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The Cant Z.1007 Alcione or "Kingfisher" was a three-engine medium bomber used by the Italian Regia Aeronautica, Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force, Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana and Luftwaffe during World War II.

The Cant Z.1007 was developed from the Cant Z.506 seaplane, an aircraft that had established many world records in the late 1930s. It was a land-based version and had many improvements, especially the engines. Filippo Zapata, the father of many aerodynamically streamlined aircraft created a very potent aircraft with the Z.506. As a land-based bomber, it could have been better than the machines already in service, and therefore, a first series of 32 were ordered, and designated Z.1007 Asso, after its 830 hp Isotta-Fraschini Asso inline engines.

The Asso engines had annular radiators so their profile was similar to radial engines that would be fitted later. The first prototype flew in March 1937. The model was quite interesting, but lacked superior performances compared to the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero, even with 430km/h. It had few bombs in a bomb bay and wing racks, with a weak defensive armament of one 12.7 mm and one 7.7 mm machine gun. Improvement was made with Piaggio P.IX engines, capable of 1,000 hp and the Cant Z.1007bis went into production in 1939 displaying more capability than all previous Italian bombers.

The Z.1007 had a standard configuration: monoplane, with a low-set wing, single tail (later a double tail), retractable undercarriage, and a crew of five or six. It had a totally wooden structure, and a very clean shape that was much more aerodynamic than the competing SM.79. The Z.1007 had three Piaggio P.XI engines (a derivative of the French Gnome-Rhône 14K) of 1,000hp each, with one engine in the nose and two in the wings. The three-engined design was a common feature of Italian aircraft of World War II. The aircraft had a slim fuselage mainly because the two pilots sat in tandem rather than side by side as in most bombers of the period. Like most three-engined Italian aircraft of the period the Z.1007 suffered from poor defensive armament, poor engine reliability, and a poor power to weight ratio due to weak engines. The Z.1007 also suffered from directional stability problems that were only partly rectified later by the twin tail arrangement. The problems with directional stability made it only a marginal bombing platform. The Z.1007's wooden structure suffered cracks, separations, and surface delamination due to the difficult climatic conditions in North Africa and Russia. The surface delamination and deformation greatly added to the aircraft drag. A total of 660 Alcione were built.

The Z.1007 had a defensive armament of four machine-guns: two 12.7mm and two 7.7 mm. The main defensive weapon was an Isotta-Fraschini Scotti or 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun in a Caproni-Lanciani Delta manually powered, or a Breda electrically powered dorsal turret. The turret had a 360° field of fire and 0-70° of elevation, with 350 rounds. The 12.7 mm Breda was a standard weapon for Italian bombers which was helped by the double-tail configuration on later models, which allowed a better field of fire. Another 12.7mm was in the ventral position behind the bomb bay, with a field of fire restricted to the lower rear quadrant of the aircraft. There were also two waist position 7.7 mm Breda machine guns, with 500 rounds of ammunition each. Only one of the waist guns could be used at a time since the gunner for this position manned both guns. Armour, looking at the Allied reports (arguably referring to the latest versions, more armoured) was better than the usual for an Italian bomber, with a large (2 ft. 6 in. by 3 ft. 6 in. plus a small head protection one of 14 in. by 8 in ) 8 mm curved plate for rear protection of dorsal gunner (rotating with his turret), 5 mm plates for side gunners with other 6 mm all around the machine-guns, and 6 mm for ventral machine-gun position, and all around this means that all the defensive positions were reasonably protected against enemy fire. Pilot was protected, even if an armoured windscreen was not available, with 5 mm roof and lateral, 6 mm around seat, 5 mm over his head, and 6 mm armoured bulkhead behind him.

