J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)

Morane-Saulnier S

  The Morane-Saulnier S was intended as a heavy day bomber. Built in 1915, the aircraft had a crew ol three or four; two of which were gunners. There were gunner’s stations in the nose and mid-fuselage. The fuselage appears to have been wide enough to accommodate two pilots side by side and was of circular cross-section. Both the fuselage and tail assembly were remarkably similar to those of the later Type P reconnaissance aircraft. There was a rounded fin on each ol the elevators. The three-bay wing was of unequal span, the upper wing being slightly longer than the bottom. Two 220-hp Renault engines were mounted in nacelles suspended between the top and bottom wing and were very close to the crew's cockpits. As with many French heavy bombers of the time, the Type S had twin nose wheels to prevent nosing over during landing.
  The prototype Type S was given serial MS 625 and designated MoS.10. It was entered in the 1916 concours puissant for a heavy bomber. Only the Type S and the SPAD E were able to meet the requirements of the competition and it was the Type S that was selected for series production. Colonel Bares ol the Aviation Militaire requested that 300 be purchased at a cost ot 60 million francs. The Parliament felt that this was an excessive sum and reduced the order to 90 aircraft. In response, the order for 90 Type S bombers was canceled by the Aviation Militaire. The decision to produce Caproni bombers under license may have eliminated the need lor an indigenous heavy bomber.
  It is interesting to note that an STAe document dated 1 November 1916 shows that MoS.10s with two 220-hp Renault engines were in service at the front, but there are no photographs or documents to suggest the Type S ever entered service with the Aviation Militaire. Either the document is referring to a Type S at the front for operational evaluation or to the Type T. The latter would seem to be less likely since the Type T entered service in August 1917 and it used two 110-hp Le Rhone engines.


Morane-Saulnier Type S Three-Seat, Twin-Engine Heavy Bomber with Two 220-hp Renault Engines
   Span 26.00 m; length 12.20 tn; area 120 sq. m
   Maximum speed: 140 km/h al 2.000 m; range 1200 km
   Armament: it appears the prototype was unarmed. Planned armament would have included 300 kg of bombs and at least two machine guns.
   One built



Morane-Saulnier T

  The Type T was designed in late 1914 or early 1915, intended for long-range reconnaissance. It was a large biplane and appeared to be a scaled-down version of the Type S bomber. It has been reported in some sources that the Type T contract was given to the Morane-Saulnier firm as a consolation for the Type S debacle as described above. The original Type T was powered by two 80-hp Le Rhone engines. The angular fuselage originally had a gunner's position in the nose with a large number of portholes. However, the nose was later redesigned and the portholes were eliminated.
  The pilot was located beneath the top wing and a second gunner's position was located behind the wings. The rear fuselage tapered sharply and a triangular fin and rudder were mounted on the extreme tail. The undercarriage had an unusual layout with a pair of wheels beneath the center of the fuselage and one wheel beneath each engine nacelle. A single nose wheel, larger than the main wheels, was located in the extreme nose. The Le Rhone engines were tightly cowled and the twin-bladed propellers had huge spinners almost completely covering the engines. The engine nacelles were suspended between the upper and lower wings and were located on either side of the pilot's cockpit.
  The Type T was tested by the GDE in late 1916. The first flight was described as "satisfactory" and 90 were ordered on 22 August 1916. However, static testing revealed airframe weakness and it was stated that deliveries would be delayed until this problem was corrected. Considering the problems the aircraft encountered in service it appears that the problem was never entirely eliminated.
  The Type Ts were designated MoS.25 A3. The A3 designation denotes a reconnaissance and army cooperation aircraft with a crew of three. Operational Type Ts were equipped with the more powerful 110-hp Le Rhone engines (as compared to the 80-hp engines of the prototype).
  The aircraft were delivered on 1 August, 1917, almost exactly one year after the order had been placed. Even then, only 13 had been completed and these were still at the RGA.
  It appears that no escadrilles were completely equipped with Type Ts. Rather, the aircraft were supplied to various army cooperation escadrilles. As with the Caudron G.6, R.4, and S.M.1, the Morane-Saulnier Type Ts were intended to give these escadrilles a long-range reconnaissance capability. The Aviation Militaire's policy at this time was to supply the larger A3 airplanes in only small numbers to army cooperation escadrilles. This served to ease the demands on the maintenance crews and prevented overcrowding of airfields. The aircraft are known to have been supplied to C 4, C 11, C 17, C 30, C 39, and C 47.
  However, reports indicate that the Type T had numerous problems, resulting in the loss of several. A GQG report from late 1917 stated that there had been many accidents involving the Type Ts. It was reported that the tail skid was located in an awkward position, resulting in debris being thrown against the tail surfaces during landing. This resulted in structural failure of the tail assembly (probably at the elevator hinges, which were found to be weak), often with the loss of the aircraft and crew. The crews were also warned that the nose had to be loaded with ballast if a forward gunner was not carried. They were also warned not to fly the Type T in bad weather. One report suggested that modifications to the tailskids were to be made, but other reports indicate that the Type Ts were being withdrawn from escadrille service in late 1917.


Morane-Saulnier Type T Three-Seat Long-Range Reconnaissance Airplane with Two 110-hp Le Rhone 9Jb Engines
   Span 17.65 m; length 10.50 m; wing area 100 sq. m
   Loaded weight 3,772 kg
   Maximum speed: 136 km/h
   Armament: at least two machine guns
   90 were built



Morane-Saulnier Type Y

  The Type Y was a three-seat reconnaissance aircraft powered by two 220-hp Hispano-Suiza engines. It was built and flight tested in August 1916. There may have been some interest on the part of the Aviation Militaire in purchasing the machine, as the Type Y was given the STAe designation A1. Despite this designation, the Type Y carried a crew ol three and, had it been selected for production, would have given the later STAe designation A3 (three-seat reconnaissance/army cooperation machine). However, the Type Y was not ordered and no further examples were built. It may have been a development ol the Type S bomber.

Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919

MORANE BIPLANE.
  
   Type Bimoteur "S" presented for trial February. 1916, with stationary cylinder Renault engines of 250 h.p each. Not put into production.
   Speed: 145 kms. (96 miles) per hour. 3-seats. Useful load: 1.200 kilos. Weight: 3,000 kilos. Span: 26 m. Surface: 108 sq. m.
   (Dimensions and performance practically Identical with that of the Gothas of 1917.)
  
Morane Biplane, Type Bimoteur "T"
  
   First flown in 1914, it was not put Into production for reconnaissance until 1916. 80 h.p. Le Rhones.
   Speed: 156 km.p.h. (97 m. per h). Span: 17.65 m (57 ft 11 in). Celling: 4,500 m. Useful load 640 kilos.