France's Breguet Bre 690 Series bombers1,2
Breguet Bre 6912,
Breguet Bre 6932,
Breguet Bre 6952
Breguet Bre 695:
Design
The French air ministry issued a specification for a fighter that could also be used during the day or night in October 1934.1 The Breguet 690 prototype was 2,200 lb / 1,000 kg heavier than the specification and was initially rejected.1 However, it's rival was slower so the Breguet 690 was selected and developed into the Breguet 691.1
The engines could be removed and overhauled in 90 minutes.1
Prototype
The first flight was in 1937.1
The Bre 690 prototype was first flown on March 23, 1938.2
The Bre 691 and Bre 693 were first flown in October 1939.2
The Bre 695 was first flown in April 1940.2
Production
One hundred were initially ordered.1,2
Delays
The production of the Bre 690 series was delayed because the Potez 630 had priority for the Hispano-Suiza engines.2
- Bre 690: 12
- Bre 691: 792
- Bre 693: 1301, 2242
- Bre 694: 12
- Bre 695: 501,2
- Bre 696: 12
- Total: 3562
Variants
- Bre 690: initial prototype to be a fighter.1
- Bre 691: production model that became the ground attack plane.1
- Bre 692: New fighter design to meet the initial specifications.1 Was to have the Gnome-Rhône engines.2
- Bre 693: had Gnome-Rhône engines.1
- Bre 694: Reconnaissance bomber.2 Was to have 2 - 3 crew.2 Was to built under license by Belgium.2
- Bre 695: had 2 Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp radials.1,2
- Bre 696: Was to have a larger bomb bay.2
- Bre 697: a fighter prototype based on the Bre 692.1
- Bre 700: Was to be the production version of the Bre 697.1
Usage
By May 1940 a few units, mostly with the Groupement 18, were equipped with the Breguet 593.1
The Bre 695 did enter service in 1940 but was used by the GBA 151 of the Armée de l'Air Armistice (Vichy French Air Force) until late 1942.1
In 1943 the remaining Breguets (around 3 dozen) were transferred to Italy and used by the Regia Aeronautica as trainers.1,2
| Breguet 690 series2 | Breguet Bre 6912 | Breguet Bre 6931,2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Light attack bomber2 | Attack bomber1 | |
| Crew | 22 | 21 | |
| Engine (Type) | 2: Hispano Suiza 14AB10/111,2 | 2: Gnome-Rhône 14M-5/71 2: Gnome-Rhône 14M6/72 |
|
| Cylinders | Radial 142 | Radial1, Radial 142 | |
| Cooling | |||
| Net HP | 700 each1,2 | 700 each1,2 | |
| Propeller blades | 32 | ||
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 50' 5"2 15.37 m2 |
51' 7"1 15.73 m1 |
|
| Length | 33' 5"2 10.18 m2 |
31' 9"1 9.67 m1 |
|
| Height | 10' 6"2 3.2 m2 |
10' 5"1 3.19 m1 |
|
| Wing area | 314 ft2 1 29.2 m2 1 |
||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 6,622 lb1, 6,6362 3,010 kg1,2 |
||
| Normal load | 9,920 lb2 4,500 kg2 |
||
| Maximum load | 10,780 lb1, 10,800 lb2 4,900 kg1,2 |
||
| Performance | |||
| Speed | 304 mph1 490 kph1 |
||
| Speed @ 16,400' / 5,000 m |
304 mph2 489 kph2 |
||
| Cruising speed | 185 mph1, 186 - 248 mph2 299 kph1, 300 - 400 kph2 |
||
| Climb to 13,120' / 4,000 m |
7.2 minutes2 | ||
| Service ceiling | 16,400'1, 27,885'2 5,000 m1, 8,500 m2 |
||
| Range | 837 miles1, 840 miles2 1,350 km1, 1,352 km2 |
||
| Armament | 1: 20 mm Hispano Suiza1 3: 7.5 mm Dame MG1 |
||
| Nose | 1: 20 mm2 2: 7.5 mm MG2 |
||
| Rear firing | 1: 7.5 mm MG2 | ||
| Rear cockpit | 1: 7.5 mm MG2 | ||
| Engine nacelles, rear firing Late models |
2: 7.5 mm MG2 | ||
| Bombs | 8: 110 lb2 8: 50 kg2 |
880 lb1 400 kg1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
