France's Amiot 143 Twin Engine Bomber,1

Amiot 143:

Prototype

The Armée de l'Air put out it's requirement for a day and night bomber, reconnaissance, and escort aircraft.1 Amiot, Blériot, Breguet and SPCA submitted prototypes and the Amiot 140 was picked.1 The 143 and 143M were in service from the middle 1930s.1

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

Variants

Start of World War II

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

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

Vichy

The Vichy government used them as transports mostly in North Africa.1

  Amiot 1431 Amiot 143M1
Type   Night bomber1
Reconnaissance1
Crew   51
Engine (Type)   2: Gnome-Rhône 14 Kirs/Kjrs Mistral Major1
Cylinders   Radial 141
Cooling    
Net HP   870 each1
Dimensions    
Span   80' 5"1
24.53 m1
Length 59'1
17.951 		59' 10"1
18.26 m1
Height   78' 6"1
5.68 m1
Wing area   1,076 ft2 1
100 m2 1
Weight    
Empty   13,420 lb1
6,100 kg1
Loaded   21,385 lb1
9,700 kg1
Performance    
Speed @ 13,000' / 4,000 m   192 mph1
310 kph1
Climb   14' 20" to 13,000' / 4,000 m with 18,942 lb / 8,610 kg weight1
Service ceiling   26,000'1
7,900 m1
Range   745 miles1
1,200 km1
Armament 4: 7.7 mm Lewis MG1 4: 7.5 mm MAC 1934 MG1
Above engine    
Rounds    
Wings    
Rounds    
Propeller hub    
Rounds    
Bombs external racks   1,760 lb1
800 kg1
Bombs internal   1,760 lb1
800 kg1
Production    

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
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