The Latécoère 298 (sometimes abridged to Laté 298) was a French seaplane that served during World War II. It was designed primarily as a torpedo bomber, but served also as a dive bomber against land and naval targets, and as a maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Of a sturdy and reliable construction and possessing good manoeuvrability, it was France's most successful military seaplane, and served throughout the war in various guises.
The design originated in a French Navy requirement for a torpedo bomber to replace the unsuccessful Laté 29 that had just entered service. The prototype Laté 298, as it came to be known, was completed at Latécoère's Toulouse plant in 1936 and first flew on 6 May 1936.
It was designed as a single-engined, mid-wing cantilevermonoplane, powered by an 880 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y twelve-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. Two exceptionally large floats were attached to the fuselage by struts, each one containing a fuel tank.
A ventral crutch served to accommodate different payloads, depending on the mission. It could carry one Type 1926 DA torpedo, two 150 kg bombs or depth charges. Additional armament consisted of three 7.5 mmDarne machine guns, two fixed forward firing and one rear-firing on a flexible mount.
Operational history
The first Laté 298s entered service in October 1938 with the Escadrilles (squadrons) of the Aéronautique Navale, the French Navy air force. Some were based in naval bases, and others on the seaplane tenderCommandant Teste. At the outbreak of the war four squadrons flew with this aircraft, and by May 1940, when the German offensive in the west began, 81 aircraft equipped six squadrons.
The Laté 298s first saw action during the Battle of France in 1940. They were used at first for maritime patrol and anti-submarine duties, but did not meet any German ships. Later, as the Wehrmacht drove through France, they were used to harass and interdict armoured columns. Despite not having been designed for this role, they suffered fewer losses than units equipped with other types.
The Laté 298's final combat missions were flown during the liberation of France, where they were used to attack German shipping operating from strongholds on the Atlantic coast.
The last Laté 298s were retired from active service in 1946, but continued to serve as trainers until 1950.
Laté 298B: Variant with folding wings for use on seaplane carriers; observation post added; crew of four.
Laté 298D: Similar to 298B without the folding wings.
Laté 298E: Observation variant with weapon fixation replaced by an observer's gondola; one prototype built.
Laté 299: A land-based three-seat reconnaissance-torpedo bomber derived from the Late 298, powered by a 920 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y-43, first flight on 7 July 1939, (two prototypes built).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Latécoère 298.
^Parmentier, Bruno. "Latécoère 298D". Aviafrance (in French). Retrieved 6 December 2019.
^Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
^Angelucci, Enzo (1983). The Rand McNally encyclopedia of military aircraft, 1914-1980. San Diego, California: The Military Press. p. 257. ISBN0-517-41021-4.
Further reading
Cony, Christophe (January 2002). "L'étonnant Latécoère 299A" [The Amazing Latécoère 299A]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (106): 27–29. ISSN 1243-8650.
Cortet, Pierre (February 2002). "Courrier des Lecteurs" [Readers' Letters]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (107): 2–3. ISSN 1243-8650.
Cuny, Jean (1992). Latécoère – Les Avions et Hydravions (in French). Paris: Docavia/Editions Lariviere. ISBN978-2-907051-01-9.
Green, William (1962). War Planes of the Second World War. v. 6. London: Macdonald & Co. ISBN0-356-01450-9.