The Z.1007 saw action during the later stages of the Battle of Britain from November 1940 to January 1941. The Regia Aereonautica sent six Z.1007Bis of the 172nd Squadron to Belgium in the strategic reconnaissance role for the Corpo Aereo Italiano and its 200 bombers and fighters. Upon arrival the Italian command realized the Luftwaffe had already photographed nearly every inch of S.E. England and there was really nothing for them to do. They were used in force only once, on November 11, when five were used as a decoy (without bombs or guns) to draw RAF fighters away from the main Italian attack on a convoy and the port facilities around Harwich by 10 Fiat BR 20 bombers. It didn't work. Otherwise it was used only sporadically in the strategic reconnaissance role. No Z.1007's were lost over Britain, although one of the six originally sent was lost in September on the deployment flight to its base in Belgium.

General characteristics

• Crew: 5
• Length: 18.35 m (60 ft 2.5 in)
• Wingspan: 24.80 m (81 ft 4.5 in)
• Height: 5.22 m (17 ft 1.5 in)
• Wing area: 70 m² (750 ft²)
• Empty weight: 9,396 kg (20,715 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 13,621 kg (30,029 lb)
• Powerplant: 3× Piaggio P.XI RC.40 radial engines, 745 kW (1,000 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 458 km/h (245 knots, 285 mph)
• Cruise speed: 338 km/h (183 knots, 210 mph)
• Range: 1,795 km (969 nm, 1,115 mi)
• Service ceiling 7,500 m (25,000 ft)

Armament

• Guns:
   
  • 3× 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Isotta-Fraschini Scotti or Breda-SAFAT machine guns
  • 2× 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns
• Bombs:
   
  • 1,200 kg (2,645 lb) of bombs internally. 1,000kg (2,204 lb) externally on underwing hardpoints. Or a combined load of 2,200kg (4,850 lb) of bombs internally and on external hardpoints.
  • 2× 450 mm (17.7 in) 800kg (1,763 lb), torpedoes

 

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The Caproni Ca.133 was a three-engine transport/bomber aircraft used by the Italian Regia Aeronautica from the Second Italo-Abyssinian War until World War II.

Originally developed as a civilian airliner and successor to the Caproni Ca.101, the Ca.133 prototype first flew in December 1934, and production began in 1935. The military versions of the aircraft were used as transports and light bombers and saw action on all fronts.

The Ca.133, like its predecessor the Ca.101, was a robust and inexpensive aircraft, designed to be easily maintained in difficult conditions and economical to operate. Its performance suffered accordingly, even by 1930's standards.

The aircraft was powered by three engines, one in the nose, and one under each wing mounted in nacelles supported by steel tubes. It was of mixed construction, with a fuselage of steel tubes covered in plywood and fabric. The wing was mounted high, roughly elliptical, and made of wood and steel. The undercarriage was spatted and fixed.

Armament consisted of four Vickers machine guns; one dorsal, one ventral, and two lateral. Two small internal bomb bays were able to hold up to 500 kg, and larger ordnance could be mounted externally.

General characteristics

• Crew: 5 for bomber, 2 for transport
• Length: 15.36 m (59 ft 4.75 in)
• Wingspan: 21.34 (69 ft 8 in)
• Height: 4.0 m (13 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 65 m² (700 ft²)
• Empty weight: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb)
• Loaded weight: 6,525 kg (14,390 lb)
• Powerplant: 3× Piaggio Stella VII.C 16 air-cooled radial engines, 460 hp (340 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 230 km/h (120 knots, 140 mph)
• Cruise speed: 200 km/h (110 knots, 120 mph)
• Range: 1,350 km (729 nm, 840 mi)
• Service ceiling 5,500 m (18,000 ft)
• Wing loading: 100 kg/m² (21 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 210 W/kg (130 hp/lb)

Armament

• Guns: 4 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns
• Bombs: 500 kg (1,100 lb)

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The Caproni Ca.135 was an Italian medium bomber designed at Bergamo in Italy by Cesare Pallavicino. It flew for the first time in 1935, and entered service with the Peruvian Air Force in 1937, and with the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Air Force) in January 1938.

