marina militare Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic (Marina Militare) - high tier maritime bomber for Italy

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Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic

 

        Breguet Atlantic is an "all-weather" twin-turboprop maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft, produced in France, characterized by a high autonomy and a wide range of action. In Italy it entered service in 1972 (compared to 1965 for France) replacing the glorious Grumman S2F-1 Tracker, with similar antisubmarine duties.

       Br.1150 played this role more than admirably during the entire period of the Cold War, when the presence of Soviet naval means in the Mediterranean was particularly intense. In more recent times, the Breguet Atlantic have been the protagonists of maritime surveillance during the Mare Nostrum and Mare Sicuro operations, setting records for flying without refueling and participating in numerous support missions.

       Characterized by a high autonomy and wide range of action, it operated with a mixed crew (Air Force to Navy), made up of 10-13 pilots and specialists, a valid example of synergy between the Armed Forces. After 45 years of activity at the service of the institutions and with its well over 250 thousand flight hours behind it without any loss, the BR-1150 passed the baton to the Leonardo P-72A, carrying out the last flight activity on 22 November 2017.

https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/forze-aeree/Pagine/P_72A_MPA.aspx

      The Atlantic has left an indelible mark on the Armed Force and in the hearts of the lucky ones who have been able to operate there, both for its operational capacity and for the reliability and safety demonstrated over the years.

      Unlike France, Italy had only initial variant of the Atlantic (I), which weapon was limited to mainly torpedoes, depth charges, mines, sonar buoys and it could also use conventional bombs. Though Italian Br.1150 were also certified to deliver the B57 nuclear depth bomb.

Spoiler

"The first Atlantic prototype flew in October 1961 and some 40 were produced for the French Navy. The Netherlands, West Germany, and Italy also acquired Mk.1 aircraft. The Mk.1 version is no longer in production, but improved Atlantic Mk.2s are being manufactured for the French Navy. The Italian planes, however, are also being modernized, and the upgrade is to be completed by late-1992. One nuclear-capable squadron of nine aircraft is based at Catania/Fontanerossa, Sicily, adjacent to NAS Sigonella where U.S. B57 nuclear depth bombs are stored. The Atlantics took over the anti-submarine nuclear delivery role from Italian S-2F Tracker aircraft in the late 1970s. Preparations for receiving a nuclear capability were well advanced when the Initial Safety Study of the Atlantic with the B57 nuclear depth bomb was conducted in June 1979. Forty IAF personnel and two aircraft came to the United States to conduct certification flight tests of the aircraft with the B57. In February 1981, certification tests for special equipment necessary for delivering the B57. In addition, in the first half of 1981, a logistic support system for the Atlantic program of cooperation was established. A nuclear Safety Study of the Atlantics was conducted at NAS Sigonella by U.S. personnel in 1982. In March 1983, the first four aircraft were finally certified for the use of the B57. On 2 February 1984, another important milestone was passed when the U.S. Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) issued "Safety Rules for the Non-US Italian Atlantic (Breguet 1150) Aircraft" with the B57. And, during 1984, the remaining aircraft of the squadron underwent nuclear certification tests. The first nuclear Operational Safety Review for the Atlantic with the B57 took place in 1985. This insured the planes were meeting the expected safety standards finalized in the initial safety study and JCS rules. The Atlantics underwent a U.S. Navy nuclear certification inspection in October 1986 in Italy. A year later, in September 1987, another non-U.S. NATO nuclear certification of the planes took place. A second Atlantic/B57 nuclear Operational Safety Review occurred in April 1988. Atlantics were also under consideration for the new B90 Nuclear Depth/Strike Bomb (NDSB). As early as February 1986, work was done to include the Atlantics in the NDSB [B90 nuclear depth/strike bomb] nuclear stockpile-to- target sequence. The United Kingdom The Nimrod MR Mk.2 is a Royal Air Force (RAF) all-weather, four-engine, turbofan, dual-capable, maritime patrol aircraft. The first flight of the Nimrod Mk.1 prototype was in 1967, and the first Mk.2 was delivered to the RAF in 1979. Royal Air Force Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft can deliver United States B57 nuclear depth bombs and are certified by the U.S. for nuclear missions."

 

Characteristics:

- wingspan: 36.30 m;  - length: 37.71 m; - height: 11.33 m;

- maximum take-off weight: 43.500 kg;

- propulsion system: two 6,100 HP Rolls-Royce Tyne RTy20 Mk.21 turboprop engines;

- maximum speed: 658 km / h;

- ceiling: 9,200 m; - range: 8,000 km (18 hours);

- crew: 2 pilots, 1 flight engineer, 1 tactical coordinator, 5 operators, 1-3 observers;

- armament: up to 3,500 kg of payload (torpedoes , depth charges, mines, bombs and sonar buoys).

 

Photos:

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Why it should be in game in the Italian tech tree:

- it fills the gap between Italian WW2 bombers and jet fighter-bombers;

Spoiler

For example, in my modified jet tree it can lead to to F-84 family.

- it can change B-29 as a nuclear strike aircraft for Italy, so along with F-84F and F-104S, Atlantic will give Italy nuclear strike aircraft which could be really used by Italy instead of totally unrelated B-29, Canberra and Jaguar;

- It introduces Marina Militare planes into the game;

- It's big, beautiful and I think it's the only French aircraft used by Italy postwar.

