Italian Aircraft

IMAM RO.57



The RO57 was one of the many attempts made in 1930's through the 1940's by the Italian engineers to supply the Regia Aeronautica with a modern heavy fighter, suitable to support (and even substitute) the slow and old Fiat CR32, CR42 and G50. Giovanni Galasso was however obliged to opt for a twin-engined aircraft, given the usual incapacity of the Italian motor industry to produce engines powerful enough. In May 1939, on the occasion of the First International Aeronautical Journalists' Congress held in Rome (Guidonia), the prototype was analyzed by a group of Italian and foreign pilots, who appreciated its qualities. The RO57 displayed itself better, in almost all the performances, than Macchi MC200 (the best national single-engine fighter), but shown soon a fault in the weaponry (only two 12.7 mm Breda Safat).

The Command of Regia Aeronautica started the production in series of the RO57, as they thought that a twin-engined fighter should definitely have better performances than a single-engined one, being the latter also cheaper in costs and easier to equip. The RO57 looked much like the English fighter Westland Whirlwind (propelled by a couple of 880 hp engines), but more powerful being armed with four 20 mm guns. In 1941. IMAM proposed a new version (Bis) armed with two 20 mm guns and designed to carry a 500 kg bomb, but the aircraft was too heavy. Yet, the Regia Aeronautica ordered 90 units for dive bombing. In February 1943, the first aircrafts were deployed to the Rome-Ciampino-based 97o Gruppo Autonomo. The pilots disliked the airplanes and the new aircraft was not employed in any further mission. At the beginning of July all the RO57s were moved to Crotone (southern Italy), where on July 13th 10 out of 15 aircrafts where destroyed by American air bombing, putting an end to this model's .

Reggiane RE.2000 Falco



The Reggiane Re.2000 Falco (Falcon) was inspired by the US Republic P-35, designed by Alexander Severski as the designer, Ind. Longhi, worked for the aeronautical division of Cadillac's Italian operation. The design meant a complete re-tooling for the Regianne factory.

The first prototype flew on 5/24/39 and had excellent handling and flight characteristics. The plane was a low wing monoplane with retractable landing gear. The only weakness was the engine, a Piaggio IX radial, which was unreliable. However, in tests against the Fiat Cr.42 and the Bf 109E, the Re.2000 was clearly more maneuverable. However the Regia Aeronautica rejected this fighter claiming the lack of self-sealing wing tanks made the plane too vulnerable and awarded the major contract to the Macchi Mc.200. Of all of the "0" series, the MC.200, Fiat G.50 and the Re.2000, only the Re. 2000 did not suffer from the stall phenomena that the other two aircraft encountered.

The first unit to test to Re.2000 was the 74th Squadriglia based in Sicily who received 9 with a more powerful Piaggio XI radial of 870 hp. Most of the duties were convoy escort due to the great range of the aircraft - 590 miles. The Re. 2000 had a maximum speed of 325 mph and a service ceiling of 34,450 ft. The units Re.2000 were withdrawn in September 1942.

However, the Italian Navy had a version built (the Serie II) with 12 aircraft for catapult launching as use for as a reconnaissance and observation plane, with the first prototype flying on 5/21/41. 2 were embarked on the battleship Roma, 2 on the Vittorio Veneto and 1 on the Littorio (later Italia). The 2 on the Roma were lost with the battleship to the German attack and the one on the Italia was damaged during the attack and was thereafter dropped overboard. One of the Vittorio Veneto aircraft were launched to look for survivors of the Roma and then crashed when it tried to land at Ajacco airfield.

The Re.2000 however served with Sweden who bought 60 and called them the J-20. The J-20 was used until 1945. The Swedish pilots only complaint was about the engine.

Hungary also used the Re.2000, called the Heja (Hawk) operationally with good results. 70 were built in Italy and then license produced in Hungary, with 200 examples powered by the MW 14B radial, the Hungary license built Gnome Rhone K14 radial.

Reggiane RE.2001 Ariete



The next in the series by Regianne was the Re.2001 Ariete (Ram). This was a marked improvement over the Re.2000 and the overall performance put it in the class with the MC.202, but the Macchi fighter got production priority. The first prototype of the Re.2001 flew in 7/40, using the wing system and tail of the Re.2000, but redesigning the fuselage as the engine used was the Alfa Romeo 1,175 hp in line license built version of the Daimler Benz DB 601A-1. The delay in the building of the Re.2001 was because the air force insisted that the fuel tanks be in the wing. The first planes were delivered in June 1941. Production proceeded slowly with 40 built in 1941, just over 100 in 1942 and the rest in 1943. The Re.2001 had a top speed of 335 mph, a range of 685 miles and a service ceiling of 36,000 ft.

