The Latécoère 611 was a French four-engined maritime reconnaissance flying boat of the Second World War. Although only a single prototype was completed, this served throughout the war, being used by both the Vichy French and Free French navies.

In May 1935, the French Navy issued a specification for a long-range flying boat to replace the obsolete Breguet 521. To meet this requirement, Latécoère designed the Latécoère 611. This was a cantilever monoplane powered by four Gnome-Rhone 14N radial engines and fitted with a twin tail. It was also fitted with stabilising floats that retracted into the outer engine nacelles. The prototype was assembled at Biscarrosse, and first flew on 8 March 1939.^[1]

Although it was intended that the aircraft be armed with a 25 mm cannon in a dorsal turret, this was unavailable, and was replaced by one carrying two 7.5 mm Darne machine guns, with a further four machine guns firing through portholes and two in a retractable tail position. In December 1939 the French Navy placed an order for twelve of a modified version, the Latécoère 612, which was to be powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial engines. These aircraft, however, were never delivered.

The prototype Latécoère 611 was delivered to the French Navy on 12 April 1940^[1] and named Achenar, being flown to North Africa in June 1940 and subsequently disarmed under the terms of the Armistice. After being damaged in a collision with another flying boat, it eventually entered full service with the Vichy French Navy on 15 October 1941, operating with Escadrille 4E at Port Lyautey and Dakar.^[1]

In November 1942, following the Allied Invasion of North Africa, Escadrille 4E switched sides and joined the Free French, carrying out anti-submarine patrols over the South Atlantic, later (October 1943) being enlarged to form Flotille 7F, which continued to fly the Latécoère 611 alongside Short Sunderlands. The Latécoère was re-armed in 1944, with the dorsal turret being fitted with two 50 cal. Browning machine guns and a similar gun being fitted in the tail.^[1]

The sole Latécoère 611 was finally retired from service as a transport in 1947.^[2]

Latécoère 610

Design studies for a military flying boat to have been powered by 4x 1,000 hp (750 kW) Hispano-Suiza 14AA-02 / Hispano-Suiza 14AA-03 engines, (left and right handed rotation).

Latécoère 611

Prototype – powered by four Gnome-Rhône 14N-30 / Gnome-Rhône 14N-31 engines, (left and right handed rotation), given the name Achernar. One built.

Latécoère 612

Proposed production version – powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engines, (twelve ordered but unbuilt).

 France

• French Navy

Data from Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Five, Flying Boats ^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 7
• Length: 27.06 m (88 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 40.56 m (133 ft 1 in)
• Height: 7.65 m (25 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 195.1 m² (2,100 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 16,034 kg (35,349 lb)
• Gross weight: 26,555 kg (58,544 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 31,065 kg (68,487 lb)
• Powerplant: 4 × Gnome-Rhône 14N-30/31 14 cyl. air-cooled radial engine, 735 kW (986 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 349 km/h (217 mph, 188 kn)
• Cruise speed: 180 km/h (110 mph, 97 kn)
• Range: 4,250 km (2,640 mi, 2,290 nmi)
• Endurance: 32 hours
• Time to altitude: 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in 10 minutes

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 1 × 25 mm (0.98 in) CA mle 39 cannon in a dorsal turret
  • 2 × 7.5 mm (0.30 in) Darne machine guns in a tail position
  • 4 × 7.5 mm (0.30 in) Darne machine guns in beam positions
• Bombs: up to 802 kg (1,768 lb) of bombs, depth charges or torpedoes

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Blohm & Voss BV 222
• Kawanishi H8K
• Lioré et Olivier LeO H-246
• Martin PBM Mariner
• Potez-CAMS 141
• Short Sunderland

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the French Air Force during World War II
• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of flying boats and floatplanes