Italy's Piaggio P.108 heavy bomber

Photos

Piaggio P.108 heavy bomber1:

Piaggio P.108 heavy bomber C-B: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook

Piaggio P.108 heavy bomber C-B: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook

Design

The P.108 was Italy's only four engine strategic bomber.² It was designed by Giovanni Casiraghi who worked in the United States from 1927 to 1936.²

The Piaggio P.108 was an all metal design.^1,2 The P.108 had retractable landing gear.²

Defensive Armament

There were remotely controlled barbettes in each of the outer engine nacelles.¹

Prototype

The P.108 prototype first flew on November 24, 1939² / 1939.^1,2

Production

• Piaggio P.108: 1¹
• Piaggio P.108B: 163¹
  • Deliveries started in late 1941.¹
• Piaggio P.108C: 16¹
• Piaggio P.108M: 1¹
• Piaggio P.108T: 1¹, 9²
• Total: 24², 182¹
  • Production: November 1939 - August 1943²

Variants

• Piaggio P.108A (Artiglieri): Anti ship.¹ Had 102 mm cannon installed in the nose.^1,2 Captured by Germans and used for testing.¹
• Piaggio P.108B (Bombardiere): Long range bomber.¹
• Piaggio P.108C (Civile): Civilian transport.^1,2 Could carry 32 passengers.^1,3 Could carry 16 at night.³ Were later taken over by the Regia Aeronautica and modified to carry 56 soldiers.¹
• Piaggio P.108M (Modificato): Carried four 20 mm cannons and four 7.7 mm machine guns in the nose.¹
• Piaggio P.108T (Transporto): Transport.^1,2 Converted P.108C.¹ Loading doors and ventral hatch were installed.¹
• Piaggio P.108T2: Cargo or passenger transport.¹ Could carry 48-60 passengers.¹ Never built.¹
• Piaggio P.133: Prototype bomber with more powerful engines and could carry larger bomb load.¹ Never built.¹

Usage

Italy and Germany used the P.108.¹

Initial Accidents

As pilots and crew were unaccustomed to the style of aircraft there were several accidents with the first operational squadron.²

First Use

The P.108's first mission was on June 9, 1942.² It was a search and bomb naval mission near the Balearic Islands.²

Gibraltar

The P.108 was used in attacking Gibraltar in early 1942 at night.^1,2

Benito Mussolini's son Bruno was killed in a P.108 while attacking Gibralter.¹

Eastern Front

Some P.108s were used on the Eastern Front.¹

Anti-Convoy

In the Mediterranean the P.108s were used against Allied convoys.¹

German Use

The Germans captured around 17 P.108s when Italy surrendered.^1,2 They were not used on combat missions.²

Specifications

	Piaggio P.108	Piaggio P.108B	Piaggio P.108C	Piaggio P. 108 C-B
Type		Bomber2, Heavy bomber1	Transport1	Long range bomber3, Transport3
Crew		62, 71
Passengers			Day: 323 Night: 163
Engine (Type)	4: Piaggio P.XII RC351	4: Piaggio P.XII RC 352		4: Piaggio P. XII R.C. 353
Cylinders	Radial 181	Radial 182
HP	1,500 each1	1,350 each2		1,200 each3
Cooling		Air2
Propeller blades	3 each1
Dimensions
Span	104' 11.75"1 32 m1	105'2		108' 3"3
Length	73' 1.5"1 22.29 m1	75' 2"2		81' 6"3
Height	19' 8.25"1 6 m1	25' 3"2
Wing area
Weight
Empty		38,195 lb1 17,325 kg1
Loaded		65,885 lb1, 65,970 lb2 29,885 kg1		59,000 lb3
Performance
Speed				290 mph3
Speed @ 12,800'		261 mph2
Speed @ 13,780' / 4,200 m		267 mph1 430 kph1
Cruising speed		199 mph1 320 kph1
Climb
Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m		21.1 minutes1
Service ceiling		26,400'2, 27,890'1 8,500 m1
Range		1,550 - 2,187 miles1, 2,190 miles2 2,495 - 3,520 km1		2,500 miles3
Armament		8: 12.7 mm MG1
Remote controlled turrets on outboard engines		4: 12.7 mm MG2
Sides		2: 12.7 mm MG2
Belly		1: 12. 7 mm MG2
Bombs		7,700 lb2, 7,716 lb1 3,500 kg1
OR
Torpedo		3: 18"1 3: 45.7 cm1