french float plane Latécoère Laté.298, Topedo float plane

[CaID 8,996]

i would like to suggest the french attacker prototype, the Laté 298

This aircraft, distinguished by the extreme strength of the air-frame and excellent manoeuvrability, showed itself well during the German offensive in France in May 1940. Laté 298 was designed in the Bureau at the Latécoère plant in Toulouse in 1934. It had to meet the requirements of the task for a modern float torpedo carrier, issued by the fleet command a year earlier. It was assumed that this aircraft will replace Laté 29.0. the prototype, Laté 298-01, was received in the spring of 1936. Then he was transported to Saint-la-Raur-de-la-Salanca, where tests were to be conducted on Lake Locate. The first flight took place on May 8.

The aircraft was a free-carrying monoplane with a mid wings configuration. On it was mounted the 12-cylinder V-shaped liquid-cooled engine of Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrsl in 880 hp. The double-wagon all-metal wing was divided into four sections. The entire rear edge was occupied by shields and ailerons. The internal sections of the wing, connected with the frames of the fuselage, contained semi-scraped radiators placed between the side members. The fuselage was an all-metal construction with a bearing shell. It had a rectangular section. The crew could consist of two or three people. One torpedo "type 1926 DA" weighing 670 kg was placed in a semi-recessed position on the ventral suspension.The horizontal wing was all-metal, and the vertical one had metal frames and wooden ribs, covered with a cloth. In each of the large unidirectional floats there was a tank for 260 liters of fuel. The floats were attached to the wings with N-shaped struts and paired struts to the fuselage.

Factory tests ended on September 24, 1936. The plane flew them 24 hours and 35 minutes. During the tests in the chassis, a pipe was connected, connecting the two floats. It was preserved on all subsequent machines. On September 25, Laté 298-01 flew to Saint-Raphael for official tests. On March 17, 1937, the French fleet ordered 36 seaplanes, 12 of which were to be distinguished by the folding of the outer sections of the wing for operation at the Commandan Test. Accordingly, on August 10, contracts were signed for 24 Laté 298A aircraft without folding the wing and 12 Laté 298B with folding of the outer sections of the wing, stabilizer ends, divided into two parts by shields and double control. The Laté 298B also provided for the deployment of a fourth crew member. The place of the observer should be in the fuselage behind the place of the arrow. Both modifications were carried by the TGPU / CERA torpedo carrier, on which it was possible to suspend an additional fuel tank with a capacity of 534 liters (for the so-called IIP reconnaissance with a flight range up to 2200 km) or a smoke device (for "task V" - cover for ships ) The armament could be supplemented with two GPU bomb detonators for 150 kg bombs (for "task II" -bombing) or nine holders for lighting missiles (for "task IV" - night reconnaissance) .The serial aircraft of the Laté 298A type learned factory numbers from 1 up to 24, and Laté 298 B numbers began with 25. On April 2, 1938, and a new order for 15 Laté 298B (NN 37-51) and five Laté 298D (NN 52-56), the last modification was similar to type B, but the wing did not fold. The designation Laté 298C was assigned modifications that were not implemented.

June 22, 1938 the Laté 298-01 for the first time took to the air with a screw-automatic "Ratier", equipped with electrical control step, similar to that with which they began to collect the first production aircraft in Biskarossa. Fuselages and floats for them were manufactured in Montadran, wings and tail fins - in Angle near Bayonne. Since October 28, 1938, the experienced Laté 298-01 began to be used for retraining pilots in Saint-Raphael, where they were temporarily deployed by squadron T2. At the beginning of the next month, the personnel of the T1 squadron joined the retraining process. October 29 in Biskarossa flew the first production Laté 298A. The delivery of aircraft in the squadron T1 and T2 began in December. In early 1939 squadron HB1, based on the mother ship "Commando Test", also received Laté 298A before the appearance of the Laté 298B with folding wings. The serial Laté 298A was very close to the experienced Laté 298-01 except for the cockpit, redesigned to improve visibility.

Armament

the Laté 298 armament is a bit light. armed with 2x 7.5mm Darnes machine gun with 300 rounds each place over the engine, the plane have some firepower to fight other aircrafts, but this is nothing impressive. the plane also have a raer gunner who is also armed with the 7.5mm Darnes machine-gun with 800 rounds to defend the plane from the enemy aircraft that migh fallow him. this is also pretty basic. but the main feature of his armament remain the capacity to carry the torpedo and bombs. this make this plance a pretty decent one against ships

 

Fix gun

• 2x 7.5mm Darnes (300 rounds per guns)

Flexible gun

• 1x 7.5mm Darnes in the rear position (800 rounds)

Bombs

• 2x 75kg GPU bomb
• 1x 150kg GPU bomb

Torpedo

• 1x torpedo type 1926 DA 450mm 650kg
• 1x type 1925 DA  400mm 750kg

 

Performance

The plane have a pretty decent performance for a float plane of the mid 30s. it almost reach 300 km/h and is powered by a 880 hp engine, this allow the plane to have some decent mobility and even eventually dogfight. but this plane wasn't intended to reach high altitude. having a ceiling of just over 6,000 m, it would not be capable to climb as high as most plane before the crew risk to lose consciousness. the Laté 298D is a tiny bit faster but it almost make no difference. at this level it might had been cause by a better wings at his back that day.

 

General characteristics

• Crew: 3 in reconaissance mission, 2 if carrying a torpedo
• Length: 12,56 m (41 ft 2.5 in)
• Wingspan: 15.5 m (50 ft 10.5 in)
• Height: 5.25 m (17 ft 1.75 in)
• Wing area: 31.6 m² ()
• Empty weight: 3,057 kg (6,750 lb)
• Loaded weight: 4,793 kg (10,582 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs liquid-cooled V-12, (880 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 286 km/h at 2500m
• Range: 1,500km (932 miles)
• Service ceiling: 6,397 m[1] (21,325 ft)

Armament

• 2x 7.5 mm Darne machine guns in the wing with 300 rnds each
• 1x 7.5mm Darne MG in the rear on a flexible mount with 800 rnds
• 1x torpedo type 1926 DA 450mm 650kg or type 1925 DA  400mm 750kg or 2x 75kg GPU bomb or 1x 150kg GPU bomb

 

 

source

https://www.aviafrance.com/latecoere-299-aviation-france-873.htm

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latécoère_298

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latécoère_298

http://en.valka.cz/topic/view/1064/Latecoere-Late-298

http://falkeeins.blogspot.ca/2016/01/latecoere-298-torpedo-bomber-in-battle.html

https://www.aviationsmilitaires.net/v2/base/view/Model/49.html

http://www.aviastar.org/air/france/latecoere_l-299.php

https://www.aviafrance.com/latecoere-299-aviation-france-873.htm

 

 

 

[kurururocks 210]

Open for discussion

[panzerknoef 695]

+1 seems like a great alternative to the V-156-F

[Arghail 1,220]

Repost of complementary infos I had posted on the now archived original thread :

 

Here's a photo of the cockpit of the Latécoère 298, found on this website :  http://www.postedeschoufs.com/aeronavale/1919_1938/03 Les hydravions embarques/les_hydravions_embarques.htm

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I got my hands on these magazines : Air Magazine n°11 and Air Magazine n°12, which came with a lot of interesting pictures about the the Latécoère 298 :

Schematics of the loadout system and the interior of the plane :
 

Hide contents

The bomb shown above is a 150kg bomb type I2 (i). below, the drawing shows a pair of 75kg bombs G2. These are Armor piercing bombs meant to go through ship decks, and are better suited for naval engagements rather than ground engagements.

 

Complementary informations regarding the torpedo launching : November 18, 1936 : Report from Lieutenant de vaisseau Duval (report officer in charge of testing the plane in combat conditions) :

Following two attack test including one successful torpedo launch (Torpedo modèle 1926 DAR), L.V. Duval reported : " The aircraft is able to attack in a dive from 1000 to 1200m, until the authorised limits, that is 360-400 km/h, at 60/70° (9 to 13 second dive) and the target is on sight during the whole dive. Furthermore, it is able to launch a torpedo anywhere between 130 km/h and the max speed at sea level, that is 265 km/h."

Conclusion : We can determine that :
- the aircraft speed limit in a dive is 360-400 km/h @ 60/70° and can dive bomb ;
- the torpedo launch window as far as speed is concerned is anywhere between 130 km/h and 265 km/h, when it comes to the torpedo modèle 1926 DAR.

- The plane is used both for torpedo attacks and Dive bombing, using I2 or G2 armor piercing (perforante) bombs.

Source : AIRMAGAZINE N°11, LE LATÉCOÈRE 298, p.25,26,35.

 

IMAGE DUMP :

 

Spoiler

 

Edited July 22, 2022 by Arghail

[Milocat 4,854]

+1 for sure, definitely want to see some French torpedo planes.

[Alexandros11 100]

This is an aircraft we need to see (alongside the Loire 130), as France had such an interesting range of hydroplanes - and yet in game we see none

I suggest the following as either the standard or a special camouflage for it, the standard colours of the French Navy:

[Arghail 1,220]

Vidéo of the Laté 298 posted on Youtube :

 

 

[Alexandros11 100]

42 minutes ago, Arghail said:

Vidéo of the Laté 298 posted on Youtube :

 

 

It really is amazing to see this aircraft in flight, I find it to be a very beautiful aircraft

[Alexandros11 100]

http://greec.free.fr/word/LATECOERE

298.htm http://jnpassieux.fr/www/html/Late298.php

 

These websites suggest that a 20mm cannon could be fitted firing through the propellor hub. Possibly an HS.404 or an H.S.9.

 

We could also see a Latécoère 298F foldered in with it, which was re-engined with a Jumo 213A engine (1,700HP), this would be significantly faster (Source: https://aviationsmilitaires.net/v3/kb/aircraft/show/347/latecoere-298#tab:tab-versions)

Edited November 8, 2022 by Alexandros11

[Kasukaru 2,164]

Why not? +1

[Alexandros11 100]

Well it's coming to the game! 

[CokeSpray 7,274]

Moved to Implemented Suggestions.