- Yes
- No
Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting a new prototype of a French interwar aircraft, a rather unusual machine: the Amiot 150BE.
By the mid-1930s, Amiot had established itself as a major player in the French aviation industry. The company’s Amiot 143 medium bomber had been produced in large numbers and was operated extensively by French forces. Looking to expand the aircraft’s potential and explore new markets, Amiot began developing several derivatives of the 143. These projects included the Amiot 144, which introduced retractable landing gear, as well as the Amiot 150BE, the naval patrol and bombing aircraft presented here.
Designed in the mid-1930s, the Amiot 150BE was essentially a navalized derivative of the Amiot 143. Instead of conventional landing gear, the aircraft was fitted with large floats, allowing it to operate as a seaplane. The design was intended to meet the French Navy’s requirements for a new “combat reconnaissance seaplane” capable of performing patrol, reconnaissance, and bombing missions.
The prototype made its maiden flight in 1937 in northern France. However, converting the Amiot 143 into a seaplane came with several drawbacks. The floats added considerable weight and increased drag, significantly affecting the aircraft’s handling characteristics. As a result, the Amiot 150BE proved difficult to maneuver, prompting Amiot to redesign its tail section in an attempt to improve its stability and turning performance.
The original single vertical fin was replaced by a much larger twin-fin arrangement, giving the aircraft a distinctive appearance while improving its handling characteristics.
Unfortunately, very little information survives regarding the aircraft’s subsequent testing. The Amiot 150BE was ultimately not selected by the French Navy and never entered production. Its short career came to an abrupt end following a serious accident during a water landing, which heavily damaged the prototype and effectively brought the project to a close.
Characteristics
Length : 18.24 m
Width : 24.53 m
Height : > 5.68 m
Mass :
- Empty : > 5,455 kg
- Max : > 8,611 kg
The aircraft is powered by two Gnome-Rhône 14K engines, each producing 858 hp, allowing it to reach a top speed of 295 km/h and a service ceiling of 7,500 m. Its range is 1,300 km (based on standard Amiot 143 specifications).
The crew consists of five personnel: a pilot, a ventral observer/bombardier, and three gunners (positioned at the nose, dorsal, and ventral stations).
Weapons
The aircraft’s armament is quite comprehensive, featuring a substantial bomb load and several defensive machine guns.
Defensive armament:
- 2 x 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine guns (dorsal turret)
- 2 x 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine guns (nose turret)
- 1 x 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine gun (ventral station)
Offensive armament:
- 800 kg of bombs in the internal bay
- 800 kg of bombs under the wings
In-game, this aircraft would be an interesting addition to the French tree, providing a heavy bomber capable of defending itself against various threats and carrying enough ordnance to inflict significant damage.
