CAMS 32R

The CAMS 32R was a French amphibious reconnaissance aircraft built in the early 1930s by Chantiers Aéro‑Maritimes de la Seine (CAMS), a shipyard that had transitioned to aeronautical production after World War I. Designed as a single‑engine, high‑wing monoplane with a hull‑type fuselage, the 32R could operate from water or conventional airfields, giving the French navy a flexible platform for coastal patrol, search‑and‑rescue and artillery spotting. Power came from a 450 hp Hispano‑Suiza 12Ybrs V‑12 engine mounted in a pusher configuration behind the wing, driving a two‑bladed wooden propeller. The aircraft featured a fully enclosed cockpit for a pilot and observer, retractable landing gear for land operations, and a spacious cargo bay that could be fitted with depth‑charge racks or a light bomb load. Only a small batch of twelve units entered service in 1934, but the 32R proved valuable during the early stages of the French Air Force’s modernization, showcasing the practicality of amphibious designs. Its mixed construction of steel tube frames and fabric covering influenced later CAMS models, and it remains a notable example of interwar innovation that bridged maritime shipbuilding expertise with emerging aviation technology.