There were 2 main versions, the CB fighter-bomber capable of up to a 1,410 lb bomb, but usually a 550 lb bomb was used. Armament consisted of 2 12.7mm machine guns in the cowling and 2 7.7 mm machine guns in the wings. The other version was the CN night fighter version, with 20mm cannon replacing the 7.7mm wing guns. The Re.2001 was used mainly over the Mediterranean and Italy as a night fighter, beginning in December 1941 and, at the Armistice, the majority of the Re.2001's left were with the Allies. 5 aircraft survived the war and were in service for a few years after the war.

Reggiane RE.2002 Ariete II



The next in the Reggiane series was the Re.2002 Ariete II (Ram II) fighter-bomber. This went back to a radial engine of 1,175 hp built by Piaggio and had a top speed of 329 mph and a range of 685 miles. The Re.2002 was an agile and sturdy plane and was the best fighter and attack bomber in the Italian Air Force. The Luftwaffe liked the aircraft so much, they decided in 1943 to develop a version with the FW190 radial engine, but the plan was never carried out. A total of 255 planes were built, 149 for the Regia Aeronautica and the rest for the Luftwaffe.

The Re.2002 was developed in 1940 and used the wing system of the Re.2001 with a remodeled fuselage to accommodate the radial engine. Armament consisted of 2 12.7 mm machine guns in the cowling and 2 7.7mm machine guns in the wings and up to a 1,102lb bomb attached to the belly and 2 352 lb bombs under the wings. The prototype flew in October 1940, but did not reach squadrons until March 1942. The 5th Dive Bomber Group became operational in July 1943 and were used in the defense of Sicily and Italy. 40 Re.2002 continued the war after the armistice on the allied side until the summer of 1944. Germany seized the rest and new production and used them against the French resistance fighters.

Reggiane RE.2005 Sagittario



The last model in the series was the excellent Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer). The wings were improved and enlarged, with new landing gear and heavy armament of 3 20mm cannon and 2 12.7mm machine guns. The first prototype was ready in December 1941, but lacked the engine for 4 months from Germany (the Daimler Benz inline). The first flight was on 5/9/42 , after the MC.205 and G.55 had both flown. The Re.2005 was fast and maneuverable and used the Fiat 1,475 hp inline license built version of the Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine. Maximum speed was 391 mph, a service ceiling of 40,000 ft and a range of 786 miles. However, only 29 were built.

The Re.2005's operational career began in May 1943 with the 362nd Squadriglia and used to defend Sicily and Italy against Allied bombers until 8/26/43. After the armistice, the Germans seized 13 and used them to defend the Romanian oil fields.

Reggiane RE.2007



Detail design of the Re 2007 single-seat jet fighter began in 10/43 and component manufacture began shortly afterwards. All design work had to be based on the known dimension of the Jumo 004B, it's intended power plant, but could progress no further by 1/44 owing to the lack of detailed information relating to the engine and it's installation. Hauptmann Bohm, the Luftwaffe's senior engineer at the Reggiane plant, could not obtain a definitive decision concerning the supply of the two Jumo 004B's. On the 1/7/44, Roberto Longhi wrote to Count Caproni, requesting that he intercede with the German authorities as design work had stalled. In the meantime, much of the rear fuselage, wing spars, ribs, undercarriage and the cockpit were built but because of the inability to obtain adequately detailed information relating to the Jumo 004B the work once again stalled. In 10/44 the completed components were moved to the Caproni plant at Taliedo, where they would remain until the end of the war. They were then shipped to the U.S.A. It is interesting to note that the two Jumo 004B engines were sent to Italy, but never made it to the Regianne designers and allegedly were sold for scrap in Milan immediately after the collapse of the German forces in Italy.

Breda BA.64



Largely as the result of the enthusiasm and dedication of Colonel Amedeo Mecozzi, the Italian air force devoted considerable effort during the early and mid-1930’s to the development of its assault air arm. Several requirements for such aircraft were issued and Breda submitted a design from Antonio Parano and Giuseppe Panzeri of a combat aircraft capable of being a fighter, light bomber or reconnaissance aircraft. The new airplane was designed as a cantilever low-wing all-metal monoplane with a wire braced tail unit. The pilot’s cockpit was placed well forward on the upper fuselage to provide excellent forward and downward fields of vision, in line with the leading edges of the wing roots. Yet the Ba.64 was at best a traditional type reflecting the gradual emergence of the advanced monoplane to succeed the traditional biplane, as shown by the prototype’s being fitted with a fixed tailwheel landing gear.

