French FlagFrance's Aircraft Roundel Marking

France's Breguet Bre 690 Series bombers
Breguet Bre 691, Breguet Bre 693, Breguet Bre 695

Photos

Breguet Bre 690 bomber:
France's Breguet Bre 690 bomber		 Breguet Bre 690 bomber:
France's Breguet Bre 690 bomber
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook 		Breguet Bre 690 bomber:
France's Breguet Bre 690 bomber
Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook 		 
Breguet Bre 695 bomber:
France's Breguet Bre 695 bomber		      

Design

The French air ministry issued a specification for a fighter that could also be used during the day or night in October 1934.1 The Breguet 690 prototype was 2,200 lb / 1,000 kg heavier than the specification and was initially rejected.1 However, it's rival was slower so the Breguet 690 was selected and developed into the Breguet 691.1

The engines could be removed and overhauled in 90 minutes.1

Prototype

The first flight was in 1937.1

The Bre 690 prototype was first flown on March 23, 1938.2,3

The Bre 691 and Bre 693 were first flown in October 1939.2

The Bre 695 was first flown in April 1940.2

Production

One hundred were initially ordered.1,2

Delays

The production of the Bre 690 series was delayed because the Potez 630 had priority for the Hispano-Suiza engines.2 The Bre 691 AB-2 was to have 204 built, but the engine situation precluded them from being finished.3

  • Breguet Bre 690: 12
  • Breguet Bre 691: 792
  • Breguet Bre 691 AB-2:
  • Breguet Bre 693: 1301, 2242
  • Breguet Bre 694: 12
  • Breguet Bre 695: 501,2
  • Breguet Bre 696: 12
  • Total: 3562
    • Manufacturer: Breguet3

Variants

  • Breguet Bre 690: Initial prototype to be a fighter.1
  • Breguet Bre 691: Production model that became the ground attack plane.1
  • Breguet Bre 691 AB-2: Ground attack.3
  • Breguet Bre 692: New fighter design to meet the initial specifications.1 Was to have the Gnome-Rhône engines.2
  • Breguet Bre 693: Had Gnome-Rhône engines.1
  • Breguet Bre 694: Reconnaissance bomber.2 Was to have 2 - 3 crew.2 Was to built under license by Belgium.2
  • Breguet Bre 695: Had 2 Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp radials.1,2
  • Breguet Bre 696: Was to have a larger bomb bay.2
  • Breguet Bre 697: A fighter prototype based on the Bre 692.1
  • Breguet Bre 700: Was to be the production version of the Bre 697.1

Usage

By May 1940 a few units, mostly with the Groupement 18, were equipped with the Breguet 593.1

The Bre 695 did enter service in 1940 but was used by the GBA 151 of the Armée de l'Air Armistice (Vichy French Air Force) until late 1942.1

Italy

In 1943 the remaining Breguets (around 3 dozen) were transferred to Italy and used by the Regia Aeronautica as trainers.1,2

Specifications

  Breguet 690 series Breguet 690
Type Light attack bomber2 Attack bomber4
Crew 22  
Engine (Type)   24
Cylinders   Radial4
Cooling   Air4
Net HP   ~700 each4
Propeller blades    
Dimensions    
Span 50' 5"2
15.37 m2 		50' 6"4
Length 33' 5"2
10.18 m2 		32' 1"4
Height 10' 6"2
3.2 m2 		11' 5"4
Wing area    
Weight    
Empty    
Normal load   11,550 lb4
Maximum load    
Performance    
Speed   310 mph4
Cruising speed    
Service ceiling    
Range   1,150 miles4
Armament    
Nose 1: 20 mm2
2: 7.5 mm MG2 		 
Rear firing 1: 7.5 mm MG2  
Rear cockpit 1: 7.5 mm MG2  
Engine nacelles, rear firing
Late models 		2: 7.5 mm MG2  
Bombs 8: 110 lb2
8: 50 kg2 		 
  Breguet Bre 691
Type Attack3
Crew 23
Engine (Type) 2: Hispano-Suiza A4 Ab3
2: Hispano Suiza 14AB10/111,2
Cylinders Radial 142,3
Cooling Air3
Net HP 700 each1,2,3
Propeller blades 32
Dimensions  
Span 50' 5"3
Length 31' 8"3
Height 10' 5"3
Wing area  
Weight  
Empty  
Normal load  
Maximum load 11,023 lb3
Performance  
Speed  
Speed @ 13,120' 298 mph3
Cruising speed  
Service ceiling 27,900'3
Range 840 miles3
Armament 1: 20 mm3
4: MG3
Bombs 880 lb3
  Breguet Bre 693
Type Attack bomber1
Crew 21
Engine (Type) 2: Gnome-Rhône 14M-5/71
2: Gnome-Rhône 14M6/72
Cylinders Radial1, Radial 142
Cooling  
Net HP 700 each1,2
Propeller blades  
Dimensions  
Span 51' 7"1
15.73 m1
Length 31' 9"1
9.67 m1
Height 10' 5"1
3.19 m1
Wing area 314 ft2 1
29.2 m2 1
Weight  
Empty 6,622 lb1, 6,6362
3,010 kg1,2
Normal load 9,920 lb2
4,500 kg2
Maximum load 10,780 lb1, 10,800 lb2
4,900 kg1,2
Performance  
Speed 304 mph1
490 kph1
Speed @ 16,400' /
5,000 m 		304 mph2
489 kph2
Cruising speed 185 mph1, 186 - 248 mph2
299 kph1, 300 - 400 kph2
Climb to 13,120' /
4,000 m 		7.2 minutes2
Service ceiling 16,400'1, 27,885'2
5,000 m1, 8,500 m2
Range 837 miles1, 840 miles2
1,350 km1, 1,352 km2
Armament 1: 20 mm Hispano Suiza1
3: 7.5 mm Dame MG1
Bombs 880 lb1
400 kg1

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
  2. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
  3. World War II Airplanes Volume 1, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
  4. Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook, Ensign L. C. Guthman, 1943