CAMS 37

{{Short description|Flying boat built in France}}  {{Infobox aircraft |name=CAMS 37 |image=CAMS 37A L'Aérophile November,1926.jpg |type=Reconnaissance flying boat |manufacturer=CAMS |designer=Maurice Hurel |first_flight=1926 |introduction=1927 |retired=1942 |status= |primary_user=French Navy |more_users= |produced= |number_built=332 }}

The '''CAMS 37''' was a French 1920s biplane flying boat designed for military reconnaissance, but which found use in a wide variety of roles.

==Development== It was the first design for Chantiers Aéro-Maritimes de la Seine (CAMS) by their new head designer, Maurice Hurel. The prototype was displayed at the 1926 ''Salon de l'Aéronautique'' in Paris and first flew the same year. After testing was ordered into service before the end of the year.<ref name="green v5">{{cite book |last= Green |first=William |title=Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Five, Flying Boats |year= 1968|publisher= Macdonald|location=London|pages= 15–17 |isbn=978-0-356-01449-4 }}</ref> It was a conventional biplane flying boat very similar to previous CAMS designs, being driven by a pusher propeller whose engine was mounted on struts in the interplane gap. The first production version was the amphibious '''CAMS 37A''' that was bought by the French Navy, the Portuguese Navy and the aeroclub of Martinique.

thumb|left|Flown cover carried on the first US to Europe "catapult" air mail from the ''Ile de France'' at sea to Paris, August 23, 1928 ==Operational history== The aircraft operated from every French Naval Air Station and from many capital ships.

Trials were conducted by ''Compagnie Générale Transatlantique'' on the SS ''Île de France'' to evaluate operating catapult-launched mailplanes from transatlantic liners with two specially-built '''37/10'''s.

René Guilbaud made a long-distance flight over Africa and the Mediterranean between 12 October 1927 and 9 March 1927, venturing as far as Madagascar before returning to Marseille. In the course of the flight, he covered {{cvt|22600|km}} in 38 stages without incident.

The CAMS 37 was gradually withdrawn from front line duties in the mid-to-late 1930s, and when World War II started in September 1939, the aircraft had been relegated to training and communication roles. On mobilisation, however, CAMS 37/11 trainers were used by two units for coastal patrol, with one unit, ''Escadrille'' 2S2 continuing in service until August 1940.<ref name="green v5"/> Outside mainland France, CAMS 37/11 trainers continued in use with a Free French unit in Tahiti until 15 January 1941, and with a Vichy France unit in Indochina until 1942 <ref name="green v5"/>

==Variants== thumb|CAMS 37 photo from Annuaire de L'Aéronautique 1931

;37:Flying boat prototype, (one built).<ref name="afcams37">{{cite web|last1=Parmentier|first1=Bruno |title=C.A.M.S. 37 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7964&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |accessdate=24 February 2018 |location=Paris |language=French}}</ref>

;37A:amphibious version (185 built).<ref name=JAWA1928>{{cite book |title=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928 |editor1-last=Grey |editor1-first=C.G. |year=1928 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd |location=London |pages=92c–93c}}</ref><ref name="afcams37A"/>

;37/2:pure flying boat version incorporating refinements from '''37A''' amphibian (45 built).<ref name="afcams37/2">{{cite web|last1=Parmentier|first1=Bruno|title=C.A.M.S. 37/2 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7975&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |accessdate=24 February 2018 |location=Paris |language=French}}</ref>

;37 A/3:reinforced hull (two built).<ref name="afcams37 A/3">{{cite web|last1=Parmentier|first1=Bruno |title=C.A.M.S. 37 A/3 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7976&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |accessdate=24 February 2018 |location=Paris |language=French}}</ref>

;37 A/6:enclosed cabin admiral's barge for Aéronavale (three built).<ref name="afcams37 A/6 LIA">{{cite web|last1=Parmentier|first1=Bruno|title=C.A.M.S. 37 A/6 LIA|url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7977&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=|website=Aviafrance|accessdate=24 February 2018|location=Paris|language=French}}</ref>

;37A/7:(or '''37Lia''') liaison amphibian (36 built).

;37A/9:metal-hulled officer transport for French Navy (4 built).<ref name="afcams37 A-9">{{cite web|last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=C.A.M.S. 37 A-9 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7978&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance|accessdate=24 February 2018 |location=Paris |language=French}}</ref>

;37/10:version for catapult trials (two built).<ref name="afcams37/10">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=C.A.M.S. 37/10 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7979&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |accessdate=24 February 2018 |location=Paris |language=French}}</ref>

;37/11:Four-seat liaison / trainer wooden-hulled version (110 built).<ref name="afcams37/11">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=C.A.M.S. 37/11 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=5647&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |accessdate=24 February 2018 |location=Paris |language=French}}</ref>

;37/12:civil version with enclosed four-seat cabin (one built).<ref name="afcams37/12">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=C.A.M.S. 37/12 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7980&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |accessdate=24 February 2018 |location=Paris |language=French}}</ref>

;37/13:(or '''37bis''') metal-hulled version for catapult launching from ships.<ref name="afcams37/13">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=C.A.M.S. 37/13 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7981&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |accessdate=24 February 2018 |location=Paris |language=French}}</ref>

