Latécoère 299 Developed for Carrier Operations?

Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules

chris ballance

Airman 1st Class
143
137
Jul 21, 2022
Sorry if this is a obvious question, but did the French develop the Latécoère 299 with the primary purpose of it being a carrier aircraft? I saw where the first prototype was described as "shipborne recce/torpedo-bomber" (prototype built without the the Hispano-Suiza 12Y engine), but have not yet seen a reference to carrier trials. Besides modificaitons required for landing gear and the the more powerful Hispano-Suiza 12Y engine introduced with the 2nd prototype, where there any other major changes from the Latécoère 298?


 
Last edited:
cammerjeff said:
With the wing folding system I would think it was being developed for Carrier use.
View attachment 800004
source the Web
Click to expand...
I agree, maybe the tall hook is missing because the prototype had not yet progressed that far when the war started? I was looking to see if it it had different flaps or other modifications for carrier landings, but I have not yet seen up close photos of the Laté 298B which had folding wings.
 
Last edited:
don4331 said:
Same plane - so I learned something today, thx

View attachment 800009
Once you know what to look for you can see the almost completely retracted arresting gear
View attachment 800011

Now what were the French thinking with the 2nd engine?!
Click to expand...
Yes! Thank you. After seeing the drawing, the hook is easier to see. Now I wonder if one of the prototypes ever landed on the Béarn? What an unfortunate carrier she was
 
Last edited:
don4331 said:
Now what were the French thinking with the 2nd engine?!
Click to expand...
It served as an engine test bed for the later Arsenal VB-10

Arsenal VB 10 Heavy Interceptor Fighter

Started before WWII, the development of the French Arsenal VB 10 was delayed throughout the war. Powered by tandem-engines, the aircraft flew after WWII, but it was outperformed by other aircraft, …
oldmachinepress.com


The French were not the only ones to consider a tandem engine layout. Do335 reached metal while the proposed Fairey Naval Strike Fighter remained on paper.

Fairey Project A

Model of Fairey Project A strike fighter for the Royal Navy circa 1944. Artist's concept Fairey Project A strike fighter. Source: http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/photo_albums/timeline/ww2/Fairey%20Firefly.htm
www.secretprojects.co.uk

The layout lends itself to a more compact twin engined layout than a conventional twin especially for carrier use.
 
chris ballance said:
Yes! Thank you. The after seeing the drawing, the hook is easier to see. Now I wonder if one of the prototypes ever landed on the Béarn? What an unfortunate carrier she was
Click to expand...
No, while the Laté 299 was still under development, by june 1940 the Béarn was disarmed at La Martinique where it collected barnacles during three years.
It was then transferred in the USA on september 8, 1943 for modernization as an airplane transport.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Similar threads

S
Request help identifying Carrier-based Brewster aircraft type
Replies
5
Views
485
SaparotRob
Identification request for Chinese aircraft
Replies
3
Views
814
Wurger
Can anyone help me identifying this B-24 from the 93rd Operations Group? (Markings on Rudder: B- 273507-D)
Replies
7
Views
1K
German WWII Archive
Looking for serial #s for Gerald Johnson's P-38s
2
Replies
23
Views
2K
Davecww1
P-47 from a carrier?
2 3 4
Replies
63
Views
6K
MiTasol
Menu
Log in
Register