ANF Les Mureaux 113

Last updated
110 family
Mureaux113.jpg
A Mureaux 113 in 1931.
General information
TypeMilitary reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer ANF Les Mureaux
Designer
Primary user French Air Force
Number built~285
History
First flightApril 1931
ANF Les Mureaux 115 R2 ANF Les Mureaux 115 R2.jpg
ANF Les Mureaux 115 R2

The ANF Les Mureaux 110 and its derivatives were a family of all-metal military reconnaissance aircraft developed and produced by the French aircraft manufacturer ANF Les Mureaux.

Contents

It was designed in response to a requirement issued by the French air ministry. Introduced to service during the 1930s, in excess of two hundred aircraft were procured for the French Air Force to equipment not just its frontline units but also to displace aircraft such as the Potez 25s from reserve units as well. Multiple variants were operated by the service, perhaps most noteworthy was the conversion of 40 aircraft to serve as dedicated night fighters. The family was in widespread usage at the start of the Second World War, and thus saw intense combat during the Battle of France. However, all remaining aircraft were all scrapped in the aftermath of the armistice with Germany.

Development

The ANF Les Mureaux 110 originated with a French air ministry requirement for an aircraft to replace the Breguet 19 in Armée de l'Air service in the "R2" two-seat reconnaissance role. [1] ANF Les Mureaux opted to produce a clean-sheet response to this requirement. It was during this design work that the firm developed a new technique for metal construction, it was promptly incorporated into the new long distance observation aircraft, which was later designated 111. [2]

Two slightly different variants, the 110 and 111 were presented to the air force for evaluation, and were ordered into production soon thereafter. The first mass-production version was the 113 in 1933, of which 49 examples were purchased. This was supplanted in production by the 115 in 1935 and the 117 later than year. Both these series were given light bombing capability as well.

Design

The ANF Les Mureaux 111 was an all-metal, parasol-wing monoplane designed specifically for aerial reconnaissance. Both the pilot and observer were seated in tandem open cockpits; these cockpits were relatively spacious, permitting multiple styles of parachute to be equipped by the pilot. While the pilot was provided with an adjustable seat, the observer's seat was entirely removable. [3] To optimise for both crew visibility and aerodynamic characteristics, the selected cross section for the aircraft's fuselage was trapezoidal, having a shorter base down and flat sides while both the top and bottom were rounded. [4]

Being largely composed of metal, the fuselage covering comprised strips of duralumin that had a typical width of 20 to 30 cm (7.87 to ll.81 inches); these could be given flanged edges as to permit their riveting together to form sheets. [2] Occasionally, an alternative joining arrangement that used narrow angle pieces was harnessed instead. The structure of the aircraft consisted both spars and longerons as the principal members, which were supported by an array of secondary spars and a channel section frame that were typically placed generally placed perpendicular to the covering strips to which they were riveted to, changing them to closed sections best adapted to withstand local stresses. [2] The rigidity of the covering was thus insured by the channel sections in one direction and either the strip flanges or angle sections in the other. The latter sections were continuous and only flattened to accommodate the passage of the channel sections that ran parallel to the spars. [5] On both the top and bottom of the fuselage, the strips were placed transversely, which facilitated the use of a rounded form with the least preliminary shaping; however, the sides featured covering strips that were parallel to the longerons, where the number of channel sections was reduced. [6]

The wing was constructed using similar principals to that of the fuselage; it was supported by a pair of tubular struts and the cabane. [7] The internal structure featured two duralumin spars complete with a lightened web of sheet metal of 0 to 20 mm (0.4 to 0.8 in.) thick. [8] These spars were of equal thickness to that of the wing with channel sections parallel to them, that were held in position by box crosspieces (instead of conventional ribs) at intervals of roughly one meter (39.37 inches). These crosspieces constituted a Warren girder, made up of channel sections, that supported 13 channel sections that ran parallel to the spars and were joined to the crosspieces using gussets. [9] The covering strips were placed at right angles to the spars and were riveted to their flanges and to the channel sections, but not to the box crosspieces, to obtain torsional rigidity. The spars were braced against each other via a series of tubes present the plane of each flange. [7]

