The Amiot 350 series originated in the same 1934 requirement as a rival to the Lioré et Olivier LeO 451. Derived from the Amiot 341mail plane, the Amiot 340prototype was involved in a propaganda 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 modifications ensured that by September 1939 none had been delivered. 830 of this very modern aircraft were eventually ordered but only 80 machines were received by the Air Ministry. The main variant was the twin-tailed 351; due to delays, the single-tailed 354 was accepted into service as an interim type. The Amiot 351 was intended to carry a 7.5 mm (0.295 in) MAC 1934machine gun in nose and ventral positions and a 20 mm (0.79 in) Hispano-Suiza HS.404cannon in the dorsal position. Due to technical problems with the armament installation, many aircraft went to operational units with only a rifle-calibre machine-gun in the dorsal position.
Operational historyedit
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 351/354s 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 and 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./Kampfgeschwader 200 a special service unit. Engines taken from these aircraft were later used on Messerschmitt Me 323 cargo transports.
Variantsedit
Amiot 350 with Hispano-Suiza 12Y 28/29 engines.Amiot 351 with Gnome-Rhône 14N engines.Amiot 356 with Rolls-Royce Merlin X engines.Amiot 370 with Hispano-Suiza 12 Yirs/Yjrs engines.
351 re-engined post-war with two 895 kW (1,200 hp) Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engines (one built)
Amiot 370
single-tail racer with two 642 kW (860 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Yirs / Hispano-Suiza 12Yjrs engines, developed specifically for (later cancelled) Paris-New York race (one built)
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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 354Amiot 351Role BomberManufacturer Avions AmiotFirst flight November 1939Introduction 1940Primary users French Air ForceLuftwaffeNumber built ca 86 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications Amiot 354 B4 6 See also 7 Notes 8 Bibliography 9 External linksDevelopment edit nbsp Amiot 340 prototypeThe Amiot 350 series originated in the same 1934 requirement as a rival to the Liore et Olivier LeO 451 Derived from the Amiot 341 mail plane the Amiot 340 prototype was involved in a propaganda 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 modifications ensured that by September 1939 none had been delivered 830 of this very modern aircraft were eventually ordered but only 80 machines were received by the Air Ministry The main variant was the twin tailed 351 due to delays the single tailed 354 was accepted into service as an interim type The Amiot 351 was intended to carry a 7 5 mm 0 295 in MAC 1934 machine gun in nose and ventral positions and a 20 mm 0 79 in 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 rifle calibre machine gun in the dorsal position Operational history editIn 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 354s 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 and 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 Kampfgeschwader 200 a special service unit Engines taken from these aircraft were later used on Messerschmitt Me 323 cargo transports Variants edit nbsp Amiot 350 with Hispano Suiza 12Y 28 29 engines nbsp Amiot 351 with Gnome Rhone 14N engines nbsp Amiot 356 with Rolls Royce Merlin X engines nbsp Amiot 370 with Hispano Suiza 12 Yirs Yjrs engines Amiot 340 01 Two 686 kW 920 hp Gnome Rhone 14P single tail prototype one built Amiot 350 351 re engined with two 686 kW 920 hp Hispano Suiza 12Y 28 Hispano Suiza 12Y 29 engines one built Amiot 351 01 Amiot 351 prototype Amiot 351 Two 707 kW 950 hp Gnome Rhone 14N 38 Gnome Rhone 14N 39 twin tail 17 This number may be low Amiot 352 351 re engined with two 820 kW 1 100 hp Hispano Suiza 12Y 50 Hispano Suiza 12Y 51 engines one built Amiot 353 351 re engined with two 768 kW 1 030 hp Rolls Royce Merlin III engines one built Amiot 354 351 re engined with two 798 kW 1 070 hp Gnome Rhone 14N 48 Gnome Rhone 14N 49 most with single tail 45 This number is probably low Amiot 355 01 351 re engined with two 895 kW 1 200 hp Gnome Rhone 14R 2 Gnome et Rhone 14R 3 engines one built Amiot 356 01 354 re engined with two 842 kW 1 130 hp Rolls Royce Merlin X engines one built Amiot 357 high altitude prototype with pressurized cabin two 895 kW 1 200 hp Hispano Suiza 12Z 89 turbocharged engines one built Amiot 358 351 re engined post war with two 895 kW 1 200 hp Pratt amp Whitney R 1830 engines one built Amiot 370 single tail racer with two 642 kW 860 hp Hispano Suiza 12Yirs Hispano Suiza 12Yjrs engines developed specifically for later cancelled Paris New York race one built Operators edit nbsp FranceArmee de l Air nbsp GermanyLuftwaffeSpecifications Amiot 354 B4 editData from War Planes of the Second World War Volume Seven Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft 1 General characteristicsCrew 4 pilot co pilot navigator bombardier Length 14 5 m 47 ft 7 in Wingspan 22 83 m 74 ft 11 in Height 4 08 m 13 ft 5 in Wing area 67 m2 720 sq ft Airfoil E7 2 Empty weight 4 735 kg 10 439 lb Gross weight 11 324 kg 24 965 lb Powerplant 1 Gnome Rhone 14N 48 14 cylinder two row air cooled radial piston engine 791 kW 1 060 hp for take off RH rotation fitted to port Powerplant 1 Gnome Rhone 14N 49 14 cylinder two row air cooled radial piston engine 791 kW 1 060 hp for take off LH rotation fitted to starboard Propellers 3 bladed variable pitch propellersPerformance Maximum speed 480 km h 300 mph 260 kn at 4 000 m 13 000 ft Cruise speed 349 km h 217 mph 188 kn Range 3 500 km 2 200 mi 1 900 nmi Service ceiling 10 000 m 33 000 ft Time to altitude 4 000 m 13 000 ft 8 minutes 42 secondsArmament Guns 3 7 5 mm 0 295 in MAC 1934 machine guns or 2 7 5 mm 0 295 in MAC 1934 machine guns and 1 20 mm 0 787 in cannon Bombs 1 200 kg 2 646 lb See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Douglas DB 7 Martin Maryland Liore et Olivier LeO 45 SNCAC NC 150Related lists List of aircraft of World War II List of aircraft of the French Air Force during World War II List of bomber aircraftNotes edit Green 1967 p 92 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 Bibliography editCuny Jean amp Danel Raymond LeO 45 Amiot 354 et autres B4 Docavia 23 editions Lariviere 1986 Mainly chapter IV p 241 336 in French Breffort Dominique amp Jouineau Andre French Aircraft from 1939 to 1942 Mihaily Edouard July 1972 Les Amiot 340 350 370 1 L Album du Fanatique de l Aviation in French 35 2 7 ISSN 0757 4169 Curnel J December 1972 Les Amiot 340 350 370 3 L Album du Fanatique de l Aviation in French 39 2 5 ISSN 0757 4169 Green William War Planes of the Second World War Volume Seven Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft London Macdonald 1967 Weal Elke C Weal John A Barker Richard F Combat Aircraft of World War Two Various issues of Avions magazineExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amiot 351 http www avions bateaux com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Amiot 354 amp oldid 1200202098, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
