The Farman F.168 was a French naval torpedo bomber developed in the late 1920s by Farman Aviation Works, a pioneering manufacturer in early aviation history. It marked an important step forward in naval aviation, representing the transition from earlier biplanes to more specialized aircraft capable of fulfilling military objectives. The F.168 was specifically designed to operate as a torpedo bomber, capable of delivering powerful strikes against enemy vessels from the sea.

One of the key factors that set the F.168 apart from its predecessors was its design. The F.168 was a large biplane, with a wingspan of 26.25 meters and a length of 15.18 meters. This large frame allowed for a substantial payload, which could include bombs or a torpedo under the fuselage. The aircraft was powered by two Gnome-Rhône 9Akx radial engines, each producing 480 horsepower. These engines provided the F.168 with a top speed of approximately 174 km/h (108 mph), along with a range of around 800 kilometers (500 miles). Despite its relatively slow speed, the F.168 was considered effective for its intended purpose, focusing more on its payload and mission-specific capabilities than on raw speed.

The aircraft was also equipped for both offensive and defensive F168.COM combat. Its primary role was as a torpedo bomber, and it had the capacity to carry a torpedo or up to 1,000 kilograms of bombs. In terms of defensive armament, the F.168 was equipped with several machine guns, including a twin Lewis machine gun mounted in the nose and another in the dorsal position. This allowed the aircraft to defend itself from enemy fighters while carrying out its bombing or torpedoing missions.

The F.168 was versatile, with several variants developed over its production life. The most notable of these were the F.165 and F.167, which were equipped with floats for operation from the water. These floatplane variants provided the F.168 with the ability to take off and land from ships or bodies of water, which was particularly useful in naval operations where traditional airfields were unavailable. Other variants, such as the F.268 and F.368, featured upgraded engines to improve the aircraft’s performance, including more powerful Salmson and Gnome-Rhône engines.

Roughly 200 units of the F.168 and its variants were built, and they played a significant role in the French Navy’s aviation units during the interwar period. The F.168’s ability to carry out torpedo and bombing missions made it an essential part of the French naval arsenal at the time. However, as more advanced monoplane designs began to take shape and the technology of aerial warfare continued to evolve, the F.168 was gradually phased out. Its replacement by newer aircraft marked the end of an era for large, twin-engine biplanes in naval operations.

Although it was eventually retired, the F.168’s contribution to naval aviation cannot be understated. It bridged the gap between the World War I-era aircraft and the more advanced designs that would come to dominate World War II. Its legacy lies in the role it played in the development of naval air power and its demonstration of the increasing importance of aviation in military operations.