The wing's covering comprised strips of sheet metal placed perpendicular to the spars and distributed across three zones, which were joined at the spar flanges. [9] This covering had no other projections than the rivet heads, while the leading edge was attached by screws inclined at 45-degrees with their heads covered by compact sliding plates. The wing's interior could be easily inspected by removing the leading edge. [7] The wing tips were rounded and relatively thin. To diminish fatigue while in a dive, the fineness of the wing was increased from 20.5 to 22.9. [7] The ailerons, which were relatively narrow and unbalanced, were set into the wing and had differential control in order to reduce the force needed to actuate them. The travel of the depressed aileron was less than that of the elevated aileron, which resulted in a gentler manoeuvre and diminishing the likeliness of a side slip. [10]

The undercarriage was relatively wide and lacked a continuous axle. [4] It was equipped with a shock absorber that had a stroke of 12 cm (4.72 in.) along with brakes. A shoe-type tail skid was fitted to the underside of the fuselage, it was mounted on an oleo-pneumatic shock absorber. [11] To facilitate the installation of various powerplants, a removal support was present in the engine bay. Cooling for the engine was provided by a water-cooled radiator installed within the engine cowling, the rate of cooling being adjustable via a shutter. [3] Both the oil tanks and fire extinguisher were deliberately placed on the opposite side of the firewall from the engine; the fuel tank was also in a protected position within the fuselage, using two pumps to convey fuel to the engine. To reduce engine noise, it was equipped with a silencers. [3]

Operational history

The 113 entered service initially with the Armée de l'Air's reconnaissance Groupes, followed by the observation Groupes, and finally replacing the ageing Potez 25s in the Groupes Aériens Régionaux reserve units. It was followed into service by the 117 and 115. Between 1934 and 1935, 40 of the original 113s were converted into night fighters and used to replace those Breguet 19s that were still in service with France's two night fighter Groupes.

By the outbreak of the Second World War, the 115 equipped nine Groupes Aériens d'Observation, and the 117 nine more. By April 1940, 11 aircraft had been lost in action, leaving 228 on strength at the beginning of the Blitzkrieg in May. By the time of the French armistice with Germany on June 25, only 62 aircraft remained intact, some of which were stationed in North Africa.

Variants

Operators

Flag of France.svg  France

Specifications (115 R2B2)

Mureaux 111 R.2 3-view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.142 Mureaux 111 R.2 NACA Aircraft Circular No.142.jpg
Mureaux 111 R.2 3-view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.142

Data fromLa lignée des A.N.F Mureaux 110 [12] [13]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amiot 143</span> French Medium Bomber

The Amiot 143 was a 1930s French 5-seat Multiplace de Combat (M.5) designed to meet 1928 specifications for a monoplane capable of day and night bombing, long-range reconnaissance and bomber escort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloch MB.200</span> French bomber aircraft

The MB.200 was a French bomber aircraft of the 1930s designed and built by Societé des Avions Marcel Bloch. A twin-engined high-winged monoplane with a fixed undercarriage, over 200 MB.200s were built for the French Air Force, and the type was also licence built by Czechoslovakia, but it soon became obsolete, and was largely phased out by the start of the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farman F.220</span> 1932 bomber aircraft family by Farman

The Farman F.220 and its derivatives were thick-sectioned, high-winged, four engined French monoplanes from Farman Aviation Works. Based on the push-pull configuration proven by the F.211, design started in August 1925 and the first flight of the prototype was on 26 May 1932. The largest bomber to serve in France between the two world wars was the final F.222 variant. One variation was intended to be an airliner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dornier Do 22</span> Torpedo bomber and maritime reconnaissance floatplane

The Dornier Do 22 was a German seaplane, developed in the 1930s. Despite good performance, it was built only in small numbers and entirely for the export market. The type was operated in the Second World War by Finland, Greece and Yugoslavia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dewoitine D.27</span>

The Dewoitine D.27 was a parasol monoplane fighter aircraft designed by Émile Dewoitine in 1928.

The Letov Š-16 was a single-engined twin-seat biplane aircraft used in the bomber and aerial observation roles. It was designed by Alois Šmolík and produced by the Czechoslovak aircraft manufacturer Letov Kbely.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morane-Saulnier M.S.225</span>

The Morane-Saulnier M.S.225 was a French fighter aircraft of the 1930s. It was produced in limited quantities to be used as a transitional aircraft between the last of the biplanes and the first monoplane fighters.

