JUNE 13,
1940
Equipment of the Italian Air Force
FIAT C.R.32.
Duties : Fighting.
An obsolescent single-seater which, despite its comparatively
low performance, distinguished itself in Spain.
Very
manoeuvrable and strong, it is fitted with a Fiat A 30 RA
water-cooled high-compression unsupercharged vee unit giving 600 h.p. at 9,800ft. The normal armament comprises two
12.7 mm. SAFAT heavy machine guns synchronised to fire
through the airscrew arc. Data : Span, 28ft. nin.; wing loading, 16.6 Jb./sq. ft.; top speed, 235-240 m.p.h.; climb to
19,650ft., 11 min.; service ceiling, 26,200ft.
FIAT C.R.42.
Duties : Fighting.
Now in production for certain fighter squadrons this machine
is a development of the C.R.32 with a considerably higher
performance. The chief difference is the substitution of a
Fiat A 74 RC 38 two-row radial (840 h.p. at 12,450ft.) for the
old liquid-cooled engine. The airscrew is a Fiat-Hamilton and
the armament two 12.7 mm. SAFAT synchronised guns.
Data : Span, 31ft. ioin.; top speed, 270 m.p.h. at 12,450ft.;
climb to 19,650ft., S min. 40 sec; service ceiling, 32,500ft.
FIAT G.50.
Duties : Fighting.
A comparatively modern low-wing monoplane design fitted
with a Fiat A 74 RC 38 radial and normally armed with two
12.7 mm. synchronised SAFAT guns. Optional additional
armament is two wing-mounted 7.7 mm. guns firing clear of
the airscrew arc. The centre section of the wing has a much
sharper taper than the outer panels and the machine has a
" h u m p e d " appearance. Data: Span, 35ft. 2in.; wing-loading, 26.85 lb./sq. ft.; top speed, 304 m.p.h.; climb to 19,680ft.,
7 min. 3 sec; absolute ceiling, 35,400ft.
MACCHI C.200.
Duties : Fighting.
The fastest single-seater fighter now in service in the Italian
Air Force. The machine has finer lines than the Fiat G.50
but is very strong, having been dived for about 9,800ft.,
attaining a speed of about 500 m.p.h. In " intercepter " form
it carries a load of about 950 lb., but when the range is
increased or more ammunition carried this can be increased
to 1,500 lb. The normal armament is two 12.7 mm. guns.
The engine is the Fiat A 34 RC 38. Data: Span, 34ft. 8in.;
wing-loading, 26.4 lb./sq. ft.; top speed, 313 m.p.h.; climb
to 19,680ft., 6.5 min.; absolute ceiling, 33,000ft.
BREDA 88.
Duties : Fighting, Ground Attack, Light Bombing and
Reconnaissance.
One of tlm most modern machines in the Italian Air Force,
the Breda 88 is a twin-engined shoulder-wing monoplane of
compact design. The pilot is seated forward of the leading
edge and the gunner above the wing. A power-driven turret
can be installed but this is not thought to be standard. A
typical armament load is three fixed 12.7 mm. SAFAT guns
and one free gun of similar type. With two Piaggio
P Xi RC 40 radials the machine is believed to have a top
speed of something like 320 m.p.h. Other data are: Span,
50ft. ioin.; climb to 16,400ft., 11 min.; ceiling, 27,850ft.
SAVOIA-MARCHETTI S.M.85.
Duties: Dive-bombing and Ground Attack.
Very little is known about this single-seater twin-engined highwing monoplane. It is certain, however, that large divingbrake flaps (shown lowered in the accompanying illustration)
are fitted and are lowered to 90 deg. for diving attacks. The
engines are medium-powered radials and the pilot is seated
in front of the leading edge. The slab-sided fuselage has
longitudinal corrugations. A later type, the S.M.S6 is said
to have a higher performance.
BREDA 65.
Duties: Ground Attack, Light Bombing and Fighting.
Although designed to be used as a single or two-seater the
Breda 65 is normally employed as a single-seater ground attack
machine.
The earlier machines have Gnome-Rhone K14
engines, but later types have the Fiat A 80 RC 41 or Piaggio
P XTC 40 units. In ground attack condition there are four
light or heavy SAFAT guns in the wings. Provision is made
for four heavy bombs or twelve smaller bombs (internally
stowed) or 160 fragmentation bombs. Data: (Single-seater)
span, 39ft. 8in.; wing-loading, 21.14 lb./sq. ft.; top speed,
254 m.p.h. at 16,400ft.; climb to 19,650ft., 15.5 min.; service
ceiling, 25,900ft.