Potez 630 (Series)

History

Potez 630 series twin-engine aircraft were introduced to the French Air Force (French Air Force) in the late 1930s as state-of-the-art heavy metal-hulled fighter jets. Its design kept pace with other twin-engine, multi-role developments observed during this period - especially from Britain and Germany, which found the need for a heavy fighter type to deal with the growing bomber threat, a technological development of their own ten years of experience.

Heavy fighters should offer performance and armament suitable for successfully hitting larger targets, and when equipped with bombs, strike ground targets with the same zeal when needed.

The Potez 630 originated from a 1934 French Air Force requirement for a multi-role aircraft with air control/pilot, interceptor/bomber escort and night operations. The design of the 630 series is credited to Potez engineers Louis Coroller and Andre Delaruelle, whose approach used a streamlined metal shell with a three-person cockpit (in-line) up front and a tapered rear with twin vertical tails matching louver assemblies . The main aircraft was mounted low along the sides of the hull and forward of the center of the ship, with a radial piston engine mounted along the leading edge of each wing. The landing gear was retractable (except for the tail wheel) and "trail" arrangement, with two single-wheel main legs mounted under each engine nacelle.

The long cockpit is covered with a thin-framed canopy resembling a greenhouse, providing a good view of the surroundings. The pilot sits in the front, a mission specialist in the middle and a dedicated gunner in the back. Depending on the mission, the central crew position can be eliminated and the ventral area can be dedicated to managing lower weapons or observing the terrain passing below.

Power comes from 2 x Hispano-Suiza 14HBs radial, 580hp each.

During combat, consider improving this type of weapon - so a considerable upgrade was achieved. The forward batteries now consist of three machine guns under the fuselage and four in the wings, two of which are located outside each engine. Three machine guns are now mounted in the ventral position and two in the dorsal position.

The bomb load was 440 lbs.

The battle eventually saw France surrender to the Germans - leading to "Free French" forces with the government-in-exile and the Vichy French allied with the Axis powers. Both units, along with the Germans and Italians, continued to use the available stock of Potez 630 aircraft, while some were transferred to Yugoslavia.

The type was also used by the Free Polish Army throughout the war - including through the government-in-exile following Poland's own surrender the previous year.

In practice, the Potez 630 series aircraft made a solid contribution, albeit largely limited by their choice of engines, which limited performance compared to their contemporaries. It was an elegant and thoroughly modern aircraft, and pilots praised its solid flight characteristics and combat survivability. In addition, they are relatively inexpensive to mass produce and can be produced in French factories within a short period of time.

However, as heavy fighters, they proved slow to intercept enemy formations and too slow in direct engagement with light fighter types such as the Luftwaffe's Messerschmitt Bf 109. Its real value lies in reconnaissance, ground attack and training, and the long cockpit serves as a proper classroom.

Those Potez 633 aircraft that could be delivered to Greece and Romania were also used in combat service in the following years. After the Italian invasion in October 1940, the Greek cavalry acted to defend Greece and sided with the Axis Allied Romanians in establishing an eastern front against the Soviet Union.

Some of the airframes destined for China were recovered by the French, used as local security in Indochina and put into service during the war with Thailand (1940-1941).

A total of over 1,100 aircraft were produced, which served the various factions until the last days of the war - largely abandoned due to wear or lack of spare parts. Overall, this route can be seen as a mixed bag, leading on both sides.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes