Italy's Reggiane Re. 2005 fighter
Nickname: Sagittario (archer)
Photos
Reggiane Re. 2005 fighter:  |
Design
The Reggiane Re.2005 was an improvement upon the Re.2002.3 The wings were the same but the fuselage was altered.3 It was found that at the rear of the fuselage there was a structural weakness that resulted in the Re.2005s being grounded until the fault was corrected.3
Engine
The Fiat RA.1050 RC 58 Tifone4 engine of the Re.2005 was a copy of the Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1.1,4
Undercarriage
The tail wheel was retractable.1
The main wheels retracted outwards.1,3
Prototype
The prototype was ready in December 1941, but it took an additional four months to get the engine.3 The original engine was sent from Germany bus disappeared in transit.3 The Re.2005 prototype first flew on May 9, 19423 / May 10, 1942 / September 19424.2,3
Production
In February 1943, 750 were ordered by the Italian Air Force.3
300 were in stages of construction but weren't finished.1
- Total: 293, 372, 481,4
- Manufacturer: Officine Meccaniche Reggiane S.p.A.3
Variants
- Reggiane Re.2005:
Usage
Saw use in the defense of Sicily, Naples, and Rome.1,2 Some were later seen over Berlin2,4 and Bucharest.1
The First Unit
The first unit to receive the Re.2005 was the 362nd Squadron of the 22nd Group.3 They went to Sicily and were based at Capua from June until August 26, 1943.3
German Use
Thirteen Re.2005s were captured and used by the Germans against Allied bombing raids in 1943.3 Some were seen defending the oil fields in Romania.3
Specifications
| Reggiane Re.20051,3,4 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1,3,4, Fighter bomber1,4 |
| Crew | 11,3,4 |
| Engine (Type) | Fiat RA.1050 R.C Tifone piston1,4 Daimler Benz DB 605A3 |
| Cylinders | In-line1, V 123, Inverted V 124 |
| Cooling | Liquid1,3 |
| HP | 1,4751,3,4 |
| Propeller blades | 31 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 36' 1"1,3, 36 1.1"4 11 m1,4 |
| Length | 28' 7.7"4, 28' 8"1,3 8.73 m1,4 |
| Height | 10' 4"1,3,4 3.15 m1,4 |
| Wing area | 219.59 ft2 4, 220 ft2 1 20.4 m2 1,4 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 5,720 lb1, 5,732 lb4 2,600 kg1,4 |
| Loaded | 7,832 lb1, 7,848 lb4, 7,970 lb3 3,560 kg1,4 |
| Performance | |
| Speed | 390 mph1 630 kph1 |
| Speed @ 22,802' / 6,560 m |
391 mph4, 421 mph3 630 kph4 |
| Climb to 6,562' / 2,000 m |
1.58 minutes4 |
| Service ceiling | 39,993'4, 39,400'1,3 12,000 m1, 12,190 m4 |
| Range | 775 miles1, 780 miles3, 786 miles4 1,250 km1, 1,265 km4 |
| Armament | 2: 12.7 mm MG3,4 3: 20 mm3,4 |
| Bombs | 1,389 lb4 630 kg4 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
- World War II Airplanes Volume 1, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