;37GRthumb|CAMS 37GR photo from L'Aérophile December,1926:(GR – Grand Raids) A single long-range aircraft converted for the 37C prototype, flown by Lieutenant de Vaisseau Guilbaud, from l'Etang de Berre, in the company of Lioré-Olivier LeO H-194 on 12 October 1926, for a proving flight to Madagascar. On 3 January 1927 the engine threw a connecting rod, causing Guilbaud to abandon the Madagascar flight and return to Marseille on 9 March 1927, via Sudan, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Malta and Tunisia.<ref name="afcams37 GR">{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=C.A.M.S. 37 GR |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7966&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |accessdate=24 February 2018 |location=Paris |language=French}}</ref>

;37LIA:(aka 37 A/7) :''see above'' ;37C:A single commercial transport prototype, converted to the sole 37GR ;37E:(E – ecole) Aéronavale designation for CAMS 37/11 ;37bis:(aka 37/13) :''see above''

==Operators== ;{{flagcountry|French Third Republic}} *Aviation Navale *French Air Force

;{{Flag|Vichy France}} * Vichy French Air Force

;{{POR}} *Portuguese Naval Aviation

==Specifications (37/2) == thumb|CAMS 37A 3-view drawing from L'Air October 1,1927 {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928,<ref name=JAWA1928/> Aviafrance, CAMS 37A<ref name="afcams37A">{{cite web|last1=Parmentier|first1=Bruno|title=C.A.M.S. 37A|url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7965&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=|website=Aviafrance|accessdate=24 February 2018|location=Paris|language=French}}</ref> |prime units?=met |crew=Three |length m=11.432 |span m=14.5 |height m=4.04 |wing area sqm=58 |airfoil= |empty weight kg=1950 |gross weight kg=2850 |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Lorraine 12Ed Courlis |eng1 type=W-12 water-cooled piston engine |eng1 hp=450

|prop blade number=2 |prop name=fixed pitch propeller |prop dia m=  |max speed kmh=175 |max speed note=<br> *'''Minimum speed:''' {{cvt|90|km/h|mph kn}} (Note: this is NOT minimum control speed which is only for aircraft with multiple engines) |cruise speed kmh= |minimum control speed kmh= |range km=1200 |endurance= |ceiling m=4500 |climb rate ms= |time to altitude={{cvt|3000|m}} in 35 minutes |wing loading kg/m2=49 |power/mass={{cvt|0.0719|hp/lb|kW/kg|order=flip}}  |armament=*4 × trainable {{cvt|7.7|mm|3}} Lewis guns, 2 in bow and 2 behind prop *{{cvt|300|kg}} of bombs carried under lower wing }}

==See also== {{aircontent  |related= |similar aircraft= * CANT 21 * Lioré et Olivier LeO H-190

|lists= * List of aircraft of World War II * List of Interwar military aircraft |see also= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== *{{cite book |last1=Bousquet |first1=Gérard |title=French Flying Boats of WW II |date=2013 |publisher=Stratus |location=Sandomierz, Poland |isbn=978-83-63678-06-7}} *{{cite journal |last1=Cortet|first1=Pierre|title=Des C.A.M.S. à coque "metal" |journal=Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire |date=March 1999 |issue=72 |pages=37–39 |trans-title=C.A.M.S. Introduces a Metal Hull |language=French |issn=1243-8650}} *{{cite journal |last1=Cortet|first1=Pierre|title=Courrier des Lecteurs|journal=Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire |date=December 1999 |issue=81 |page=4 |trans-title= Readers' Letters |language=French |issn=1243-8650}} *{{cite journal |last1=Esperou|first1=Robert|title=Les vols d'essais commerciaux français sur l'Atlantique Nord, de 1928 à 1939|journal=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=April 1994 |issue=293 |pages=40–50 |issn=0757-4169 |language=fr|trans-title=French commercial test flights over the North Atlantic, 1928 to 1939}} *{{cite journal |last1=Morareau|first1=Lucien|title=Courrier des Lecteurs|journal=Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire |date=June 1998 |issue=63 |pages=2–3 |trans-title= Readers' Letters |language=French |issn=1243-8650}} *{{cite journal |last1=Morareau|first1=Lucien|title=Courrier des Lecteurs|journal=Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire |date=April 1999 |issue=73 |pages=2–3 |trans-title= Readers' Letters |language=French |issn=1243-8650}} *{{cite journal |last1=Morareau|first1=Lucien|title=L'escadrille du bout du monde |journal=Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire |date=December 1998 |issue=69 |pages=42–51 |trans-title= Squadron at the End of the World |language=French |issn=1243-8650}} *{{cite journal |last1=Morareau|first1=Lucien|title=Des CAMS sur le Pacifique: L'escadrille du bout du monde (fin)|journal=Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire |date=January 1999 |issue=70 |pages=45–53 |trans-title=The CAMS over the Pacific: Squadron at the End of the World |language=French |issn=1243-8650}}

==Further reading== {{commons category}} * {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=226 }} * {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |pages=File 891 Sheet 02 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cams 37}} Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft Category:Biplanes Category:1920s French military reconnaissance aircraft Category:Flying boats 37 Category:Aircraft first flown in 1926