Italy's Cant Z.1007 medium bomber
Nickname: Alcione (kingfisher), Alcione (halcyon)

Photos

Cant Z.1007 Alcione medium bomber:	Cant Z.1007 Alcione medium bomber:	Cant Z.1007 Alcione medium bomber:	Cant Z.1007 bis Alcione medium bomber: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook
Cant Z.1007 bis Alcione medium bomber: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook

Design

The Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico (Cant) was based on the Z.506B Airone (heron) floatplane.¹ The Z.1007 was to be it's land based counterpart.² The design of the CANT Z.1007 was done by Filippo Zappata.³ The design was a low wing three engine bomber.³

The CANT Z.1007's structure was made primarily out of wood with the cover of wood with a fabric lining.³

Tail

During production of the Z.1007 it could have a single tail or a twin tail.² There was no separate designation for the two different versions.²

Armament

The CANT Z.1007bis could carry 2,500 lbs of bombs internally.³ It was able to carry different configuration of bombs with one being a single 1,760 lb bomb and three 220 lb bombs.³ The CANT Z.1007bis was also able to carry up to 2,000 lbs of bombs under the wings.³

Prototype

The prototype first flew in May 1937 with three Isotta Fraschini Asso XI RC 15 (840 HP) engines.^1,2,3 The engines didn't provide enough power so they were replace by Piaggios in the production version.³

Production

• Prototypes: 2²
• CANT Z.1007: 34³, 35²
• CANT Z.1007bis/ter: 526²
• Total: 560³, 563²
  • Manufacturer: Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico³, Cant², Meridionali², Piaggio²
  • Production: Production started in 1939.^1,2
• CANT Z.1018: 17²

Variants

• CANT Z.1007:
• CANT Z.1007bis: Main production version.¹ Had Piaggio engines, a larger fuselage, larger wing area, and stronger landing gear.¹
• CANT Z.1007ter: Produced in 1943.^2,3 Had Piaggio P.XIX engines (1,175 HP).^2,3 Speed of 300 mph.³
• CANT Z.1018 Leone (lion): Was a twin engine, all metal version that saw some service right before Italy surrendered.^1,2 Had Piaggio P.XII engines (1,350 HP).²

Usage

The first Cant Z.1007 joined the Regia Aeronautica in 1939.¹ The Z.1007 saw service until September 1943.¹

Battle of Britain

Some CANT Z.1007bis' were used only once in a diversionary raid in September 1940.³ These were based in Belgium.³

Greece

In October 1940 a number of CANT Z.1007bis' were used in Greece.

Malta Convoys

The Cant Z.1007s were used used in the torpedo bombing role against the Malta convoyes.¹

Night Operations

The Cant Z.1007s were mainly used over the Aegean, Malta, and North Africa at night.¹

Russia

A few of the Cant Z.1007s saw action in Russia.^1,2

Fought with Allies

Around 30 went to the Allied side and were used in the Balkans.³

Fought with Germany

Around 30 were taken over by the Germans but weren't used operationally.³

Specifications

	Cant Z.1007 Alcione	Cant Z.1007bis Alcione
Type	Medium bomber2	Bomber3, Medium bomber1, Torpedo bomber1
Crew	52	51,3
Engine (Type)		3: Piaggio P.XIbis RC 40 piston1,2, 3: Piaggio P.XI RC 403,4
Cylinders		Radial1, Radial 142,3
HP		1,000 each1,2,3,4
Cooling		Air3
Propeller blades		3 each1,2
Dimensions
Span		81' 4"2,3,4, 81' 4.5"1 24.79 m2, 24.8 m1
Length		60' 2.5"1,2, 60' 4"4, 60' 7"3 18.35 m1,2
Height		17' 1"3,4, 17' 1.5"1,2 5.22 m1,2
Wing area		73.35 ft2 1 70 m2 1
Weight
Empty		19,005 lb1, 19,338 lb2 8,620 kg1, 8,772 kg2
Loaded		28,250 lb4, 30,029 lb1,2, 30,070 lb3 13,621 kg1,2
Performance
Speed		280 mph4
Speed @ 13,780' / 4,200 m		280 mph1 450 kph1
Speed @ 15,100'		283 mph3
Climb		1,542'/minute1, 1,667'/minute3 470 m/minute1
Service ceiling		26,575'1, 27,600'3 8,100 m1
Range		800 miles1, 1,243 miles3, 3,100 miles4 1,280 km1
Armament		4: MG3,4
Beam	2: 7.7 mm MG2	2: 7.7 mm Breda SAFAT MGs1
Dorsal and ventral	2: 12.7 mm MG2	2: 12.7 mm1
Bombs		2,430 lb3
Bombs - internal	4,410 lb2 2,000 kg2	2,200 lb4, 4,409 lb1 2,000 kg1
OR
Bombs - under wing	4: 551 lb2 4: 250 kg2	2,205 lb1 1,000 kg1
OR
Torpedo	2: 1,000 lb2 2: 454 kg2	2: 1,000 lb1 2: 454 kg1