Late 298D

Late 298D

Late 298D

Description

The Late 298D is a premium gift rank French bomber with a battle rating of (AB), (RB), and (SB). It was introduced during Update "Apex Predators" as a reward for the 2022 Winter Quest event.

General info

Flight performance

Characteristics	Max speed (km/h at 2,500 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	285	278		23.0	23.9	3.7	3.7	400
Upgraded	306	295		21.1	22.0	7.0	5.2

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	+	-
450		450	450	320	~10	~7

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< ___	< ___	< ___	> ___

Survivability and armour

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Late 298D is armed with:

• 2 x 7.5 mm Mle 33 machine guns, wing-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Suspended armament

The Late 298D can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:

• Without load
• 2 x 75 kg G2 Navale bombs (150 kg total)
• 2 x 150 kg I2 Navale bombs (300 kg total)
• 1 x 400 mm 1926DA torpedo

Defensive armament

The Late 298D is defended by:

• 1 x 7.5 mm Mle 33 machine gun, dorsal turret (825 rpg)

Usage in battles

Although classified as a light bomber, the Late 298D performs better as a fighter in air battles since the 2 x 150 kg I2 Navale bombs can only take out 3/4 of a base. Its torpedo doesn't come in handy because both air arcade and realistic maps rarely contain naval units.

The Late 298D can dogfight against multiple fighters at the same time and come out as the victor. The aircraft can out-turn its opponents with takeoff flaps, including biplanes. However, in dives, takeoff and landing flaps can generate so much lift that the aircraft starts to pitch up uncontrollably.

Its 2 x 7.5 mm machine guns are weak and require multiple rounds on target, but it can occasionally set planes ablaze. The dorsal turret machine gun is effective in engaging fighters behind the aircraft, since most planes at the BR are poorly armoured. Essentially, the Late 298D can both out-turn and engage enemy fighters from any position.

With the long awaited introduction of the French Navy in the patch "Sky Guardians", the value and utility of this aircraft in naval games has greatly increased with its ability to capture naval points and win matches. Make sure to include the Late 298D in all your naval line-ups.

Manual Engine Control

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

Pros and cons

Pros:

• 150 kg bombs are effective in taking out tanks in ground battles
• Can turn on a dime with flaps, can even out-turn some biplanes
• Can carry a torpedo, useful in naval games
• Can land and capture points in naval games

Cons:

• Slow speed means enemy planes can outrun you
• The torpedo finds limited use in Air Mission arcade and realistic battles due to the lack of naval targets
• A small hit to the engine or oil radiator means the aircraft has a very limited time to return to base before the engine overheats. Even AAA can cause this scenario to happen

History

Built as a successor to their earlier lacklustre Latécoère 290 torpedo bomber float plane, the new 298 outperformed its predecessor by wide margins and offered more capabilities. Not fast, its large wings did give it more manoeuvrability, aided by full-span flaps. Torpedoes and bombs were mounted in a semi-recessed bay (also called a "crutch"), and 2 fixed 7.5 mm machine guns plus 1 more defensive mount at the rear, a potent arsenal for 1938's warplanes.

Like most French aircraft, its missions changed, first against the Germans, then with the Germans after France surrendered, then reverting to helping the Allies liberate France after French Africa joined the Allies. It proved to be one of the more successful French war planes, being in service until 1951, with a handful existing for years later. Unfortunately, no surviving examples of this fantastic French aircraft exist today.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Late 298D from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

LATE 298D! The NEW PREMIUM French EVENT aircraft! - MatAWG

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Ar 196 A-3
• He 51 B-2/H
• Ar 196 A-5 (Sweden)
• S17BS
• OS2U-1
• OS2U-3

External links

• [Devblog] Winter event vehicles: Laté 298

Latécoère Aviation Company (Société Industrielle d'Aviation Latécoère)
Floatplanes	Late 298D

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