
248-270 kph2
Climb to 13,000' /
4,000 m
with 18,942 lb /
8,610 kg
  14' 20"1
Climb to 13,120' /
4,000'
  14.3 minutes2
Service ceiling   25,920'2, 26,000'1
7,900 m1,2
Range   745 miles1, 746 miles2
1,200 km1,2
Range - maximum   1,240 miles2
1,995 km2
Armament 4: 7.7 mm Lewis MG1 4: 7.5 mm MAC 1934 MG1
Nose turret   1: 7.5 mm MG2
Dorsal turret   1: 7.5 mm MG2
Gondola   2: 7.5 mm MG2
Bombs external racks   1,760 lb1
800 kg1
Bombs internal   1,760 lb1
800 kg1
Bombs   3,960 lb2
1,796 kg2

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
  2. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
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