 

Sources:

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breguet_Br_1150_Atlantic

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B57_nuclear_bomb

Aeronautica Militare

http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/mezzi/mstorici/Pagine/Breguet-Br-1150-Atlantic.aspx

http://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/storia/museostorico/Pagine/Breguet-Atlantic-Br.1150.aspx

Marina Militare

https://www.marina.difesa.it/media-cultura/Notiziario-online/Pagine/20170919_phaseout_atlantic.aspx

Nuclear Warships and Naval Nuclear Weapons 1990: A Complete Inventory by Joshua Handler and William M. Arkin

https://fas.org/nuke/guide/nep5text.htm

 

PS of course this is a plane built by French and if it comes to Italian tree, France should get it as well:

 

Edited April 12, 2021 by _Condottiero_

[GandhiKhan 187]

Open for discussion! 
I really quite like this plane, would be quite fun! 

[Nicholas_Concu 2,636]

+1
Would be a great addition to the Italian tech tree, and a needed one considering there isnt many post war bombers for Italy.

[Grimbergen95 362]

+1 for the bomber line

[Handorik 539]

18 hours ago, _Condottiero_ said:

- armament: up to 3,500 kg of payload (torpedoes , depth charges, mines, bombs and sonar buoys).

 

18 hours ago, _Condottiero_ said:

Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic

      Unlike France, Italy had only initial variant of the Atlantic (I), which weapon was limited to mainly torpedoes, depth charges, mines, sonar buoys and it could also use conventional bombs. Though Italian Br.1150 were also certified to deliver the B57 nuclear depth bomb.

 

 

It should be specificated what means ''bombs'' or ''conventional bombs'' for a maritime patrol aircraft like the Atlantic, which used small illuminating and smoke bombs to mark submarines (especially in trainings activities), or, in 60s and 70s, small bombs (few kilos) were used to make noise in the water (like a sonar ping) to spot an enemy submarine (the "Juliet" system).

In the S2F-1 "Tracker" suggestion there is also the same situation: the author (@Nicholas_Concu) write about bombs as loadout but is not specified what type of bombs and the ''access to bomb'' seems to be a reason to use it as ''ground bomber'', but according to the weapon loadout chart posted in the same suggestion there are listed only the ''5-7kg practice bombs'' for training.

 

So I would to know if there are sources of the use of ''general pourpose'' bombs used by Italian ATL1s, or if the conventional bombs loadout would be totally fictional.

Edited April 13, 2021 by Handorik

[Охраняет-Камни 6,650]

1 hour ago, Handorik said:

 

 

It should be specificated what means ''bombs'' or ''conventional bombs'' for a maritime patrol aircraft like the Atlantic, which used small illuminating and smoke bombs to mark submarines (especially in trainings activities), or, in 60s and 70s, small bombs (few kilos) were used to make noise in the water (like a sonar ping) to spot an enemy submarine (the "Juliet" system).

In the S2F-1 "Tracker" suggestion there is also the same situation: the author (@Nicholas_Concu) write about bombs as loadout but is not specified what type of bombs and the ''access to bomb'' seems to be a reason to use it as ''ground bomber'', but according to the weapon loadout chart posted in the same suggestion there are listed only the ''5-7kg practice bombs'' for training.

 

So I would to know if there are sources of the use of ''general pourpose'' bombs used by Italian ATL1s, or if the conventional bombs loadout would be totally fictional.

I've seen multiple web articles about Br.1150 state "conventional bombs", even if they weren't in use in Marina Militare (that's why I wrote "it could"), they still can be added in game (like AIM-9J for German Phantom). But for more specified information we need manual of course.

[Cedjoe 5,482]

9 hours ago, Handorik said:

 

 

It should be specificated what means ''bombs'' or ''conventional bombs'' for a maritime patrol aircraft like the Atlantic, which used small illuminating and smoke bombs to mark submarines (especially in trainings activities), or, in 60s and 70s, small bombs (few kilos) were used to make noise in the water (like a sonar ping) to spot an enemy submarine (the "Juliet" system).

In the S2F-1 "Tracker" suggestion there is also the same situation: the author (@Nicholas_Concu) write about bombs as loadout but is not specified what type of bombs and the ''access to bomb'' seems to be a reason to use it as ''ground bomber'', but according to the weapon loadout chart posted in the same suggestion there are listed only the ''5-7kg practice bombs'' for training.

 

So I would to know if there are sources of the use of ''general pourpose'' bombs used by Italian ATL1s, or if the conventional bombs loadout would be totally fictional.

French ATL2 have been dropping some laser guided bombs in Mali recently 

Spoiler

Though laser designators weren't retrofitted on the ATL1, I imagine they were at least compatible with most types of conventional bombs.

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

This aircraft will be especially important if Submarines ever get added.  Also when Missile Naval is a thing (hopefully years from now)

[EvenManatee887@live 129]

+1 from me, happy to see this suggestion finally got up, I get the reservations with the type, but I think it is one of the only ways for Italian bombers, both naval and normal, to continue in some fashion. 

[Milocat 4,857]

I'll support this, it would be a nice high-tier bomber, especially as we get more anti-ship missiles.

[jd_hog77 332]

+1

[IAHMADI 28]

that would be very lovely and unique bomber 

 

[ironcell26 252]

+1, the lack of bombers after the P108 is a issue this plane might solve

[Охраняет-Камни 6,650]

Found a very interesting page:

https://sonovisiongroup.de/wp-content/uploads/panos/Breguet_Atlantic/tour.html

- German Br.1150

[TerraStalker 158]

+1 Italy needs bombers

[Охраняет-Камни 6,650]

[SturmWerwolf 793]

+1 Unique Aircraft. Definitely as a "Multirole Bomber", due to it's Weapons bay. 

[OpusAudereSemper 80]

+1 seems fun to play