Not really : it was not a fighter at all, and was seriously underpowered.
The Potez 631 was the french "answer" to the 110
The Potez 631 was a superb twin engine little fighter that could have done very well in day-fighter role.
It was first conceived as a command aircraft three-seater because first generation of radios were very poor.
The pilots who flew her described her as been as maneuvrerable as their single engine conterpart.
However armor and armement was light, compare to Bf110, hense the better performance.
Later, there were packs of twin machine guns that could be fitted underwings however, a bit compremising that.
When the war broke out, command airplanes were put in nighfighter outfits, where they did poorly
due to having no radar, no searchlights, and big units had to be dispersed everywhere for effectivess...
By necessity orders were given that these planes be used to groung attack ennemy armored columns
as they were pouring trough France. There they were totally outmatched, unfitted to the role, had no bomb racks,
( only smoke marker bomb devices ), no armor, no heavy guns* ! Heavy losses to AAA, and
friendly fire ensued !
(It was shot at, damaged or shot down because the twin tailed make it look too german !).
( Meanwhile, the Bf110 proved excellent at both the nighfighting and ground attack role !
However it revealed itself to be very poor as dayfighter-escort, a role for witch it was made for ! )
Only one escadrille** was used for dayfighter duties, and assigned to the defence of Paris : ECMJ 1/16
E: escadrille ( about one fourth of a squadron...)
C: chasse / fighter role.
M: multiplace / twoseater or more...
J: de jour / daytime use ( as opposed to nightime, for most of the other outfits ).
One interresting fact: it took
18,000 men/hours to assemble a MS-406; only
7,500 hrs for Ptz 631, due
to an advance modular construction technique. (Willy would have been very proud... ).
* each plane were meant to have two 20mm cannons, but these were in short supply.
** ...naval units of Ptz631's were used for sea-daytime patrols and as ships-convoy aircover.
** nightime units were eventually brought to daytime "guet" duties as well ( the defence against bombers ).
[ ..they were asked to do what the radar did for the british: ..sent to patrol the frontlines and give early warning of german bombers
appproach; bombers being escorted, it was not rare for the lone 631 to be attacked by frenchAAA, Flak, 5 to 8 Bf109s at a time, escaping (!)
only to be welcome by MB152 and D520 even more determine in their aggression then the germans were ! ].
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Topic: Breguet 693 (Read 62557 times)
