Breguet 14. French Users. Part three.

 

The most widely employed engine on the Breguet 14 was the Renault 12 Fcx which could yield a power of up to 300 hp. It was present on most machines of the A.2, B.2 and Et.2 (trainer) variants of the Br.14. Bréguet, Michelin and Renault manufactured most of the machines, but licenses were granted to Darracq (330 aircraft), Farman (220 aircraft) , Paul Schmitt (275 aircraft) , Ballanger (300 aircraft) and Sidam (300 aircraft) to manufacture the type. Production was divided evenly between the A.2 and the B.2 variants. For the licensed aircraft, serial numbers 1101 onwards were allocated, being 1106 the first aircraft delivered.

Some licensed-built machines were powered by the Italian Fiat A-12 engine rated at 260 hp. This was done because of a shortage of Renault engines and the first aircraft of this kind, powered by a Fiat, is listed to have flown for the first time in 1917. These machines could be distinguished by its tapered cowling and its underslung radiator. This engine, however, reduced Br.14's performance significatively so an improved version of the engine, the Fiat A-12 bis was developed. This engine yielded the same amount of power as the A-12 but it could be fitted to the airframe without further modifications in the cowling. The Fiat engines were used mainly in the A.2, B.2 and Et.2 variants and was employed by a total of 24 Escadrilles during the war (unfortunately we couldn't find which escadrilles employed it) and the type was exported to various countries like Belgium, Finland, Spain and the United States. One single prototype was also fitted with the 600 hp Fiat A-14 engine.

Operationally, the Br.14A.2 the type also served in the artillery cooperation role. For which end some escadrilles were created, which were attached to the Artillerie Lourde (Heavy Artillery) units of each Groupe d'Armée (Army Group). 
One of those unit was Escadrille BR 221 which was created from SOP 221 (equipped with the Sopwith Strutter) in May 1918. It was assigned to 7e Armée (7th Army) and was based at Chaux aerodrome, in the Vosges department, where it took part in the many battles of that sector of the frontline. It was disbanded in 1919. 

In the bombing role, the B.2 enhanced the day-bombing capabilities of the Aéronautique Militaire and it allowed the French to use massed formations against targets close to the frontlines. Initial targets were railway stations and communications hubs but, as the war went on, the Br.14B.2 was also used in strafing attacks and close-range bombing against enemy frontlines. First attacks took place in November 1917 when railway stations of Juniville and Attigny and the iron works of Neufchatel-sur-Aisne were bombed. 
During late 1917 the Br.14B.2 was available in limited numbers only, so, approximately, just a dozen could be sent to attack. It was, however, possible to assemble larger formations of bombers as 1917 came to an end. On 22nd December 1917 a total of 25 Br.14B.2 attacked Montcortnet (Aisne department), Asfield (Ardennes department) and Bussr-les-Pierpont. The Br.14B.2 was also employed as a night bomber. Thirteen B.2s attacked the railway station at Lumes (Ardennes) and the airfield at Maimoisors on the night of 26 to 27th December 1917.

Sources:

1st https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bréguet_14

2nd Flying Machines Press  - French Aircraft of the First World War

3rd https://www.valka.cz/Breguet-Bre-14-A-2-t18101

4th https://www.valka.cz/Breguet-Bre-14-B-2-t1841