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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting a new aircraft built by the CAMS company: the CAMS 55-10 Col
In the late 1920s, the French Navy was seeking a new long-range patrol and light bomber seaplane capable of operating over the vast maritime areas covered by the French fleet, particularly in overseas territories. Drawing on its experience with previous flying boats, CAMS proposed a new aircraft derived from the CAMS 51, an earlier model that had failed to meet expectations. This new project gave rise to the CAMS 55.
The CAMS 55 was a twin-engine biplane featuring a rather unusual “push-pull” engine configuration, with one engine mounted at the front of the nacelle and the other at the rear. This layout offered several advantages, notably reduced asymmetric thrust in the event of an engine failure and a relatively compact profile. However, it also presented significant risks. The front propeller was positioned directly above the cockpit, creating a particularly dangerous situation for the crew in the event of an accident. Several incidents marked the aircraft’s service history, including at least one fatal crash.
The CAMS 55 was produced in several variants, with successive versions featuring different engines, power outputs, and aerodynamic modifications. These developments gradually improved the aircraft’s performance and reliability, allowing it to remain in service for several years despite its unconventional design.
Among these variants was the CAMS 55-10, one of the most refined versions of the aircraft. A total of 32 units were ordered by the French Navy (28 standard models and 4 colonial variants) and entered service. The aircraft presented in this post is the colonial version of the CAMS 55-10, distinguished primarily by its significantly more powerful engines, upgraded from two 500 hp engines to two 600 hp units. Apart from this difference, the aircraft is identical to the standard version in every respect.
CAMS 55-10s were distributed among several French Naval Aviation squadrons and deployed across the French colonial empire. Their ability to operate from the water made them particularly valuable in overseas territories, where conventional airfields were often scarce or non-existent. From their bases, they carried out maritime reconnaissance, patrol, and surveillance missions over vast areas.
At the outbreak of World War II, 29 of the 32 CAMS 55-10s remained in service. Although increasingly outclassed by the more modern aircraft entering service at the time, they continued to perform their assigned missions with French forces.
It is visually almost impossible to distinguish between the standard and colonial versions; therefore, some images may not show the correct version of the aircraft.
Characteristics
Length : 15.03 m
Width : 20.40 m
Height : 5.41 m
Mass :
- Empty : 4 590 kg
- Full : 6 900 kg
The aircraft is powered by two 600 hp HS 12 Lbr r engines in a push-pull configuration, enabling it to reach a top speed of 210 km/h and a ceiling of 3,400 m. It has a range of 1,250 km. This change in engine is the main difference between the two aircraft; it should be noted that the structure of the colonial version is reinforced to account for the possibility of rougher landings than those experienced by the standard version.
The crew consists of four people: a pilot, a co-pilot, and two gunners.
Weapons
For its time, the CAMS 55-10’s armament is quite respectable; indeed, although its bomb-carrying and release capacity is limited to 125 kg—a very low figure—the aircraft nonetheless boasts effective defensive armament, comprising two gunner positions (one forward and one aft), each equipped with a twin 7.5mm machine-gun mount.
In the game, this aircraft would be an interesting addition as a low-BR seaplane for the French tree, filling a gap since the tree currently lacks an equivalent.
