The Dewoitine HD.730 was French shipborne reconnaissance and observation floatplane designed in 1938, engineered to be catapulted from French cruisers and battleships, in order to modernize the Aéronavale’s scouting capabilities. It had a peculiar inverted gull wing Configuration and they were designed to be folded each on two hinges in order to optimize the limited … Read more
Aéronautique Navale: 17 built total 1936 The Potez 452 was designed as a shipboard flying boat for observation on board cruisers and battleships of the Marine Nationale, in service from 1936 to 1944 in the Marine Nationale, notably to replace the loire-Gourdou Lesseure floaplanes of the 1920s. It saw service frontline until 1938-39 and was … Read more
Aéronautique Navale: 129 built total The best French floatplane ? A Laté 298 dropping its payload during exercises A navy specification was issued in 1933 to replace the Latécoère 290 torpedo seaplane in service from 1934 in the French naval aviation (“Aéronavale”). This request concerned a new torpedo bomber and Latécoère proposed a derivative of … Read more
Aéronautique Navale: 125 built total 1934-1941 The Main French Catapulted Observation Floatplane The Loire 130 came from a request in 1933 from the French Navy for a reconnaissance seaplane that could also be used aboard French battleships and cruisers. Chosen in 1936 against five competitors, the Loire 130’s performance was considered good and production orders … Read more
Aéronautique Navale: 19 built total The French Naval Fighter A forgotten model, this French naval aircraft was the first dedicated naval fighter, also usable for reconnaissance and primarily intended to serve on the Commandant Teste. The Loire 210 was a French single-seat catapult-launched fighter seaplane designed and built by Loire Aviation for the French Navy. … Read more
Gourdou-Leseurre GL-800 HY series (1926-1938) Aéronautique Navale. L2, L3, GL-810, 811, 812, 813, 830, 831, 832 HY (108 built) The French Catapulted Plane 1930-40 The interwar saw the development of catapulted aviation throughout Europe and France was no exception. After signing the Washington Treaty, France was forbidden to built more battleships and concentrated on cruisers: … Read more
Loire-Nieuport LN 40 (1938) LN 401 Aéronautique Navale; LN 411 Armée de l’Air: 152 built total The French “Stuka” France had no dive bomber for its naval aviation in the late 1930s, just as the type became popular, being explored by all aviations and starting with France’s neighbour, Germany. In 1936, a specification by the … Read more
