# CAMS 55

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{{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](/source/Chantiers_A%C3%A9ro-Maritimes_de_la_Seine)
 |designer=[Maurice Hurel](/source/Maurice_Hurel)
 |first_flight=[1928](/source/1928_in_aviation)
 |introduction=
 |retired=
 |status=
 |primary_user=[French Navy](/source/French_Navy)
 |more_users=
 |produced=
 |number_built=112
 |variants=
}}

The '''CAMS 55''' was a [reconnaissance](/source/reconnaissance) [flying boat](/source/flying_boat) built in [France](/source/France) in the late 1920s which equipped the [French Navy](/source/French_Navy) throughout the 1930s.  
{{TOC limit|limit=2}}

==Design and development==
The CAMS 55 design was derived from the unsuccessful [CAMS 51](/source/CAMS_51) and followed the familiar [Chantiers Aéro-Maritimes de la Seine](/source/Chantiers_A%C3%A9ro-Maritimes_de_la_Seine) (CAMS) formula of a conventional [biplane](/source/biplane) flying boat configuration with tandem tractor-pusher [engines](/source/Piston_engine) mounted in the interplane gap. The [cockpit](/source/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](/source/prototype) was followed by two aircraft to compare different engine installations, one with air-cooled [radials](/source/Radial_engine) and the other a [liquid-cooled](/source/Radiator_(engine_cooling)) [V engine](/source/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](/source/Latham_47) in some units, and in turn being relegated to secondary duties when the [Breguet Bizerte](/source/Breguet_Bizerte) became available in 1936. Twenty-nine remained in service at the outbreak of [World War II](/source/World_War_II), with the last examples serving with Escadrille 20S in [Tahiti](/source/Tahiti) until January 1941.

==Variants==
* '''55.001''' - prototype with [Hispano-Suiza](/source/Hispano-Suiza) 12Lbr engines (one built).
* '''55J''' - engine test version with [Gnome et Rhône](/source/Gnome_et_Rh%C3%B4ne) licence-built [Bristol Jupiter](/source/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](/source/Gnome_et_Rh%C3%B4ne) licence-built [Bristol Jupiter](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Gnome_et_Rh%C3%B4ne_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](/source/List_of_Interwar_military_aircraft)
* [List of aircraft of World War II](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [CAMS 55](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAMS_55) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAMS_55?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.