In 1934 the French air ministry issued a specification which called for a three-seat fighter (Chasse 3) of twin-engined layout. Several manufactures submitted design proposals to meet this requirement, the Potez 630 winning the contest and entering production in the C.3 category. Breguet, however, had considered the specification to be somewhat restricting, choosing instead to build an aircraft that was heavier and equipped with more-powerful engines, believing that it would be able to serve in a multi-role capacity.

Design of the Breguet 690 began in 1935, with construction of a prototype beginning soon afterwards. This, however, was not completed until 1937, and with priority supply of Hispano-Suiza engines going to Potez 630s it was not until 23 March 1938 that the 690.01 prototype flew for the first time, powered by two 680 hp (507 kW) Hispano-Suiza 14AB-02/03 counter-rotating engines. Delivered to the CEMA for official trials in the summer of that year, the Bre.690 was found to have a performance superior to that of the Potez 630, but in late August it was returned to Breguet for modification of the landing gear.

A Breguet 396 AB.2 used by the Regia Aeronautica as a trainer during 1943

During the 12 months before the first flight of the Bre.690, the French air ministry had been giving considerable thought to the development of a two-seat attack bomber. The early factory trials of the Bre.690 seemed to crystallise their ideas, with the result that even before the aircraft began its CEMA tests, Breguet had received a contract for 100 examples of this machine, to be especially configured to satisfy the attack role.

The resulting Bre.691 was a clean looking cantilever mid-wing monoplane of all-metal construction and attractive in appearance. It was a far cry from the angular and ugly biplanes which until then had characterised Breguet design. With two wing-mounted engines and a short fuselage nose forward of the wing, it had much the look of the Bristol Beaufighter when viewed from the front. Aft of the wing, however, the fuselage tapered to a tail unit which had twin end-plate fins and rudders. Landing gear was of the retractable tailwheel type, and two 700 hp (522 kW) Hispano-Suiza 14AB-10/11 radial engines powered the Bre.691.01 prototype which flew for the first time on 22 March 1939.

There had been no major problems in the conversion from Bre.690 to Bre.691 configuration, the navigator's position of the former being deleted to provide a bomb bay to accommodate 882 lbs (400 kg) of bombs. Considerable thought had been given to the provision of armament which could be used both for ground attack and in the air. This comprised one 20 mm Hispano-Suiza cannon and two 7.5 mm (0.295 in) Darne machine-guns, all firing forward and all of which could be depressed 15° for use in the ground-attack role. Rear defence relied upon a single 7.5 mm (0.295 in) machine-gun on a flexible mount, trained and fired by the radio operator/gunner in the aft cockpit, and an additional 7.5 mm (0.295 in) gun was fixed to fire aft and downward for use during ground attacks. The first production example of the Bre.691 made its initial flight on 15 May 1939, and the first deliveries to GBA 1/54 began in October 1939.

More extensive experience with the Bre.691 proved its Hispano-Suiza powerplant to be unreliable, leading to the modification of a production aircraft to accept two 700 hp (522 kW) Gnome-Rhône 14M-6/7 Mars 14-cylinder two-row radial engines. First flown on 25 October 1939 as the Bre.693.01, this version became the major production version of the Bre.690 series, with Bre.691 production ending after 78 had been built. The Gnome-Rhône engines were installed in airframes on the production line, beginning with number 79, and the 234 examples of the Bre.693 that were built were virtually identical in all other respects to the earlier production version. Late production aircraft, however, had two additional 7.5 mm (0.295 in) machine-guns, one installed in the tail of each engine nacelle to improve rear defence.

Foreign interest in the Bre.690 series was cut short by the westward move of German forces and the single Bre.694.01 prototype, intended initially as a three-seat tactical reconnaissance aircraft, and later as a two or three-seat version for use in a bomber/reconnaissance role, and which had appealed respectively to Belgium and Sweden, was delivered to the Aeronavale on 1 June 1940. This was generally similar to the original Bre.690, with the navigator's compartment restored, and powered by two 710 hp (529 kW) Gnome-Rhône 14M-4/5 engines.

Final production version was the Bre.695, virtually identical to the Bre.693 except for a change in powerplant. This resulted from French government policy to ensure that, in the event of the nation's engine-building factories being damaged by enemy action, it would be possible to introduce comparable engines of foreign manufacture on certain production lines. The marriage of the Bre.693 airframe and the chosen 825 hp (615 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SB4G Twin Wasp Junior 14-cylinder two-row radial engines. was more difficult than had been anticipated. However, the Bre.695.01 flew for the first time in early 1940, and the first production example on 23 April 1940. A total of 50 of this version was built, with initial deliveries going to Groupe 18 (formerly GBA 1/54) during the first days of June.

Two more prototypes were developed, although neither appeared in production form. The first, flown on 3 November 1939, was the Bre.696.01 two-seat light bomber. This was little changed from the Bre.693 from which it was derived, having a slightly enlarged bomb bay to provide more weapon flexibility and some slight changes in armament. The second, the Bre.697, was intended as the pre-prototype of a two-seat heavily-armed 'destroyer' which would have been known as the Bre.700. This was powered by two 1070 hp (798 kW) Gnome-Rhône 14N-48/49 radial engines, conferring a high rate of climb. During tests, subsequent to the first flight on 19 October 1939, a maximum speed of 570 km/h (354 mph) was attained. The Bre.697 was later destroyed deliberately to prevent it from falling into German hands.

