| Production |
Airframe |
Engine |
Speed |
Armament |
Bombs |
|
84
(FF 02/1938)
|
630 |
2x Hispano-Suiza 14AB 10/11 580hp |
448 km/h @ 4000m |
2x20mm 1x7.5mm flex |
|
| 207 |
631 C1 |
IV 2x Gnome-Rhone 14M 6/7 Mars 670hp |
442 km/h @ 4500m |
2x20mm* 1x7.5mm flex |
|
| |
631 C2 night fighter |
|
|
|
|
| |
631 C3 day fighter |
|
|
|
|
| |
63.12 C3 (Potez 631-40) |
2x Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp |
|
|
|
*some w/ 1x20 + 1x7.5
Data: Green
Notes:
-- "At the time of the Franco-German armistice [06/1940] the Potez 63 was the most numerous French warplane. When the Potez 63 assembly lines fell into German hands shortly before [06/25/1940], 1,115 machines of 5 various types had been produced, a total far exceeding that of any other French warplanes of the 1935-1940 period." (Danel, 3)
-- "By the outbreak of [WW2] the Potez 63 series was obsolescent and should not have been made to fight in the ranks of French first-line aircraft, but they nevertheless acquitted their onerous tasks valiantly and served their crews well." (Danel, 3)
-- "Originally designed as a multi-seat fighter (Potez 630 and 631), the basic airframe lent itself to development for a variety of roles in an attempt to replace the obsolete machines equipping the Armee de l'Air in 1937-1938." (Danel, 3)
-- "The French Air Ministry issued a specification on [10/31/1934] calling for a twin-engine 2/3-seat multi-purpose 'multiplaces legers de defense'; this supplemented an earlier specification of [07/13/1934] for single-engine fighters. The 'multiplaces legers de defense' were required to fulfil 3 tasks:
1) Fighter direction (as C3 3-seaters) from which the C.O. of a big fighter formation should be able to lead the maneuver of single-engine machines by radio;
2) Day attack (as C2 2-seaters) also to be used for escorting friendly army co-operation or bomber aircraft;
3) Night fighting (as CN2 2-seaters)." (Danel, 4)
-- "The specification called for a maximum speed of 450 km/h (280 mph) at 4000m (13,123 ft), this height to be attained in less than 15 minutes ... Armament was to comprise 2 fixed forward-firing 20mm cannon and a flexible machine-gun for rear defense. To provide a maneuverability comparable to that of a single-seat fighter, the maximum weight was originally restricted to 3 tonnes (6,600 lb) although this was later raised to a 3.5 tonne (7,700 lb) limit. The severity of the requirement meant that the power units had to be either ultra low-drag engines such as the [Renault or Salmson inverted-vee in-line 450hp] or ..." (Danel)
-- Total production = approx. 1,360 (all marks). (Weal, 99)
-- "First flown Spring 1936, majority Potez 630s grounded/withdrawn front-line service by outbreak of WWII; Potez 631s equipped 8 Escadrilles FAF/FNAF during Battle of France; served both night and day-fighter roles; claimed total 29 confirmed victories, but suffered heavily at hands of friendly forces due to striking resemblance to Messerschmitt Bf 110; limited service FVAF southern France and North Africa; subsequently employed by FFAF (FFI) against German forces in Tunisia and on French Atlantic coast." (Weal, 99)
Potez 630 No.01
-- "Initial prototype; private venture; [2xHispano-Suiza 14 Hbs 580hp]; 3 crew (1)." (Weal, 99)
-- "... work on the Potez 630-01 began at Méaulte in [04/1935] ... [first flight 04/1936]. // ... proved to possess excellent flying qualities ... transferred to Villacoublay on [08/03/1936] ... On [08/31/1936] received its definitive, unbraced metal tail assembly and a new undercarriage with long-stroke shock absorbers, resuming test flights on [11/20/1936] and being accepted [by CEMA] for official trials end of [12/1936] ... armament trials [at Cazaux 06/1937]." (Green, 62)
-- "re-engined with [2xHispano-Suiza 14AB 02/03] and then [2xHispano-Suiza 14AB 10/11] ... With these the prototype attained a speed of 283 mph @ 20,000 ft, climbed to 13,120 ft in 5min 56sec, and reached a service ceiling of 32,800 ft." (Green, 62-63)
