36
Breguet Bizerte, all versions combined, were built as follows:
- 33 Breguet
Bizerte Br521, prototype included
- 1 Breguet
Bizerte Br522
- 2 Breguet
Bizerte Br530 "Saigon"
To
date, out of the
36
aircrafts manufactured, 0 are
listed in the list below :
Histoire
In 1932, the Aéronautique
Navale issued a program to acquire a long-range seaplane to carry
out reconnaissance to replace the aging CAMS-55. Société
Breguet responded to this program with the Breguet 531 Bizerte,
derived from the Breguet 530 Saigon civil aircraft. The latter was
none other than the Short Calcutta, for which Breguet had obtained
a manufacturing license in 1931. The Breguet Bizerte, of all-metal
construction, took the form of a seaplane with a sesquiplan hull
powered by 3 Gnome-Rhône 14 Kdrs star-shaped engines of 845
hp. These were held between the two planes by masts. The defensive
armament consisted of 5 machine guns of 7.5mm and the aircraft could
carry an offensive charge of 300kgs, composed of bombs, mines or
anti-submarine charges. Its crew was composed of 8 men. The Breguet
Bre521 Bizerte was in competition with the Loire 70, the Lioré
& Olivier LéO H42 and the Latécoère Laté-582.
The Breguet Bre. 521 will be retained by the Navy. The Loire 70
will however be mass-produced as well, but for another use: colonial
support and surveillance.
The Breguet Bre.521-01 prototype makes its first flight on September
11, 1933. The engines, initially devoid of bonnets, were fitted
with Naca bonnets after the first tests. The Navy, very interested
in the new aircraft, ordered 3 pre-series models before all the
tests were completed. The flight of the first aircraft of this pre-series
took place in 1935. The aircraft was very pleasant to fly and held
the sea very well. Many modifications were integrated on the second
aircraft at the request of the Navy. Thus, the cockpit canopy was
moved forward, two side gunnery stations were added behind the cockpit
and the gunnery station located in the bow was removed. These modifications
will be integrated on the standard models.
The 31 Breguet Bre521 Bizerte, including the prototype, were manufactured
and delivered until March 1938. The engine chosen for the series
consisted of three 900 hp Gnome-Rhône 14Kir engines.
The Navy will complete this first series with an order for three
additional units. The first two of this series will receive numerous
modifications: Thus, the cockpit canopy is moved forward, two side
firing stations are added behind the cockpit and the firing station
located in the bow is removed. The third unit will be powered by
Hispano-Suiza 14AA double-star, 1,000 hp engines. It will take the
designation of Breguet Bre. 522. However, it will be returned to
the Bre standard. 521 at the beginning of 1940. The 34 aircraft
will be chronologically assigned to the E2, E3, E1, E5 and E9 squadrons.
They will carry out surveillance missions along the French coast.
After the Armistice, many squadrons were disbanded and only the
E1 and E9, which became 1E and 9E, were kept with 5 and 4 Bre respectively.
521 Bizerte.
After the German invasion of the free zone on 11 November 1942,
the Germans seized 9 Breguet Bre521 Bizerte still in service and
8 others in storage to transfer them to the Luftwaffe. These were
used in rescue missions along the Atlantic coast. The Germans used
these aircraft under German colours until the armistice. The reborn
Air Force used two of these aircraft from March to November 1945.
The last Breguet Bre. 521 Bizerte will be scrapped in 1946.
