CAMS Dornier 24-T3

Mathll · August 3, 2026, 9:19pm

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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.

Today, I am presenting a new seaplane that served with the French Navy: the CAMS Dornier Do 24 T3.

During the 1930s, the Royal Netherlands Navy sought a new long-range flying boat capable of carrying out maritime reconnaissance and patrol missions throughout the vast overseas territories of the Dutch East Indies. Dornier, already renowned for its expertise in designing flying boats, responded with the Do 24, a robust three-engine aircraft that quickly proved to be one of the finest seaplanes of its generation.

At the beginning of the Second World War, Germany invaded the Netherlands and took control of Dornier’s production facilities, along with the aircraft already under construction or recently completed, including twenty-five Do 24s originally intended for Dutch service.The aircraft quickly impressed the Luftwaffe during its evaluation trials and was subsequently adopted for German service, particularly in maritime patrol and air-sea rescue roles. To increase production, manufacturing was expanded to other facilities, including the CAMS factories in France, where several Do 24 T3s were built under German supervision using French industrial resources.

Following the end of the war, the French Navy faced the challenge of rebuilding its maritime aviation capabilities and sought reliable aircraft that could quickly re-equip its squadrons while more modern designs were still under development. CAMS, which had by then become part of SNCASO, proposed resuming production of the Do 24 using the existing manufacturing infrastructure. The proposal was accepted, allowing the aircraft to enter service with the Aéronautique Navale despite its unusual wartime history.

Within the French Navy, the Do 24 equipped several squadrons, including 9F, 30S, and 53S. The aircraft was deployed extensively for maritime patrol, search-and-rescue, liaison, and transport missions, operating both over metropolitan France and throughout the French overseas territories. Some aircraft retained their former Luftwaffe grey-green camouflage for a time, while others were repainted in the white finish adopted by the French Navy after the war. The Do 24 remained in service until 1955, providing reliable service during the difficult post-war reconstruction period before finally being replaced by more modern maritime patrol aircraft.

Characteristics

Length : 21.89 m
Width : 27.00 m
Height : 5.75 m
Mass :

Empty : 10600 kg
Max : 16200 kg

The aircraft is powered by three BMW Bramo 323R-2 engines, each delivering 1,000 hp, enabling the seaplane to reach a top speed of 340 km/h and a service ceiling of 5,900 m. Its range at a cruising speed of 295 km/h is 4,750 km. The crew consists of at least five people: a pilot, a co-pilot, and three gunners.

Weapons

The aircraft’s armament is particularly noteworthy, featuring a solid defensive setup and a substantial bomb-carrying capacity.

Defensive armament:

1 x 7.92mm MG15 machine gun in the front turret (could be fitted with it but was rarely equipped)
1 x 7.92mm MG15 machine gun in the rear turret (could be fitted with it but was rarely equipped)
1 x 20mm MG 151 cannon in the dorsal turret (rarely used and converted into an observation post)

Offensive armament:

1,200 kg of bombs under the wings

It should be noted that the armament was gradually removed from the aircraft as they were repurposed for SAR or patrol missions that did not require such equipment.

Pictures

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