The prototype first flew in 1934 with a 700 hp Alfa Romeo Pegasus radial engine. The second prototype soon followed completed to single-seat fighter configuration but with semi-retractable main landing gear units and an armament of four 7.7mm machine guns in the wings. The semi retractable landing gear meant that in their rearward retracted position, they yielded a significant reduction in drag while the lower half of the wheels meant the airplane would suffer relatively little damage in the event of a wheels up landing.

Flight trials revealed an indifferent performance despite the use of a variable pitch three bladed propeller. It was decided to place a limited production order that combined the two-seat accommodation of the first prototype with the semi-retractable landing gear of the second. Production of 42 aircraft was completed in 1936 and these aircraft served with the 5th and 50th Stormos up to 1939 when the 27 operational Ba 64s were withdrawn from front-line service. The remaining aircraft were used in various secondary roles until the last 4 were scrapped in 4/43.

Breda BA.65



The Ba.65 sprang from the concept of a flying military jack-of-all-trades, formulated by Colonel Amadeo Mecozzi as he set about procuring a modern ground-attack plane for the Regia Aeronautica. For Mecozzi, the ideal military airplane was one that would be able to perform a wide variety of functions: fighter, light bomber, army cooperation and photo- reconnaissance. Of the several designs submitted to satisfy that specification, that of the Societa Italiana Ernesto Breda,was ultimately selected. Developed in 1932 from the Breda 27 single-seat fighter, the Breda 64 was completed early in 1933 as a cantilever monoplane. The Ba.64 prototype was powered by a Bristol Pegasus radial engine, license-built by Alfa Romeo, in a long-chord cowling, which was later replaced by an Alfa Romeo 125 RC35 engine rated at 650 hp. The Ba.64's undercarriage retracted rearward into the wings. The headrest behind the open cockpit was extended as a streamlined fairing all the way down the fuselage upper decking to the tail. Armament consisted of four 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT guns in the wings and up to 880 pounds of bombs in racks under the wings. The basic problem with the Ba.64 was its size in relation to its power plant. With a maximum speed of 220 mph, the new aircraft lacked the performance to be a very effective attack or reconnaissance plane, let alone a successful fighter. The first production Ba.64s were delivered in the summer of 1936 and were a profound disappointment. The Ba.64's mediocre speed and heavy handling characteristics were anything but fighter like, and its tendency to go into a high-speed stall caused several fatal crashes. In 1937, the Ba.64s took part in a series of well- publicized military maneuvers, but they were withdrawn from service the following year. Modified into two-seaters with a 7.7mm machine gun in the rear, only a small number of Ba.64s were built for the Regia Aeronautica, since Breda was already working on an improved model, the Ba.65. Two Ba.64s were purchased by the Soviet Union in 1938. One was delivered to General Francisco Franco's Nationalist forces in June 1937 and saw brief service during the Spanish Civil War.

Breda BA.88



The Breda Ba.88 Lince was a sleek all metal shoulder wing monoplane. In 4/37, the Lince established two world speed records. The Ba.88 was regarded as a ground-attack and long-range reconnaissance aircraft. Powered by 2 1,000-hp Piaggio radial engines, top speed was 304 mph with a service ceiling of 26,245 feet and a range of 1,019 miles. Armament consisted of 3 fixed forward firing 12.7mm machine guns in the nose and a flexible 7.7mm machine gun in the rear cockpit. A bomb load of 2,204 pounds could be carried.

On 6/16/40, just after Italy declared war on France and her allies, 12 Ba.88's of the 19th Group made bombing and machine gun attacks on Corsica. Three days later, 9 more Ba.88's attacked Corsica again. Analysis of these attacks showed that the Ba.88 had only a limited value. This was driven home when Ba.88s of the 7th Group joined action in Libya against the British. Fitted with sand filters, the engines overheated and could not put out the promised power rating. An attack on Sidi Barani in 9/40 had to be cancelled when the Ba.88s could not make altitude, as the engines could not generate the power necessary to gain sufficient altitude. By mid 11/40, most surviving Ba.88s had been stripped of useable equipment and were left as decoy targets around airfields.

Macchi 200 Saetta



The Macchi 200 Saetta (Arrow) was designed by Dr. Mario Castoldi. Castoldi had designed seaplanes for the Schneider Trophy races and in 1934, his MC.72 captured two world speed records, including one for seaplanes with a top speed of 440.68 mph that lasted until 1984.

