Dewoitine D.371
The Dewoitine D.373 is a French carrier-based fighter aircraft from the second half of the 1930s.
History
The D.373 was created as another member of the D.37er series, as the French navy in 1934 called for a usable at sea version of the land-based D.371 for the aircraft carrier Béarn.
The aircraft was designed as a strutted high -wing monoplane of all-metal semi- monocoque construction. The fuselage consisted of a light metal mesh construction with metal cladding. The zweiholmige wing consisted of three parts and was also planked with sheet metal. The tailplane was supported with one strut per side of the fuselage. All rudders had a fabric covering. The rigid chassis had an aerodynamic fairing was fitted with wheel brakes and air suspension. When driving an air cooled Mistral Major radial engine was used with adjustable Ratier three- bladed propeller made of all metal. The fuel tank was located in the trunk and took 300 liters. To increase the range of an additional container could be hung. The D.373 was an agile aircraft and had a very good climb performance.
In addition to these features, in which they agreed with the D.371, D.373 which received some of the supporting operation tailored changes. These included a pneumatically sprung catch hook under the rear fuselage, buoyancy bags in the wing and distress equipment. The radio and blind flying equipment was improved.
The construction and development lasted from 1935 to 1936; produced 40 (?) aircraft that were provided by the Aéronautique Maritime from 1938 in service, of which 16 pieces on the Béarn as a fighter squadron 7C -1. The rest was kept in reserve or used for training purposes.
At the start of the Second World War, the D.373 flew patrols over the French coast. Individual aircraft were bombing suspensions under the wings and flew Erdkampfeinsätze against the German troops, and they took advantage of the large ailerons and flaps as airbrakes.
There was even the improved version D.376 with folding wings and a more powerful engine, which does not however came to delivery.
Military use
- French Air Force
- French Navy
- Spanish Republican Air Force