Amiot 354

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiot_354

The Amiot 354 was the last in a series of fast, twin-engine bombers which fought
with the French Air Force in limited numbers during the Battle of France.

The Amiot 350 series originated in the same 1934 requirement as a rival to the
Lioré et Olivier LeO 451. Derived from the Amiot 341 mail plane, the Amiot 340
prototype was involved in a propaganda misinformation flight to Berlin in August
1938 to convince the Germans that the French employed modern bombers. Though 130
machines were ordered by the French government that year, production delays and
ordered modifications ensured that September 1939 saw no delivered aircraft.
Eventually, the ordered number of this very modern aircraft reached 830, though
ultimately only 80 machines were received by the Air Ministry. The main variant
was the twin-tailed 351; however, due to various delays, the single-tailed 354
was accepted into service as an interim type.

The Amiot 351 was planned to mount one 7.5 mm (.295 in) MAC 1934 machine gun in
nose and ventral positions and one 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon in the
dorsal position. Due to technical problems with the armament installation, many
aircraft went to operational units with only a light machine gun in the dorsal
position.

Role
Bomber

Manufacturer
Avions Amiot

Introduction
1940

Primary user
French Air Force

Number built
ca. 86

In May 1940, the Amiot 351/354 was in the process of equipping just two bomber
groupes: GB 1/21 and GB II/21 based at Avignon. Though 200 were in the final
stages of construction, only 35 were ready for flight. This situation was
exacerbated by the Amiot 351/354 being built in three factories, two of which
were later bombed by the Germans. On 16 May 1940, the Amiot 351/354's carried
out armed reconnaissance sorties over Maastricht in the Netherlands - the first
operation conducted by planes of this type.

By June, the Amiot 351/354 was also delivered for GB I/34 and GB II/34, neither
flying them in combat. At that time, all Amiot 351/354s were based on the
northern front. Three had been lost in combat, ten in training accidents. All
aircraft were ordered to evacuate to Africa on 17 June, 37 surviving the trip.
As their numbers were too few to engage the Italians, the aircraft were sent
back to Metropolitan France and their groupes disbanded in August 1940.

Five Amiot 351/354s continued to be used as mail planes after the Battle of
France. Four Amiot 351/354s were commandeered by the Luftwaffe as transports,
two found service in the 1./KG200 special service geschwader.

Engines taken from these aircraft were later used on Messerschmitt Me 323 cargo
transports.

The Amiot 351/354 saw service with the French Air Force (80?)

Specifications (Amiot 354 B4)

General characteristics
Crew: four (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier)
Length: 14.50 m (37 ft 6¾ in)
Wingspan: 22.83 m (74 ft 10¾ in)
Height: 4.08 m (13 ft 4½ in)
Wing area: 67.0 m² (721 ft²)
Empty weight: 4,735 kg (10,417 lb)
Loaded weight: 11,324 kg (24,912 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Gnome-Rhône 14N48/49 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 791
kW (1,060 hp) (take off power) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 480 km/h (259 knots, 298 mph) at 4,000 m (13,100 ft)
Cruise speed: 349 km/h (189 knots , 217 mph) (long range cruise)
Range: 3,502 km (1,891 nmi, 2,175 mi)
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (32,800 ft)
Climb to 4,000 m (13,100 ft): 8.7 min

Armament

Guns: 3 × 7.5 mm (.295 in) MAC 1934 machine guns or 2 × 7.5 mm (.295 in) MAC
1934 machine guns and 1 × 20 mm cannon
Bombs: 1,200 kg (2,650 lb)



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