Levasseur PL.15

The Levasseur PL.15 was a torpedo bomber seaplane developed in France in the early 1930s.[1] It was a follow-on design to Levasseur's PL.14 that had, in turn, been developed from the carrier-based PL.7.[2] While the PL.14 retained the PL.7's boat-like fuselage (developed as a safety feature for carrier-based aircraft ditching), the PL.15 was a purpose-built seaplane with an all-new, slender fuselage.[1][3]

PL.15
Role Seaplane torpedo bomber
National origin France
Manufacturer Levasseur
First flight October 1932
Introduction 1933
Retired 20 August 1940
Primary user Aéronavale
Number built 17
Developed from Levasseur PL.14

The Aéronavale ordered 16 PL.15s for use aboard the seaplane tender Commandant Teste, and purchased and deployed the prototype as well. These were in service from 1933 to 1938, when they were put into storage.[1][3] The PL.15s were reactivated with the outbreak of war in September 1939, and were used for anti-submarine patrol along France's Atlantic coast.[1][3]

Variants
  • PL.15 – main production version (17 built)
    • PL.151 – radical inverted sesquiplane redesign with full-size mid-wing mainplane and small secondary plane mounted above fuselage (not built)
    • PL.154 – landplane version (1 converted from PL.15)

Units using this aircraft
 France

Specifications

General characteristics

  • Crew: Three
  • Length: 12.85 m (42 ft 2 in)
  • Wingspan: 18.00 m (59 ft 1 in)
  • Height: 5.10 m (16 ft 9 in)
  • Wing area: 74.5 m2 (802 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 2,835 kg (6,237 lb)
  • Gross weight: 4,500 kg (9,900 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Nb , 480 kW (650 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 208 km/h (130 mph, 110 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 181 km/h (113 mph, 98 kn)
  • Range: 750 km (470 mi, 410 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,800 ft)

Armament

  • 1 × trainable, rearward-firing machine gun in rear cockpit
  • 1 × 400 mm or 450 mm torpedo

See also

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. Taylor 1989, p. 575.
  2. Taylor and Alexander 1969, pp. 104-105.
  3. World Aircraft Information Files, File 900 Sheet 06

Bibliography
  • Taylor, John W. R. and Jean Alexander. Combat Aircraft of the World. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-71810-564-8.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 1989. ISBN 0-517-69186-8.
  • World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing.
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