External links
(in French)
(in French)
May 04, 2023
latécoère, sometimes, abridged, laté, french, seaplane, that, served, during, world, designed, primarily, torpedo, bomber, served, also, dive, bomber, against, land, naval, targets, maritime, reconnaissance, aircraft, sturdy, reliable, construction, possessing. The Latecoere 298 sometimes abridged to Late 298 was a French seaplane that served during World War II It was designed primarily as a torpedo bomber but served also as a dive bomber against land and naval targets and as a maritime reconnaissance aircraft Of a sturdy and reliable construction and possessing good manoeuvrability it was France s most successful military seaplane and served throughout the war in various guises Latecoere 298Role Torpedo bomber seaplaneManufacturer Latecoere BreguetFirst flight 6 May 1936Introduction 28 October 1938Retired 1951Status RetiredPrimary users French NavyLuftwaffeNumber built 121Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications Late 298D 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksDevelopment EditThe design originated in a French Navy requirement for a torpedo bomber to replace the unsuccessful Late 29 that had just entered service The prototype Late 298 as it came to be known was completed at Latecoere s Toulouse plant in 1936 and first flew on 6 May 1936 It was designed as a single engined mid wing cantilever monoplane powered by an 880 hp Hispano Suiza 12Y twelve cylinder liquid cooled engine Two exceptionally large floats were attached to the fuselage by struts each one containing a fuel tank A ventral crutch served to accommodate different payloads depending on the mission It could carry one Type 1926 DA torpedo two 150 kg bombs or depth charges Additional armament consisted of three 7 5 mm Darne machine guns two fixed forward firing and one rear firing on a flexible mount Operational history EditThe first Late 298s entered service in October 1938 with the Escadrilles squadrons of the Aeronautique Navale the French Navy air force Some were based in naval bases and others on the seaplane tender Commandant Teste At the outbreak of the war four squadrons flew with this aircraft and by May 1940 when the German offensive in the west began 81 aircraft equipped six squadrons The Late 298s first saw action during the Battle of France in 1940 They were used at first for maritime patrol and anti submarine duties but did not meet any German ships Later as the Wehrmacht drove through France they were used to harass and interdict armoured columns Despite not having been designed for this role they suffered fewer losses than units equipped with other types After the armistice of June 1940 the French Navy under the Vichy regime was allowed to retain some Late 298 units and captured aircraft were used by the Luftwaffe After Operation Torch French units in Africa sided with the Allies In this guise the Late 298 was used for Coastal Command missions in North Africa in cooperation with Royal Air Force Wellingtons The Late 298 s final combat missions were flown during the liberation of France where they were used to attack German shipping operating from strongholds on the Atlantic coast The last Late 298s were retired from active service in 1946 but continued to serve as trainers until 1950 No Late 298 aircraft survived after 1950 Variants EditAll variants powered by a single Hispano Suiza 12Ycrs 1 engine Late 298A First production variant Late 298B Variant with folding wings for use on seaplane carriers observation post added crew of four Late 298D Similar to 298B without the folding wings Late 298E Observation variant with weapon fixation replaced by an observer s gondola one prototype built Late 299 A land based three seat reconnaissance torpedo bomber derived from the Late 298 powered by a 920 hp Hispano Suiza 12Y 43 first flight on 7 July 1939 two prototypes built Operators Edit FranceFrench Navy GermanyLuftwaffeSpecifications Late 298D Edit Late 298 3 view drawing from L Aerophile December 1943 Data from 1 General characteristicsCrew 3 Length 12 56 m 41 ft 2 in Wingspan 15 5 m 50 ft 10 in Height 5 25 m 17 ft 3 in Wing area 31 6 m2 340 sq ft Airfoil Clark CYH 2 Empty weight 3 085 kg 6 801 lb Gross weight 4 533 kg 9 994 lb Powerplant 1 Hispano Suiza 12Ycrs 1 V 12 liquid cooled piston engine 660 kW 880 hp Propellers 3 bladed variable pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 295 km h 183 mph 159 kn at 2 500 m 8 202 ft Range 1 000 km 620 mi 540 nmi Service ceiling 5 500 m 18 000 ft 3 Time to altitude 1 000 m 3 281 ft in 6 minutes 33 secondsArmament Guns 3x 7 5 mm Darne machine guns Bombs 680 kg 1 499 lb bombs torpedoSee also EditRelated lists List of aircraft of World War IIReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Latecoere 298 Parmentier Bruno Latecoere 298D Aviafrance in French Retrieved 6 December 2019 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 Angelucci Enzo 1983 The Rand McNally encyclopedia of military aircraft 1914 1980 San Diego California The Military Press p 257 ISBN 0 517 41021 4 Further reading EditCony Christophe January 2002 L etonnant Latecoere 299A The Amazing Latecoere 299A Avions Toute l Aeronautique et son histoire in French 106 27 29 ISSN 1243 8650 Cortet Pierre February 2002 Courrier des Lecteurs Readers Letters Avions Toute l Aeronautique et son histoire in French 107 2 3 ISSN 1243 8650 Cuny Jean 1992 Latecoere Les Avions et Hydravions in French Paris Docavia Editions Lariviere ISBN 978 2 907051 01 9 Green William 1962 War Planes of the Second World War v 6 London Macdonald amp Co ISBN 0 356 01450 9 External links Edit in French in French Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Latecoere 298 amp oldid 1127796568, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
