Br-521/ -522 BIZERTE

Prototype of the Br-521 Bizerte. (ARR)

THREE-ENGINED RECCE SEAPLANE

 

HISTORY

Breguet started studying in 1932, a new surveillance and maritime patrol aircraft for the French Navy. There were few candidates such as :

• Latécoère-582.
• Lioré et Olivier H-42.
• Loire 70 (it lost the competition because of lack of trust, despite excellent performances).
• And the future winner, the Br-521.

Derivated from the Breguet/ Shorts Calcutta (in fact, the Br-521 has only its hull in common with the Calcutta), the prototype made its first flight on September 11th 1933 at 9:00 AM from Breguet Le Havre's facilities (Tancarville dock exactly) to Le Hoc with Lantz at controls, De la Bruyère as passenger and Dubost as mechanic. Louis Breguet made the 2nd flight. On January 4th 1934, the 221/3 market was signed, three Bizerte were ordered. On January 23th 1934, the prototype was convoyed to NAS St-Raphaël for six hours. On September 11th 1934, the Breguet Bizerte and the O-256 were sent on cruise in the Mediterranean sea. The first aircraft was led by CF Serre and the second one by CV Lartigue. After 4,800 km, they finally came back on September 15th. Eleven Bizerte (N° 4 to 14) were bought on December 31th 1934 (983/4 market). New examples following the N° 3 were equipped with a new weapon system composed by five 7,5 mm guns (3, 900 shells), three new engines Gnôme & Rhône 14 Kdrs of 850 hp and the aircraft was now able to accommodate height crewmembers. In January 1935, two CAMS 55/10 which belonged to the 1E1 squadron based at NAS Cherbourg were replaced by two Bizertes (N° 1 and 2). On April 23th 1936, a new order (347/6 market) was made, and five aircraft were delivered to the E2 and E3.

Number 12 of the 'ES' was equipped with three Hispano-Suiza 14 AAO2 of 940 hp. It was called Br-522 Saïgon. it carried four 75 kg G2 ASW bombs.

On February 22nd 1937, the 129/7 market was signed and nine additionnal aircraft were bought (Number 20 to 28). On October 13th 1937, three additonnal examples (N° 29, 30 and 31) were ordered for attrition (1 389/7 market). On December 7th 1939, three Bizertes (19/ E13, 20/ E15, 21/ E16) were sent to Dakar until March 17th, when they were replaced by the N° 22 (E54), 25 (E57) and 24 (E56). On July 28th 1938, three new planes were ordered.

Those 34 examples, were operated by the E2, E3, E1, E5 and E9 squadrons. Two units remained their planes during the WWII (Vichy Air Force). Seventeen Br-521s were bought, captured or requisitioned by the German Army. The last surviving Bizerte was scrapped in May 1946.

BR-521 BIZERTE OF THE FRENCH NAVAL AVIATION

Type	Market	Date of ordering	Serial number	Type	Market	Date of ordering	Serial number
Br-521 (proto)	221/3	January 4th 1934	01	Br-521	347/6	April 23th 1936	18
Br-521 (proto)	221/3	January 4th 1934	02	Br-521	347/6	April 23th 1936	19/ E13
Br-521 (proto)	221/3	January 4th 1934	03/ E32	Br-521	129/7	February 22nd 1937	20/ E15
Br-521	983/4	December 31th 1934	04	Br-521	129/7	February 22nd 1937	21/ E16
Br-521	983/4	December 31th 1934	05	Br-521	129/7	February 22nd 1937	22/ E54
Br-521	983/4	December 31th 1934	06	Br-521	129/7	February 22nd 1937	23/ E55
Br-521	983/4	December 31th 1934	07	Br-521	129/7	February 22nd 1937	24/ E56
Br-521	983/4	December 31th 1934	08	Br-521	129/7	February 22nd 1937	25/ E57
Br-521	983/4	December 31th 1934	09	Br-521	129/7	February 22nd 1937	26/ E36
Br-521	983/4	December 31th 1934	10/ E33	Br-521	129/7	February 22nd 1937	27
Br-521	983/4	December 31th 1934	11/ E31	Br-521	129/7	February 22nd 1937	28
Br-522 Saïgon	983/4	December 31th 1934	12	Br-521	1 389/7	October 13th 1937	29
Br-521	983/4	December 31th 1934	13	Br-521	1 389/7	October 13th 1937	30
Br-521	983/4	December 31th 1934	14	Br-521	1 389/7	October 13th 1937	31
Br-521	347/6	April 23th 1936	15	Br-521	?	July 28th 1938	32
Br-521	347/6	April 23th 1936	16	Br-521	?	July 28th 1938	33
Br-521	347/6	April 23th 1936	17	Br-521	?	July 28th 1938	34

PERFORMANCES

Altitude Time Max speed 0-500 m 2 min 234 km/h 1 000 m 4 min 05 s 236 km/h 2 000 m 9 min 05 s 235 km/h 3 000 m 15 min 45 s 232 km/h 4 000 m 25 min 25 s 226 km/h 5 000 m 43 min 45 s 214 km/h

SPECIFICATIONS	(US)	(FR)
LENGTH	66. 69 ft	20. 33 m
WINGSPAN	115. 25 ft	35. 13 m
HEIGHT	24. 54 ft	7. 48 m
WEIGHTS	lb (empty)/ 35 274 lb (full)	kg (empty)/ 16 000 kg (full)
MAX SPEED	151 mph	243 km/ h
RANGE	1 134 nm	2 100 km
OUTPUT	850 hp	633. 84 kW

ENGINES AND TANKS

Three Gnôme & Rhône of 740 hp (N° 1 and 2). Three Gnôme & Rhône 14 Kdrs of 850 hp (N° 3 to 34). Height tanks which could accommodate 5, 475 L. Rhône 14 Kdrs of 850 hp. (ARR/ DR)

WEAPONS

Six 7, 69 mm Lewis guns (N° 1 and 2). Four bombs. Five 7,5 mm guns (N° 3 to 34).

AIR CREW

1st version of the aircraft (N° 1 and 2) 2 pilots. 1 mechanic. 1 'radio'. 1 air gunner. 1 navigator. 2nd version of the aircraft (N° 3 to 34) 8 crewmembers. Cockpit of the Br-521. (ARR/ DR) Cockpit of the Br-521. (ARR/ DR) Cockpit of the Br-521. (ARR/ DR)