Dr. Castoldi started design of the MC.200 in the mid 1930's after Italy's East Africa campaign. The resulting prototype flew on 12/24/37 and was a low wing monoplane of all metal construction except for fabric tail control surfaces. The MC.200 had a retractable tail wheel landing gear, semi-enclosed cockpit and featured an advanced wing design in completely hinged trailing edges and having hydraulically actuated flaps being interconnected with the ailerons so that when the flaps were lowered, the ailerons were drooped simultaneously. Power was provided by the Fiat A.74 RC.38 radial engine of 870 hp providing a top speed of 313mph, a range of 355 miles and a service ceiling of 29,200 ft. The prototype beat the Caproni Vizzola F/5, Reggiane Re.2000 and Fiat G.50 with a production contract in 1938. 1,153 were eventually built, including the AS tropical subversion as well as the CB fighter-bomber which could take 705lbs of bombs.

The MC.200 entered service with Italian squadrons in 1939 and was armed with 2 12.7mm Breda machine guns in the cowling firing through the propeller. Some later versions added 2 wing-mounted 7.7mm machine guns. The MC.200 saw extensive service over Malta, Greece, Yugoslavia the Western Desert, Sicily, Italy and Russia. Over Russia, MC.200s shot down 88 Russian planes for the loss of only 15. In 1943, some 23 MC.200's were flown to allied airfields after the armistice and used by the pro-allied Italian air force. One example of this aircraft can be found at the USAF Museum (photo above). It originally had been found abandoned at Benghazi and is in the markings of the 372 Squadriglia.

Macchi MC.202 Folgore



The MC.202 Folgore (lightning) was a direct descendant of the MC.200 that retained the same wing and controls, along with parts of the fuselage, but being powered by the inline Daimler Benz DB601 (later license built by Alfa Romeo). The MC.202 was delivered to operation groups in 1941, after the prototype flew in 1940 and had an enclosed cockpit. The MC.202 was armed with 2 12.7mm Breda machine guns in the cowling and 2 7.7mm machine guns in the wings. Some later versions had the 7.7mm machine guns replaced by 20mm cannon. The MC.202's top speed was 372 mph, range of 475 miles and had a service ceiling of 37,730ft.

The MC.202 clearly proved superior to the P-40 and Hurricane and met its match with the Spitfire and Mustang. By late 1942, MC.202s outnumbered other fighters in the Regia Aeronautica. The MC.202 saw service in the North Africa campaign, Malta, Sicily, and over Italy. There were 2 main subversions, the AS for tropical service and the CB fighter-bomber. After the armistice in 1943, MC.202s flew with both Italian air forces. This was arguably the best Italian fighter to see large-scale service during the war.

There are only a few restored examples of the MC.202 left, one being in the National Air & Space Museum in Washington DC and is a late model MC.202 painted in the markings of the 90th Squadriglia, 10th Gruppo, 4th Stormo in Libya in 1942.

Macchi MC.205 Veltro



The final Macchi fighter was the ultimate development of this line, the MC.205 Veltro (greyhound). It first flew in April 1942 using the MC.202 airframe with a more powerful Daimler-Benz DB605 engine and also used the 1,475hp Fiat inline engine. Maximum speed was 399 mph, a range of 646 miles and a service ceiling of 37,090 ft. It was armed with 2 12.7mm Breda machine guns in the cowling and 2 wing mounted 7.7mm machine guns which were soon supplanted by 20mm cannon, with additional cannon or 12.7mm machine guns later added.

The MC.205 reached Italian squadrons in June 1943 and was used over North Africa, Pantelleria, Sicily and Italy. On their first sortie, 25 MC.205s faced a larger number of P-40's and Spitfires. Over Sicily, the MC.205 was used to try and stop the American bombers. The first Stormo to get the MC.205 was the 1st Stormo. The 51st Stormo received their MC. 205 in April 1943 and on 8/2/43, 6 MC.205 attacked 20 P-38 and P-40s destroying 6 of the Allied fighters for the loss of only 1 MC.205.

After the armistice, the majority of the MC.205 were with the pro-Axis forces with 112 new MC.205's built for that air force, along with the 29 that came over after the armistice. The MC.205 was capable of meeting on equal terms the Mustang and the latest German fighters. The MC.205 was produced until 1948, representing the best aeronautical engineering during the war

Erm...
May I suggest FAIL.
When suggesting anything. Let alone simply stating it. We don't need a detailed history, yet it specs and strengths/weaknesses.

LOL@FAIL?

It states, everything?

Know what, I give up.

Fucking do it all yourself if you're so perfect

-.-

c19 wrote:

LOL@FAIL?

It states, everything?

Know what, I give up.

Fucking do it all yourself if you're so perfect

-.-

Lulz@You.
Only like... 10 people go to the forums, let alone are pilots. Three main planes would've been fine. x]

Ah shut up.