Initial operational deployment of the Breguet 693 on 12 May 1940, attacking German columns advancing through Belgium, was little short of disastrous, with 10 out of 11 attackers being destroyed in action or written off on landing. Subsequent use proved the type effective if given adequate fighter escort, or if a low-level approach were made to the target. Nevertheless, by 25 June almost 50 per cent of the 106 Bre.693s which had been delivered to the Armee de I'Air had been destroyed. After the Franco-German Armistice, two groupes (GBA 1/51 and 1/54) continued to operate with Bre.693 and Bre.695s, but in November 1942 the aircraft were confiscated by the Germans and transferred to Italy for use as trainers.

Variants

Breguet Bre.690 - The Bre.690.01 prototype flew for the first time on 23 March 1938 powered by two 680 hp (507 kW) Hispano-Suiza 14AB-02/03 counter-rotating engines. Delivered to the CEMA for official trials in the summer of that year, the Bre.690 was found to have a performance superior to that of the Potez 630, but in late August it was returned to Breguet for modification of the landing gear.

Breguet Bre.691 - The Bre.691.01 prototype flew for the first time on 22 March 1939 powered by two 700 hp (522 kW) Hispano-Suiza 14AB-10/11 radial engines. Configured especially to satisfy the attack role, featuring twin end-plate fins and rudders, and a retractable tailwheel.

Breguet Bre.693 - The Bre.693.01 prototype flew for the first time on 25 October 1939. With the Hispano-Suiza engines proving unreliable, modifications were made to incorporate the 700 hp (522 kW) Gnome-Rhône 14M-6/7 Mars 14-cylinder two-row radial engines. 234 examples being built.

Breguet Bre.694 - A single Bre.694.01 prototype, intended initially as a three-seat tactical reconnaissance aircraft, and later as a two or three-seat version for use in a bomber/reconnaissance role, and which had appealed respectively to Belgium and Sweden, was delivered to the Aeronavale on 1 June 1940. This was generally similar to the original Bre.690, with the navigator's compartment restored, and powered by two 710 hp (529 kW) Gnome-Rhône 14M-4/5 engines.

Breguet Bre.695 - The Bre.695.01 flew for the first time in early 1940 powered by Two 825 hp (615 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SB4G Twin Wasp Junior 14-cylinder two-row radial engines mated with a Bre.693 airframe. This type resulted from a new French policy to ensure that if French engine plants were overrun, engines of foreign design could be used instead. 50 examples were built.

Breguet Bre.696.01 - A single prototype first flown on 3 November 1939 and modified (slightly enlarged weapons bay) for use as a two seat light bomber. Never put into production.

Breguet Bre.697 - A single pre-prototype first flown on 19 October 1939 designed for use as heavily armed 'destroyer' which would have become the Bre.700. It was powered by two 1,070 hp (798 kW) Gnome-Rhône 14N-48/49 radial engines. The single example was destroyed by the French to prevent it from falling into German hands. 

Specifications (Breguet Bre.693)

Type: Two Seat Attack Bomber

Design: Breguet Design Team

Manufacturer: Breguet Aircraft Company

Powerplant: (Bre.693) Two 700 hp (522 kW) Gnome-Rhône 14M-6/7 Mars 14-cylinder two-row radial engines. (Bre.695) Two 825 hp (615 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SB4G Twin Wasp Junior 14-cylinder two-row radial engines.

Performance: Maximum speed 304 mph (490 km/h) at 16,405 ft (5000 m); maximum cruising speed 248 mph (400 km/h) at 13,125 ft (4000 m); service ceiling 27,885 ft (8500 m); climb to 13,125 ft (4000 m) in 7 minutes 12 seconds.

Range: 839 miles (1350 km) on internal fuel.

Weight: Empty 6,636 lbs (3010 kg) with a maximum take-off weight of 10,803 lbs (4900 kg).

Dimensions: Span 50 ft 5 in (15.37 m); length 31 ft 8 3/4 in (9.67 m); height 10 ft 5 3/4 in (3.19 m); wing area 314.32 sq ft (29.2 sq m).

Armament: One 20 mm Hispano-Suiza cannon and two forward firing 7.5 mm (0.295 in) Darne machine guns, plus one similar gun on a flexible mount in rear cockpit, one fixed 7.5 mm (0.295 in) Darne machine gun firing obliquely aft from ventral position and (late models) two 7.5 mm (0.295 in) Darne machine guns, one in each engine nacelle firing aft, plus up to 882 lbs (400 kg) of bombs.

Variants: Bre.690.01 (prototype), Bre.691, Bre.693, Bre.694, Bre.695, Bre.696.01 (single prototype), Bre.697 (single prototype), Bre.700 (intended production version of the Bre.697 prototype).

Avionics: None.

History: First flight (Bre.690.01) 23 March 1938; first flight (Bre.691.01) 22 March 1939; first flight (production Bre.691) 15 May 1939, initial deliveries (Bre.691) October 1939; first flight (Bre.396.01) 25 October 1939; first flight (Bre.695.01) 23 April 1940; first flight (Bre.696.01) 3 November 1940; first flight (Bre.697 prototype) 19 October 1939.