Loire-Nieuport LN.401
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| Loire-Nieuport LN.401 | |
|---|---|
| Type | dive bomber |
| Manufacturer | SNCAO |
| Maiden flight | 1938 |
| Introduced | 1939 |
| Retired | 1940 |
| Primary user | French Navy |
| Produced | 1938-1942 |
| Number built | 68 |
The Loire-Nieuport LN.401 was a French-built dive bomber aircraft that saw service in WWII.
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[edit] Development
In 1936, the Aéronautique Navale, the aviation arm of the French navy, expressed a need for a ship-borne dive bomber. The Loire-Nieuport company proposed its LN.40 project, that benefited from experience acquired with the earlier Nieuport 140 prototype. Seven examples were ordered, and the first LN.40 took off for its maiden flight in 1938. The French navy ordered 15 examples of near-identical production variant, the LN.401, that featured one arrestor hook, a folding wing mechanism and emergency floatation devices for naval service.
The French Air Force was also interested in dive bombers and ordered a land-based derivative of the LN.40, called LN.411. However, Armée de l'air commanders eventually considered that light bombers using nap-of-the-earth tactics such as the Breguet 693 were more appropriate for attacking land targets, and LN.411s were delivered to the Navy.
[edit] Operational service
Two escadrilles of the Aéronautique Navale, designated as AB2 and AB4, converted to the LN.401/411 between late 1939 and early 1940. Both used the type in combat during the Battle of France in ground attacks versus German motorized columns and troops concentrations. After the armistice with Germany, Loire-Nieuport dive bombers were retired from service and the two escadrilles were re-equipped with the Glenn-Martin 167-F level bomber.
[edit] Variants
- LN.40
- Pre-production aircraft. Only seven pre-production examples were built.
- LN.401
- Single-seat naval dive-bomber aircraft. Only fifteen production examples were built.
- LN.411
- Land-based variant of the 401, with all naval-specific equipment removed. 45 built.
- LN.402
- Single example fitted with the more powerful Hispano-Suiza 12Y engine.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (LN.401)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 9.76 m (32 ft)
- Wingspan: 14 m (46 ft)
- Height: 3.50 m (11.48 ft)
- Wing area: 24.75 m² (81.2 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,135 kg (4,706 lb)
- Loaded weight: 2,823 kg (6,223 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Hispano-Suiza 12XCrs 12-cylinder vee, (690 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 380 km/h at 3,900 m (236 mp/h at 12,795 ft)
- Stall speed: 90 km/h (56 mp/h)
- Range: 1,200 km (745.6 mi)
Armament 2 x Darne machine guns, 225 kg (496 lb) bomb
[edit] References
- Morareau, Lucien (2002). "Les aéronefs de l'aviation maritime (1910-1942)", ARDHAN, ISBN 2-913344-04-6
See also:
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