The Ca.135 was to be built at Caproni's main Taliedo factory in Milan, which is why the type had a designation in the main Caproni sequence, rather than in the Caproni-Bergamaschi Ca.300 series. However, the project was retained at Ponte San Pietro and the prototype, completed during 1934-35, (a long construction time for the period), was first flown on 1 April. The project chief was Cesare Pallavicino of CAB (Caproni Aereonautica Bergamasca).

Although the new bomber was in the "century series" of Caproni aircraft, it resembled the Caproni Ca.310, with its rounded nose, two engines, low-slung fuselage, and wings with a very long chord. Several versions were fitted with different engines and some had noticeable performance differences.

The prototype was powered by two 836 hp (623 kW) (at 4,000 m) Isotta Fraschini Asso XI RC radial engines initially fitted with two bladed wooden propellers. It had a length of 14.5 m (48 ft), a wingspan of 18.96 m (62.2 ft), and a wing surface of 61.5 m² (662 sq ft). It weighed 5,606 kg (12,360 lb) empty, and had a 2,875 kg (6,340 lb) useful load. Structurally, it was built of mixed materials, with a stressed-skin forward fuselage, and a wood and fabric-covered steel-tube rear section, the wings being of metal and wood, using fabric and wood as covering. The wings were more than one third of the total length, and had two spars of wooden construction, covered with plywood and metal. The strength coefficient was 7.5. The tail surfaces were made with wood covered with metal and plywood. The fuel system, with two tanks in the inner wings, held a total of 2,200 litres.

The Ca.135's fuselage's shape was quite different than, for example, the Fiat BR.20. If the latter resembled the B-25, the Ca.135, with its low fuselage more resembled the B-26. Its long nose accommodated the bomb-aimer and a front turret (similar to the Piaggio P.108 and later British bombers). The front part of the nose was detachable to assure a quick escape from the aircraft. It also had two doors in the cockpit roof, to allow the pilots to escape in an emergency. The right-hand seat could fold up to assist entry to the nose.

The aircraft was underpowered, with a maximum speed of 363 km/h (226 mph) at 4,500 m (15,000 ft), and a high minimum speed (there were no slats, and maybe not even flaps) of 130 km/h (81 mph). The ceiling was only 6,000 m (20,000 ft) and the endurance, at 70% of throttle was 1,600 km (990 mi). The weight was too high, with total of 8,725 kg (19,240 lb) and not 7,375 kg (16,260 lb) as expected.

The total payload of 2,800 kg (6,200 lb) was shared between the crew (320 or more kg), military equipment (200 kg of weapons, over 100 kg of radio and other equipment), fuel (max. 2,200 litres, 1,500 kg) oil, oxygen and bombs, so with the maximum bombload there was almost no possibility of carrying a full load of fuel (the other Italian bombers were generally capable of 3,300-3,600 kg payload): around 500 kg with the maximum, modest fuel load (the BR.20 and SM.79 had 3,600 litres), or with the maximum bomb load, almost nothing was available with fuel, and the lack of power made take-offs when over-loaded impossible, in fact take-offs were problematic even with a normal load.

Take-off and landing distances were 418 m (1,370 ft) and 430 m (1,400 ft). The range was good enough to assure 2,200 km (1,400 mi) with 550 kg and 1,200 km (750 mi) with 1,200 kg.

The production version was fitted with inline liquid-cooled Asso XI RC 40 engines, giving 900 hp (670 kW) at 4,000 m (13,000 ft), so that aerodynamic drag was reduced, and three-bladed metal propellers, and were theoretically more efficient machines. This new engine gave the aircraft a maximum speed of 400 km/h (250 mph) at 4,000 m., and could climb to 2,000 m in 5.5 minutes, 4,000 m in 12.1 minutes and 5,000 m in 16.9 minutes.

