Italy's Breda Ba.65 ground attack, attack fighter

Photos

Breda Ba.65 Ground Attack with the 10° Squadriglia:

Design

The Breda Ba.65 was based on the Ba.64.^1,2 The Ba.65 was the only Italian aircraft specifically designed for ground attack.²

Produced as a single and dual seater.^1,2

The Ba.65 wasn't very maneuverable as it inhibited by its armament.²

The construction of the Ba.65 was all-metal.²

Prototype

Flew for the first time in 1935.¹

Production

• Breda Ba.65:
• Manufacturer: Società Italiana Ernesto Breda²

Variants

• Breda Ba.65 A.80: Had Fiat A.80 engine.¹
• Breda Ba.65: Gnome-Rhône engine.¹
• Breda Ba.65: One was flown with a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engine in June 1937.¹
• Breda Ba.65bis: Rear of cockpit was open with a 7.7 mm MG.¹

Usage

In 1937 Fiat powered models were supplied to the Iraqi air force.¹

Chile, Hungary, Portugal, and Paraguay also received some.¹

Spain

Starting in August 1937 they were supplied to the Nationalists.¹ It was only used in a reconnaissance role.¹

Italy

Were used in reconnaissance roles in the invasion of Abyssinia.¹

~150² / 154 were in service with the Italian Air Force in June 1940.¹ Were used primarily in North Africa.^1,2 The last were lost in Cyrenaica in early 1941.¹

Specifications

	Breda Ba.651,2
Type	Attack fighter2, Ground attack1
Crew	12, 1 or 21
Engine (Type)	Fiat A.80 RC411,2
OR	Gnome-Rhône K.142
HP	Fiat: 1,0001,2 Gnome-Rhône: 1,0002
Cylinders	Fiat: Radial 181,2
Cooling	Fiat: Air1,2
Dimensions
Span	36' 8"1, 39' 8"2 12.1 m1
Length	30' 6"1,2 9.3 m1
Height	10' 6"1,2 3.2 m1
Wing area	253 ft2 1 23.5 m2 1
Weight
Empty	5,280 lb1 2,400 kg1
Loaded	6,490 lb1, 7,695 lb2 2,950 kg1
Performance
Speed	267 mph1,2 430 kph1
Climb
Service ceiling	20,660'1, 27,230'2 6,300 m1
Range	340 miles1, 342 miles2 550 km1
Armament	4: MG2 2: 12.7 mm MG1 2: 7.7 mm MG1
Rear cockpit turret	1: 7.7 mm MG1
Bombs	2,200 lb2 500 kg in bomb bay and wing racks1