Amiot 354 Fast Reconnaissance / Medium Bomber Aircraft

The Amiot 354 (Model 354) had its origins in the Model 341 fast mail carrier transport. The bomber form appeared in the twin-tailed Model 351 which flew first in early 1940. Delays forced the French Air Force to order the related Model 354 offshoot as an interim measure and this form differed mainly in its use of a single vertical tail fin. The aircraft was taken on to fulfill bombing and fast reconnaissance roles just prior to the German invasion of France in World War 2 (1939-1945).

Its overall design was quite conventional for its time - though modern nonetheless. The crew of four (pilot, copilot, navigator and bombardier) all sat in the fuselage which lay at center, straddled by the engine installations fitted to each wing mainplane. The wings were near-elliptical in their general shape when viewed from above or below and the engine nacelles installed at their leading edges, each powerplant driving three-bladed propellers. The crew sections were held under a long-running greenhouse-style canopy featuring heavy framing. The nose was fully glazed for excellent vision over the upcoming terrain. A tail-dragger undercarriage was utilized which sat the main legs under each engine nacelle. The empennage made use of a single tail fin and low-mounted horizontal planes.

Power was served through 2 x Gnome Rhone 14N series 14-cylinder radial piston engines outputting 1,060 horsepower each. This provided the airframe with a maximum speed of 300 miles per hour, a cruising speed of 220 miles per hour, a range out to 1,900 miles and a service ceiling up to 32,800 feet. Rate-of-climb was 1,550 feet-per-minute.

Internally, the Model 354 could carry up to 2,650 lb of conventional drop ordnance for bomber sorties. It was defended through 1 x 20mm cannon and 2 x 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine guns. An alternative gun load out was 3 x 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine guns (the 20mm cannon being replaced).

Dimensions included a length of 37.6 feet, a height of 13.4 feet and a wingspan of 74.10 feet.

The Model 354 was formed from the existing Model 351, essentially a re-engined platform carrying either the Gnome-Rhone 14N-48 or 14N-49 radial. Over 40 of this model were eventually produced.

By the time of the German invasion of France in May of 1940, the Model 354 was available but only in limited numbers (at least three French factories were committed to the series' production). Nevertheless, it fought on as best it could, undertaking general bombing sorties as well as fast armed reconnaissance of German positions in the Netherlands. Additional deliveries came in June but this proved too late. Some of the stock was flown to Africa lest they fell in German hands (which some did, these reconstituted as fast transports). Others managed a meager existence through their original non-combat roles of mail delivery. This ended the airborne tenure of the Model 354 and her kind.

Specifications

Year:
1940

Status
Retired, Out-of-Service

Crew
4

[ 56 Units ] :
Avions Amiot - France

France; Nazi Germany

- Ground Attack
- Reconnaissance (RECCE)

Length:
47.57 ft (14.5 m)

Width:
74.90 ft (22.83 m)

Height:
13.39 ft (4.08 m)

(Showcased structural dimension values pertain to the Amiot 354 production model)

Empty Weight:
10,417 lb (4,725 kg)

MTOW:
24,912 lb (11,300 kg)
(Diff: +14,495lb)

(Showcased weight values pertain to the Amiot 354 production model)

2 x Gnome-Rhone 14N-48/-49 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines developing 1,060 horsepower each.

(Showcased powerplant information pertains to the Amiot 354 production model)

Max Speed:
298 mph (480 kph; 259 kts)

Service Ceiling:
32,808 feet (10,000 m; 6.21 miles)

Max Range:
2,175 miles (3,500 km; 1,890 nm)

Rate-of-Climb:
1,500 ft/min (457 m/min)

(Showcased performance values pertain to the Amiot 354 production model; Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database)

STANDARD:
1 x 20mm cannon with 2 x 7.5mm MAC 1945 machine guns OR 3 x 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine guns (additional machine gun replaced the 20mm cannon installation.

OPTIONAL:
Maximum internal bomb load of up to 2,650 lb.

(Showcased armament details pertain to the Amiot 354 production model)

Model 354 - Base Series Designation; based on the earlier Model 351, itself born from the Model 341 fast mail carrier; fitted with 2 x Gnome-Rhone 14N radial engines and featuring single vertical tail fin (as opposed to twin vertical tails).

General Assessment

Firepower

Performance

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Impact

Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.

Overall Rating

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