LeO 451 early

LeO 451 early

N.C.223.3

LeO 451 late

LeO 451 early

N.C.223.3

LeO 451 late

France

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.0	3.0	3.0

Class:

Bomber

Frontline bomber

Research:9 200

Purchase:16 000

Show in game

Description

The LeO 451 early is a rank II French medium bomber with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.73 "Vive la France".

The LeO 451 is a versatile high-speed medium bomber that is capable of undertaking low-level ground attack strikes against tanks, pillboxes, and other small targets. It also carries a fairly respectable bomb load for its battle rating, and can be used to destroy bases efficiently. The sleek, graceful lines of the LeO 451 represent a complete departure from the very angular, slab-sided Farman F.222.2 and SNCAC NC.223.3 heavy bombers. The LeO 451 sacrifices bombload for high speed, although at a 1,900 kg maximum load it still carries a respectable amount compared to similar bombers like the Petlyakov Pe-2 and the CRDA Cant.Z.1007bis Alcione series. It is also quite manoeuvrable for a twin-engine bomber.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 6 250 m495 km/h

Turn time30 s

Max altitude10 500 m

EngineGnome Rhone 14N-38

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight11 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 6,250 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	471	456	10500	31.3	32.2	3.3	3.3	550
Upgraded	522	495		28.8	30.0	9.7	5.9

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
550	340	400	400	270	~7	~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 315	< 310	< 350	> 340

Compressor	Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
Setting 1	3,900 m	1,070 hp	1,372 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew4 people

Speed of destruction

Structural550 km/h

Gear340 km/h

• 12 mm steel plate behind the pilot
• 12 mm steel plate in front of dorsal gunner
• Self-sealing fuel tanks (2 in each wing)

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB633 → 868

RB1 017 → 1 395

SB1 675 → 2 298

Total cost of modifications8 410

9 420

Talisman cost640

Crew training4 500

Experts16 000

Aces180

Research Aces190 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

40 / 90 / 160 %

118 / 118 / 118 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 340 Cost: 380 75 Radiator Research: 340 Cost: 380 75 Compressor Research: 470 Cost: 530 105 Wings repair Research: 350 Cost: 400 80 Engine Research: 350 Cost: 400 80 Engine injection Research: 910 Cost: 1 000 210	Airframe Research: 470 Cost: 530 105 EFS(a) Research: 350 Cost: 400 80 Cover Research: 910 Cost: 1 000 210	7_5mm_belt_pack Research: 340 Cost: 380 75 hispano_mk5_turret_belt_pack Research: 340 Cost: 380 75 100 GPs Research: 340 Cost: 380 75 mac39_new_gun Research: 470 Cost: 530 105 200 GPs Research: 470 Cost: 530 105 7_5mm_turret_belt_pack Research: 350 Cost: 400 80 hispano_mk5_turret_new_gun Research: 350 Cost: 400 80 500 GPs Research: 350 Cost: 400 80 mac39_turret_new_gun Research: 910 Cost: 1 000 210

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 17.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun

Ammunition300 rounds

Fire rate1 350 shots/min

A LeO 451 bomber with a fatal engine fire, which can be extremely difficult to extinguish before disintegrating.

The LeO 451 early is armed with:

• 1 x 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun, nose-mounted (1,500 rpg)

Suspended armament

List of setups (4)

Setup 116 x 50 kg G.A. MMN. 50

Setup 27 x 100 kg No.1

Setup 36 x 200 kg No.1
1 x 100 kg No.1

Setup 44 x 200 kg No.1
1 x 100 kg No.1
2 x 500 kg No.2

The LeO 451 early can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 16 x 50 kg G.A. MMN. 50 bombs (800 kg total)
• 7 x 100 kg No.1 bombs (700 kg total)
• 6 x 200 kg No.1 bombs + 1 x 100 kg No.1 bomb (1,300 kg total)
• 2 x 500 kg No.2 bombs + 4 x 200 kg No.1 bombs + 1 x 100 kg No.1 bomb (1,900 kg total)

Defensive armament

Turret20 mm Hispano 404 cannon

Ammunition120 rounds

Fire rate701 shots/min

Turret7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun

Ammunition500 rounds

Fire rate1350 shots/min

The LeO 451 early is defended by:

• 1 x 20 mm Hispano 404 cannon, dorsal turret (120 rpg)
• 1 x 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg)

Usage in battles

The LeO 451 can operate as a low-level attacker with relatively decent chances of survival thanks to the 20 mm dorsal gun and its relatively high performance. Flying at low altitudes also prevents enemies from attacking it from the rear and below, which is only covered by the 7.5 mm ventral gondola machine gun.

