Latécoère 298

The Latécoère 298 was a French torpedo‑bomber and maritime patrol aircraft designed in the mid‑1930s by the aerospace firm Latécoère. First flown in March 1936, it entered service with the French Navy (Aéronavale) in 1937 and remained operational throughout World II, serving from both land bases and aircraft carriers such as the Béarn and later the British‑built HMS Illustrious after the fall of France. The 298 was a single‑engine, low‑wing monoplane powered by a 1,060 hp Hispano‑Suiza 12Y-31 V12, driving a three‑bladed propeller. Its mixed construction combined a metal fuselage with wooden wings, giving a good balance of strength and low weight. Armament comprised a forward‑firing 20 mm cannon, a rear dorsal machine gun, and the capacity to carry a single 750 kg torpedo or up to 600 kg of bombs beneath the wing. Excellent range (about 1,000 km) and seaworthy handling made it valuable for anti‑shipping strikes, reconnaissance, and rescue missions. Though limited in production—just over 350 built—the Latécoère 298 demonstrated the versatility of carrier‑capable aircraft and contributed to the development of post‑war French naval aviation doctrine. Its legacy influenced later French maritime aircraft such as the Breguet Alizé and reinforced the importance of integrating air power with naval strategy.

Latécoère

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