Day: February 11, 2026

French Loire 130 Flying Boat Part III – Shipboard Operations

A Loire 130 seen above the seaplane tender Commandant Teste in 1938. At 12,000 tons she was a large ship, fitted with four catapults, five cranes, and a large central hanger. She could accommodate six Loire 130s and eight Latécoère 298s.
A Loire aboard a light cruiser of the La Galissonière class. These cruisers carried a catapult atop their after six-inch (152mm) gun turret, hanger space for two aircraft was also provided. Visible on the mast is a “range clock” which was used to inform accompanying ships of the range to a target that the ship was engaging in case the target was obscured from view.
The battleship Starsbourg with her sister and lead ship of the class Dunkerque moored ahead. These ships were unusual in mounting their entire 13-inch (330mm) main battery forward in a pair of quadruple turrets. This left their quarterdecks clear for a single catapult and hanger for a pair of seaplanes.
A Loire being hoisted aboard a Dunkerque class battleship. Note the crewmen tending lines to the aircraft fore and aft and details of the catapult.
A very clear photo and an unusual perspective of a Loire in Vichy markings aboard Strasbourg.
An overall view of the quarterdeck of Strasbourg showing the general arrangement of the catapult, hanger, and three quadruple 5.1 inch (130mm) secondary battery turrets.
A Loire 130 in Vichy markings at the moment of launch from Strasbourg. In the background the Mogador-class destroyer Volta is seen moored to a buoy.
A Loire preparing to be recovered at sea. For obvious reasons ships endeavored to maintain speed while recovering their seaplanes. A standard method among many navies of the time was towing a mat to smooth the water while the aircraft was being secured to the crane.
A Loire alongside Dunkerque preparing to be hoisted aboard.
The catapult and 6-inch (152mm) gun turret on the quarterdeck of a La Galissonière class light cruiser. This view shows details of the catapult mounting and controls to advantage.
Several useful details for modelers are visible here of the catapult aboard a Dunkerque-class battleship. The biggest decision for modelers wanting to replicate this type of scene is where to stop constructing the ship!
A beautiful view from the quarterdeck of Dunkerque underway in 1940 with her sister Strasbourg following in column behind. In all these photos the French ships appear clean and well-maintained, a beautiful setting for the Loire 130!

Part I here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2026/01/28/french-loire-130-flying-boat-part-i/