If pursued, it is best to manoeuvre in such a way that the enemy is forced to attack from the rear, which is covered by the 20 mm cannon. The LeO 451 is otherwise very vulnerable to attacks from any other angle.

Defensive armament is concentrated against rear attackers, featuring a powerful Hispano HS.404 cannon in the dorsal gunner position, with a relatively ineffective 7.5 mm machine gun in the ventral gondola. The historical LeO 451 could retract this gondola to reduce drag; a feature that is sadly not represented in the game, as the lower drag would probably be more useful than the machine gun. The LeO 451 otherwise has no other defensive armament besides a fixed forward-firing 7.5 mm machine gun in the nose. This machine gun is useful for strafing soft targets like vehicles and artillery or taking potshots at aircraft but is generally not very useful otherwise.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Decent maximum bombload (2 x 500 kg, 4 x 200 kg, 1 x 100 kg for 1,900 kg total)
• Powerful dorsal turret with 20 mm cannon
• Relatively fast and manoeuvrable for a bomber
• Fixed 7.5 mm nose machine gun for strafing ground targets or attacking aircraft

Cons:

• Very limited defensive gun arcs: only the rear is covered
• Can only rely on the fixed 7.5 mm machine gun to defend against frontal attacks
• Ventral gunner is not protected by armour and easily knocked out
• Ventral turret armed with only one 7.5 mm machine gun

History

A LeO 451 bomber's final moments after a fatal engine fire.

Development of the LeO 451 began in the early 1930s, after the newly formed Armée de l'air issued the so called Plan I, intended to increase the number of modern military aircraft available to the French Air Force. As part of this plan, the young Air Force was keen on expanding and developing their strategic bombing branch. However, as the already available bombers, such as the Farman F.221, were considered unsuitable for the needs of the Air Force, a set of specifications was issued for the development of a brand new bomber. Among other aircraft manufacturers, Lioré et Olivier (which would be nationalized as part of SNCASE) also submitted their LeO 45 design. Being a long-time supplier to the French Air Force, Lioré et Olivier had a reputation of building reliable and effective bombers dating back to WW1. Thanks to this, the further development of the LeO 45 was approved. The first prototype (LeO 45-01), powered by a pair of Hispano-Suiza engines, took flight on 16 January 1937. Despite showing some minor issues, the LeO 45 prototype displayed excellent performance. A second prototype, equipped with a pair of Gnome-Rhone engines was also constructed and subsequently designated LeO 451-01. Testing of the 451 prototype began in October 1938.

However, due to various production issues associated with the Gnome-Rhone engine, production of the LeO 451 was delayed, beginning only in late 1938. Although the Armée de l'air only fielded a handful of operational LeO 451 bombers at the outbreak of WW2, their number would rise up prior to the Invasion of France in May 1940. During this chapter of WW2, the LeO 451 saw wide use against both advancing German forces on the east and Italian forces on the south. While the aircraft suffered great losses at the hands of Luftwaffe’s superior fighters and the Wehrmacht’s relentless anti-air guns, it fared a lot better on the southern front against Italian forces. Nonetheless, the LeO 451 did eventually retire in September 1957 as the final pre-war French aircraft to leave active duty.

- From Devblog

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

• LeO 451 late - Late variant of the LeO 451

External links

• [Devblog] LeO 451 Early: Catch Me If You Can!
• Official data sheet - more details about the performance

Lioré et Olivier (SNCASE)
Bombers	LeO 451 early · LeO 451 late

France bombers
Farman	F.222.2 · N.C.223.3
Latécoère	Late 298D
Potez	Potez 633
Liore et Olivier	LeO 451 early · LeO 451 late
Bloch	M.B.174A-3 · M.B.162 · M.B.175T
American	V-156-F · Martin 167-A3 · ▄A-35B · ▄SB2C-5 · B-26C · ▄PBY-5A Late · ▄PB4Y-2
British	Lancaster MR.7