Despite this, the aircraft was still underpowered, which lead to the 1939 Ca.135Mod, fitted with 1,000 hp (750 kW) Piaggio P.XI engines.

Production of the aircraft was initially of only 32 aircraft, of which eight were Ca.135S's, and some were converted into the Ca.135Mod. In 1938 the first Ca.135Bis were built. They were fitted with 1,000 hp Piaggio P.XI RC.40 engines, with Piaggio P.1001 three-blade metal propellers. Length was 17.7 m, wingspan 18.8 m, and wing surface 60 m2. Armament was still only two 12.7 mm guns and one 7.7 mm, but the nose was redesigned to be more aerodynamic. Another 32 aircraft were ordered and built between 1939 and June 1940.

They were not successful aircraft, being heavily criticized by the Italian pilots. Unable to be used operationally, they were sent to flying schools, and then exported to Hungary. The first batch of Ca.135s flown by 11 Wing were phased out by late 1938. Twenty-five were still available at Jesi airfield, though only four were in flying condition, while the others were probably in maintenance for engine replacement. In 1940 there were at least fifteen Ca.135S and Ca.135Mod at the Malpensa flying school, though the poor condition of these aircraft meant that they were scrapped in November 1941. With the scrapping of the first batch and the selling of the second, all sixty-four Ca.135s left the service of the Regia Aeronautica without performing a single operational mission.

General characteristics

• Crew: 4 (sometimes 5)
• Length: 14.4 m (47 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 18.8 m (61 ft 8 in)
• Height: 3.4 m (11 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 60.0 m² (645.86 ft²)
• Empty weight: 6,050 kg (13,340 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 9,550 kg (21,050 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Piaggio P.XI-RC40 14-cylinder radial engines, 746 kW (1,000 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 440 km/h (273 mph) at 4,800 m (15,750 ft)
• Cruise speed: 350 km/h (217 mph)
• Range: 2,600 km (1,244 mi)
• Service ceiling 6,500 m (21,325 ft)

Armament

• 3 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) dorsal Breda-SAFAT machine guns in nose, dorsal, and ventral turrets.
• 1,600 kg (3,527 lb) internal bomb load.

 

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The Caproni-Begamaschi Ca.310 Libeccio (Italian: southwest wind) was an Italian monoplane, twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft used in World War II. Derived from the similar Ca.309, it had its combat debut during the Spanish Civil War, and took part in the earlier phases of World War II in Libya. Some were used in attack groups as a temporary replacement for the unsatisfactory Breda Ba.65. The last Ca.309 was retired by the Italian Air Force in 1948.

The Ca.310 was designed as a low-wing monoplane reconnaissance/bomber, being essentially a version of the semi-military Ca.309 with retractable landing gear and uprated engines. The fuselage was of welded steel tube construction with a covering of light alloy panels and fabric, while the empennage/tail unit was of wooden construction with plywood skin on its fixed portions and fabric covering on control surfaces.

Above the fuselage, mounted in line with the wing trailing edges was a manually operated dorsal turret armed with a single rifle-caliber (7.7 mm) Breda-SAFAT machine gun.

Caproni pinned great hopes on the Ca. 310's effectiveness as a combat aircraft, only to be dashed when its performance fell short of expectations. This lack of performance resulted in both Norway and Hungary being disappointed with the export models they received in 1938. The Ca.310 had been evaluated by the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) which ordered a small batch. A unit of 16 aircraft was sent to Spain in July 1938 for operational trials as a reconnaissance/bomber by the Italian expeditionary force operating alongside the Nationalist insurgents in the Spanish Civil War.

The Norwegian aircraft were acquired as part of a Dried and salted cod (Klippfisk) barter deal between Norway and Italy.^[4][5] The original order, including options, was for 24 aircraft, but after seeing that the aircraft did not perform well, the Norwegian authorities refused to accept any further Ca.310s. Instead, a delivery of 12 Caproni Ca.312s with upgraded engines and improved performance was substituted, but not delivered before the German invasion of Norway on 9 April 1940. A similar scenario occurred with other export contracts, especially with a hoped-for Royal Air Force order for bomber trainers being curtailed during negotiations with Caproni when Italy entered the war as an Axis power.

