https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breguet_19
The Breguet 19 (Breguet XIX, Br.19 or Bre.19) was a light bomber and
reconnaissance aircraft, also used for long-distance flights, designed by the
French Breguet company and produced from 1924.
The Breguet 19 was designed as a successor to a highly successful World War I
light bomber, the 14. Initially, it was designed to be powered by a 340 kW (450
hp) Bugatti U-16 engine, driving a four-blade propeller, and such a prototype
was shown on the 7th Paris Air Show in November 1921. A new design was flown in
March 1922, featuring a conventional layout with a single 340 kW (450 hp)
Renault 12Kb inline engine. The aircraft was built in a sesquiplane platform,
with lower wings substantially smaller than the upper ones. After trials, the
1923.
The first 11 Breguet 19 prototypes were powered by a number of different
engines. A "trademark" of Breguet was the wide usage of duralumin as a
construction material, instead of steel or wood. At that time, the aircraft was
faster than other bombers, and even some fighter aircraft. Therefore, it met
with a huge interest in the world, strengthened by its sporting successes. Mass
1924.
Role
Light bomber/reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer
Breguet Aviation
Designer
Marcel Vuillerme
First flight
March 1922
Primary user
French Air Force
Number built
~ 2,700
The Breguet 19 was a biplane (sesquiplane), conventional in layout, with braced
wings. The fuselage, ellipsoid in cross-section, was a frame of duralumin pipes.
The front part was covered with duralumin sheets, the tail with canvas. The
wings were canvas covered. It had a conventional fixed landing gear with rear
skid. The crew of two, pilot and observer/bombardier, sat in tandem in open
cockpits, with dual controls.
A fixed 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers machine gun with an interrupter gear was
operated by the pilot, while the observer had twin 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Lewis Guns.
There was also a fourth machine gun, which could be fired by the observer
downwards through an opening in the floor. The Br.19CN2 night fighter variant
was fitted with two pilot's machine guns. The bomber variant could carry up to
472 kg (1,041 lb) of bombs under the fuselage, or in a vertical bomb bay (small
bombs up to 50 kg (110 lb)). The reconnaissance variant could carry 12x 10 kg
(22 lb) bombs. The reconnaissance variant had a camera mounting, which was
optional on the bomber variant. All variants had radio.
The Breguet had its baptism of fire during the Greco-Italian War, in World War
II. At the outbreak of war, 18 Breguet were on line with 1 Observation (or Army
Cooperation) Mira, under I Corp Command, based at Perigiali, near Corinth and
with 2 Observation Mira under II Corps command, based at Larissa and Kozani. On
4 November 1940, a RHAF (Royal Hellenic Air Force) Breguet from 2 Mira was sent
looking for the attacking 3rd Julia Alpine Division, locating it in a mountain
pass near Metsovo. Three more Breguets sent to bomb the Italian division were in
turn attacked by three Fiat CR.42 fighters. A Breguet was shot down, one
crash-landed and the third returned to base, though badly shot up.
Specifications (Br 19 A.2)
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 9.61 m (31 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 14.83 m (48 ft 8 in)
Height: 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in)
Wing area: 50 m2 (540 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,387 kg (3,058 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 2,500 kg (5,512 lb)
Fuel capacity: 365 l (96 US gal; 80 imp gal)
(450 hp)
Performance
Maximum speed: 214 km/h (133 mph; 116 kn)
Range: 800 km (497 mi; 432 nmi)
Service ceiling: 7,200 m (23,600 ft)
Armament
flexible, rearward-firing 7.7 mm (0.30 in) Lewis Guns.
Bombs: Provision for light bombs.
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