{{Short description|Flying boat built in France}} __NOTOC__ <!-- This article is a part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft. Please see Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout. --> {{Infobox aircraft |name= CAMS 55 |image= CAMS 55.jpg |caption= |type=Reconnaissance flying boat |manufacturer=CAMS |designer=Maurice Hurel |first_flight=1928 |introduction= |retired= |status= |primary_user=French Navy |more_users= |produced= |number_built=112 |variants= }}

The '''CAMS 55''' was a reconnaissance flying boat built in France in the late 1920s which equipped the French Navy throughout the 1930s. {{TOC limit|limit=2}}

==Design and development== The CAMS 55 design was derived from the unsuccessful CAMS 51 and followed the familiar Chantiers Aéro-Maritimes de la Seine (CAMS) formula of a conventional biplane flying boat configuration with tandem tractor-pusher engines mounted in the interplane gap. The cockpit was open, and there were open gun positions in the bow and amidships. The bow also incorporated an observation balcony with windows sloped to afford a good downward view.<ref>Taylor 1986, p. 226.</ref>

==Operational history== A single prototype was followed by two aircraft to compare different engine installations, one with air-cooled radials and the other a liquid-cooled V engine; in the end, the French Navy ordered some of each. Eventually, 15 escadrilles were equipped with CAMS 55s of various subtypes, replacing the Latham 47 in some units, and in turn being relegated to secondary duties when the Breguet Bizerte became available in 1936. Twenty-nine remained in service at the outbreak of World War II, with the last examples serving with Escadrille 20S in Tahiti until January 1941.

==Variants== * '''55.001''' - prototype with Hispano-Suiza 12Lbr engines (one built). * '''55J''' - engine test version with Gnome et Rhône licence-built Bristol Jupiter engines (two built). * '''55H''' - engine test version with Hispano-Suiza 12Lbr engines (two built). * '''55/1''' - production version with Hispano-Suiza 12Lbr engines (43 built).<ref name="afcams55/1">{{cite web|last1=Parmentier|first1=Bruno|title=C.A.M.S. 55/1|url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7944&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=|website=Aviafrance|accessdate=23 February 2018|location=Paris|language=French}}</ref> * '''55/2''' - production version with Gnome et Rhône licence-built Bristol Jupiter engines (29 built).<ref name="afcams55/2">{{cite web|last1=Parmentier|first1=Bruno|title=C.A.M.S. 55/2|url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7945&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=|website=Aviafrance|accessdate=23 February 2018|location=Paris|language=French}}</ref> * '''55/3''' - version with all-metal hull for French Navy requirement for long-range flying boat. Prototype destroyed early in test programme (one built).<ref name="afcams55/3">{{cite web|last1=Parmentier|first1=Bruno|title=C.A.M.S. 55/3|url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7961&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=|website=Aviafrance|accessdate=23 February 2018|location=Paris|language=French}}</ref> * '''55/6''' - version with all-metal hull and floats, saving 400&nbsp;kg (882&nbsp;lb) of structural weight; deemed too expensive to produce (one built).<ref name="afcams55/6">{{cite web|last1=Parmentier|first1=Bruno|title=C.A.M.S. 55/6|url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7962&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=|website=Aviafrance|accessdate=23 February 2018|location=Paris|language=French}}</ref> * '''55/10''' - version with geared Gnome et Rhône Jupiter engines and increased fuel tankage (32 built, including four tropicalised machines).<ref name="afcams55/10"/> * '''55/11''' - long-range patrol version (one built).<ref name="afcams55/11">{{cite web|last1=Parmentier|first1=Bruno|title=C.A.M.S. 55/11|url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7985&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=|website=Aviafrance|accessdate=23 February 2018|location=Paris|language=French}}</ref> * '''55/14''' - version with all-metal hull (one built).

==Operators== ;{{FRA}} *French Navy

==Specifications (55/10) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Aviafrance: CAMS 55/10<ref name="afcams55/10">{{cite web|last1=Parmentier|first1=Bruno|title=C.A.M.S. 55/10|url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=3927&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=284&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=|website=Aviafrance|accessdate=23 February 2018|location=Paris|language=French}}</ref> |prime units?=met <!-- General characteristics --> |crew=4 |length m=15.03 |span m=20.4 |height m=5.41 |wing area sqm=113.45 |aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> |airfoil= |empty weight kg=4590 |gross weight kg=6900 |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general= <!-- Powerplant --> |eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=Gnome et Rhône 9Kbr |eng1 type=(-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine |eng1 hp=500

|prop blade number=4 |prop name=fixed pitch propellers |prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia note= <!-- Performance --> |max speed kmh=195 |cruise speed kmh=150 |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km=1280 |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance=<!-- if range unknown --> |ceiling m=3400 |g limits=<!-- aerobatic --> |roll rate=<!-- aerobatic --> |climb rate ms=2.2 |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |disk loading kg/m2= |disk loading lb/sqft= |disk loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |thrust/weight=

|more performance= <!-- Armament --> |armament=*2 × trainable {{cvt|7.5|mm|3}} machine-guns in open bow position *2 × trainable {{cvt|7.5|mm|3}} machine-guns in open dorsal position *2 × {{cvt|75|kg}} bombs carried under lower wing }}

==See also== {{aircontent <!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. --> |related=<!-- related developments --> |similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft --> |lists= * List of Interwar military aircraft * List of aircraft of World War II |see also=<!-- other relevant information --> }}

==References== {{commons category|CAMS 55}} {{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=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== * {{cite book|last1=J.H. Taylor|first1=Michael|last2=Gunston|first2=Bill|display-authors=et al|title=Jane's encyclopedia of aviation|date=1989|publisher=Portland House|location=New York|isbn=0-517-69186-8}} * {{cite journal|journal=World Aircraft Information Files |title=CAMS 55|date=1997–2003|issue=891|pages=02–03|publisher=Bright Star Publishing|issn=1369-6483}}

{{CAMS aircraft}}

55 Category:1920s French military reconnaissance aircraft Category:Flying boats Category:Twin-engined push-pull aircraft Category:Biplanes Category:Aircraft first flown in 1928