A series of 12 Ca.310bis were produced for Yugoslavia. This variant differed mainly in having an unstepped, glazed nose. The prototype Ca.310bis served as the development for the Caproni-Begamaschi Ca.311.

The 33 Hungarian Ca.310s returned to Italy were refurbished by Caproni and reissued to the 50˚ Stormo d’Assalto. The Ca.310 was not considered an effective combat aircraft and when it saw service during World War II, it was as a reconnaissance aircraft and as a light bomber in areas where no serious opposition was expected.

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Length: 12.20 m (40 ft)
• Wingspan: 16.20 m (53 ft)
• Height: 3.52 m (11.5 ft)
• Wing area: 38.7 m² (127 ft²)
• Empty weight: 3,050 kg (6,724 lb)
• Loaded weight: 4,650 kg (10,251 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Piaggio P.VIII C.35, 470 hp (350 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 365 km/h (218-227 mph)
• Cruise speed: 285-312 km/h (177-194 mph)
• Range: 1,690 km (1,025 miles)
• Service ceiling 7,000 m (22,965 feet)

Armament

• Guns: 3 x 7.7 mm Breda SAFAT machine guns (Two 7.7 mm machine guns fixed forward firing mounted in the wing roots; one 7.7 mm machine gun in a dorsal turret)
• Bombs: up to 450 kg, 882 pounds

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The Fiat BR.20 Cicogna (Italian: "stork") was a twin-engined bomber of the Italian Regia Aeronautica which saw service in the Spanish Civil War, Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. Although the BR.20 was Italy's standard medium bomber in the mid-1930s and had proven effective in the Spanish Civil War, it was already obsolescent by the time Italy entered the war.

The BR.20 was a twin-engined low-wing monoplane, with a twin tail and a nose separated into cockpit and navigator stations. Its robust main structure was of mixed-construction; with a slab-sided fuselage of welded steel tube structure having duralumin skinning of the forward and centre fuselage, and fabric covering the rear fuselage. The 74 m² (796 ft²) metal-skinned wings had two spars and 50 ribs (also made of duralumin), with fabric-covered control surfaces.^[2] The hydraulically actuated main undercarriage elements retracted into the engine's nacelles, and carried 106 x 375 x 406 mm wheels. The takeoff and landing distances were quite short due to the low wingloading, while the thickness of the wing did not compromise the aircraft's speed. The twin tail allowed a good field of fire from the dorsal gun turret.

The engines were two Fiat A.80 RC 41s, rated at 1,000 cv at 4,100 m (13,500 ft), driving three-bladed Fiat-Hamilton metal variable pitch propellers. Six self-sealing fuel tanks in the centre fuselage and inner wings held 3,622 litres of fuel, with two oil tanks holding 107 kg. This gave the fully loaded bomber, (carrying a 3,600 kg (7,900 lb) payload) an endurance of 5.5 hours at 350 km/h (217 mph), and 5,000 m (16,400 ft) altitude. Takeoff and landing distances were 350 and 380 m respectively. The theoretical ceiling was 7,600 m.

Crewed by four or five, the BR.20's two pilots sat side-by-side with the engineer/radio operator/gunner behind. The radio operator's equipment included a R.A. 350-I radio-transmitter, A.R.5 receiver and P.3N radio compass. The navigator/bomb-aimer had a station in the nose equipped with bombsights and a vertical camera. Another two or three crewmembers occupied the nose and the mid- fuselage, as radio-operator, navigator and gunners. The radio operator was also the ventral gunner while the last crew member was the dorsal gunner.