Potez 630 CN2 No.02 and C3 No.03
-- "Prototypes; 2-seat night-fighter/3-seat day-fighter versions respectively (2)." (Weal, 99)
Potez 630 C3 No.01/02
-- "Pre-production models; 3-seat day-fighter version (2)." (Weal, 99)
Potez 630 DC No.04
-- "Pre-production dual-control trainer version; original Yugoslav order (1)." (Weal, 99)
Potez 630 C3
-- "Production model; 3-seat fighter version; [2x20mm and 1x7.5mm]; alt [2xHispano-Suiza 14 AB 02/03 or Ab 10/11 650/700hp] (inc 1 each Switzerland/Yugoslavia) (82)." (Weal, 99)
-- "... withdrawn from operational use because of their unreliable Hispano-Suiza engines but proved very useful in the training role as did the few Potez 633 B2 light bombers. They facilitated the conversion of assault units from their obsolete mounts to the new Breguet 691 and 693 aircraft." (Danel, 3)
-- "... production of 80 Potez 630s was initiated [05/1937], and simultaneously 140 Potez 631s ordered ..." (Green, 62-63)
-- "The first production Potez 630 fighter was flown in [02/1938]." (Green, 63)
Potez 631 CN2
-- "... unable to prove their ability in this particular role because of the inefficient methods of detecting and locating enemy aircraft at night; they just did not have the opponents to combat." (Danel, 3)
Potez 631 C3 No. 01, 02, 04 INS
-- "Prototypes; day-fighter version; modified Potez 630; [2xGnome-Rhone 14 Mars 570hp]; revised nacelles; No.02 re-engined [2xHispano-Suiza 14 AB 02/03s] (Potez 631 No.04 Ins. trainer to Rumania) (3)." (Weal, 99)
-- "Potez 631-01 ... flew for the first time during the second week of [03/1937] at Méaulte ... began official trials at [CEMA 11/1937]." (Green, 63)
Potez 631 C3
-- "Production model; [2xGnome-Rhone 14 M4/M5 or M/6/M7]; alt armament arrangements (202)." (Weal, 99)
-- "In the opening phase of the 'phoney war' period, Potez 631 C3 aircraft were operated as 'warning' machines in conjunction with the Groupes de Chasse flying single-engine fighters and contributed to several 'kills' in this way. Later when operated as day fighters on their own account, they proved to be most disappointing due to their poor maximum speed, insufficient rate of climb and inadequate armament, although it must be recorded that their maneuverability was rated 'superlative'. (Danel, 3)
-- "A Potez 631 was test flown with a supplementary forward-firing armament of [6x7.5mm MAC] mounted under the wings, and on [02/08/1940] it was decided to modify all Potez 631s in a similar fashion." (Green, 64)
-- [2x20mm HS-9 + 6x7.5mm MAC 1934 + 2x7.5mm MAC 1934 flex]. -- 276.5 mph [445 km/h] @ 13,120 ft [4000m]. (Green, 64)
Potez 631 Ins. (634)
-- "Pre-production dual-control trainer version (10)." (Weal, 99)
Potez 632
-- "An experimental dive-bomber variant for the French Navy" (Green, 63)
Potez 633
-- "... in [05/1938] ... order for 125 examples of a light bomber version [Potez 633]." (Green, 63)
Potez 636
-- "The Swiss government purchased 2 Potez 630s in [02/1938] and the Czechoslovak Avia concern acquired a manufacturing license for a variant designated Potez 636." (Green, 63)
Potez 637 A3
-- "Often crossing enemy lines at high altitude on strategic reconnaissance missions, the Potez 637 A3's were frequently intercepted by patrolling Bf 109's but despite their shortcomings most of them managed to outmaneuver the German fighters and escape. However they often returned to base carrying injured crew members." (Danel, 3)
-- Potez 630 created to meet the 10/1934 specifications for a three-seat fighter suitable for bomber interception, escort and single-seat fighter roles (Green, 482)
-- Potez 630 first flight 04/25/1936 (630); 03/1937 (631); 12/29/1938 (63.12); first production model flight 02/1938 (630) (Green, 482)
-- "Aerodynamically an exceptionally clean all-metal cantilever monoplane, the Potez 630 demonstrated outstanding capabilities ..." (Green, 482)
-- Potez 633 added a bomb bay; Potez 637 reconnaissance; Potez 639 AB2 attack bomber (Pelletier, 18)
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