The Potez XV was a French single-engine, two-seat observation biplane designed as a private venture by Louis Coroller and built by Potez and under licence by Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów and Plage i Laśkiewicz in Poland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CAMS 30E</span> Flying boat built in France

The CAMS 30E was a two-seat flying boat trainer built in France in the early 1920s. It was the first aircraft designed for CAMS by Raffaele Conflenti after he had been recruited by the company from his previous job at Società Idrovolanti Alta Italia (SIAI). It was a conventional design for the era featuring a two-bay equal-span unstaggered biplane wing cellule. The prototype was exhibited at the 1922 Salon de l'Aéronautique and evaluated the following year by the Aéronautique Maritime. The type's favourable performance led to an order of 22 machines for the French military and an export order of seven for Yugoslavia and four for Poland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potez 540</span> 1933 French reconnaissance bomber aircraft

The Potez 540 was a French multi-role aircraft of the 1930s. Designed and built by Potez, it served with the French Air Force as a reconnaissance bomber, also serving with the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Spanish Civil War. Although obsolete as a bomber, it remained in service in support roles and in France's overseas colonies at the start of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dewoitine D.1</span> Type of aircraft

The Dewoitine D.1 was a French single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1920s, built by the French industrial company Dewoitine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potez 452</span> French reconnaissance flying boat in service 1935-1944

The Potez 452 was a French flying boat designed and built by Potez in response to a French Navy specification for a shipboard reconnaissance machine for use on its battleships and cruisers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dewoitine D.21</span> Type of aircraft

The Dewoitine D.21 was 1920s French open-cockpit, fixed-undercarriage, parasol winged monoplane fighter aircraft.

The Donnet-Denhaut flying boat was a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft produced in France during the First World War. Known at the time simply as "Donnet-Denhaut" or "DD" flying boats, the DD-2, DD-8, DD-9, and DD-10 designations were applied retrospectively to denote the various changes in configuration made during their service life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FBA 17</span> Type of aircraft

The FBA 17 was a training flying boat produced in France in the 1920s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potez 39</span> Type of aircraft

The Potez 39 was a twin-seat single-engined parasol wing monoplane aerial reconnaissance and observation aircraft designed and produced by the French aircraft manufacturer Potez. It was the company's first all-metal aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wibault 7</span> French monoplane fighter

The Wibault 7 was a 1920s French monoplane fighter designed and built by Société des Avions Michel Wibault. Variants were operated by the French and Polish military and built under licence for Chile as the Vickers Wibault.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bréguet 410</span> Type of aircraft

The Bréguet 410 was an all-metal sesquiplane biplane bomber that was designed and produced by the French aircraft manufacturer Bréguet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blériot-SPAD S.91</span> Type of aircraft

The Blériot-SPAD S.91 was a light-weight fighter aircraft by the French aircraft manufacturer Blériot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Les Mureaux 3</span> Type of aircraft

The Les Mureaux 3 C.2 and Les Mureaux 4 C.2 were French two seat, parasol winged fighters, flown in 1927-8, which differed only in their engines. They were developed into near identical army co-operation types, the ANF Les Mureaux 130 A.2 and ANF Les Mureaux 131 A.2, in 1929–31.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Curnel & Leyvastre March 1974, p. 20.
  2. 1 2 3 NACA 1931, p. 1.
  3. 1 2 3 NACA 1931, p. 5.
  4. 1 2 NACA 1931, p. 4.
  5. ↑ NACA 1931, pp. 1-2.
  6. ↑ NACA 1931, pp. 2, 4.
  7. 1 2 3 4 NACA 1931, p. 3.
  8. ↑ NACA 1931, p. 2.
  9. 1 2 NACA 1931, pp. 2-3.
  10. ↑ NACA 1931, pp. 3-4.
  11. ↑ NACA 1931, pp. 4-5.
  12. ↑ Curnel & Leyvastre June 1974, p. 15
  13. ↑ Curnel & Leyvastre July 1974, pp. 14–15

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.