The aircraft was fitted with a Breda model H nose turret carrying a single 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, and was initially fitted with a Breda DR dorsal turret carrying one or two 7.7 mm machine guns. This turret was unusual because it was semi-retractable: the gunner's view was from a small cupola, and in case of danger, he could extend the turret. This was later replaced by a Fiat M.I turret carrying a 12.7 mm Breda, then by a Caproni-Lanciani Delta turret mounting a 12.7 mm Scotti machine gun (although this was unreliable), and finally by a more streamlined Breda R, armed with a 12.7 mm Breda; this was a much better system that did not need to be retracted because of the lower induced drag. The aircraft was fitted with a further 7.7 mm machine gun in a ventral clamshell hatch that could be opened when required. The original defensive armament weighed 220 kg (484 lb).

The BR.20's payload was carried entirely in the bomb bay in the following possible combinations: 2 x 800 kg bombs as maximum load, 2 x 500 kg, 4 x 250, 4 x 160, 12 x 100, 12 x 50, 12 x 20, or 12 x 15 kg bombs. Combinations of different types were also possible, including 1 x 800 and 6 x 100 kg, 1 x 800 and 6 x 15/20 kg, or 2 x 250 and 6 x 50 or 100 kg bombs. The BR.20 could also carry four dispensers, armed with up to 720 x 1 or 2 kg HE or incendiary bomblets. All the bombs were loaded and released horizontally, improving the accuracy of the launch. No torpedoes were used.

By the time Italy had entered World War II, a new variant, the BR.20M, had been produced and put in service. The BR.20M had a different nose with added glazed sections for the bombardier and a slightly longer fuselage. Also the weight was increased because part of the fabric was substituted with metal, improving the resistance to flutter while reducing speed from 430 to 410 km/h (267 to 255 mph).^[

Shortly after entering service with the Regia Aeronautica the aircraft became central to the propaganda campaign lauding Italian engineering. In 1937 two stripped-down BR.20s (designated BR.20A) were built for entry into the prestigious Istres–Damascus air race gaining sixth and seventh place when S.M.79s scored the first place, leaving the Fiats far behind. They had a rounded nose similar to civil aircraft, and had all military hardware, such as defensive turrets, removed. The internal fuel capacity was increased to 7,700 litres, bringing the maximum range to 6,200 km.^[1] In 1939 a modified long-range BR.20 version (designated BR.20L) named Santo Francesco under the command of Maner Lualdi made a highly publicised nonstop flight from Rome to Addis Ababa at an average speed of 390 km/h (242 mph). It carried 5,000 litres of fuel, increasing the range from 3,000 to 4,500 km.

The main task of the BR.20 was medium-range bombing. It had many features that were very advanced for its time: with a maximum speed of over 400 km/h and a high cruise speed of 320 km/h, it was as fast as aircraft like the Tupolev SB light bombers. The range and payload were also very good.

At the time of the September 1943 Armistice between Italy and the Allies, 67 BR.20s were operational with front line operational units, mainly being used on anti-partisan operations, although most aircraft had been relegated to the training role. During the final years of the war, some surviving aircraft remained in use as trainers and transports. A small number were used by the RSI after the Armistice, with only one retained by the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force, which used it for communications duties. The last BR.20 was retired, 7 June 1946 and none survive today.

General characteristics

• Crew: 5
• Length: 16.68 m (54 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 21.56 m (70 ft 8.75 in)
• Height: 4.75 m (15 ft 7 in)
• Wing area: 74.0 m² (796.5 ft²)
• Empty weight: 6,500 kg (14,330 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 10,100 kg (22,270 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Fiat A.80 RC.41 18-cylinder radial engine, 746 kW (1,000 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 440 km/h (273 mph)
• Cruise speed: 340 km/h (211 mph)
• Range: 2750 km (1,709 miles)
• Service ceiling 8,000 m (26,250 ft)
• Rate of climb: m/min (ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: kW/kg (hp/lb)

Armament

• 3× 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns
• 1600 kg (3,528 lb) of bombs