Breda Ba.65
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Breda Ba.65 | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Ground attack aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Ernesto Breda |
| Maiden flight | September 1935 |
| Retired | 1941 |
| Primary user | Regia Aeronautica |
| Produced | 1935-1939 |
| Number built | 218 |
The Breda Ba.65 was a single-engine ground attack aircraft used by the Italian Regia Aeronautica during the Spanish Civil War and World War II.
An evolution of Breda Ba.64, the prototype, designed by Antonio Parano and Giuseppe Panzeri, first flew in September 1935. Production ceased in July 1939 after 218 aircraft were built by Breda and Caproni. Starting from the 82nd airplane, a more powerful 1,000-hp Fiat A.80 RC.41 engine was adopted.
The Breda Ba.64 debuted during the Spanish Civil War, with the version provided with Gnôme-Rhône K-14 engine. It proved effective, and was compared positively with the German Junkers Ju 87. During the Second World War it was used against the British in North Africa. Most were either out of service or shot down by February 1941. The aircraft, which had been forcibly kept in service after the failure of the Breda Ba.88 and the poor performances showed by the Caproni Ca.310, was replaced by adapted S.79s or fighters in the assaulter-diver bomber role.
Twenty-five Breda Ba.65s were sold to Iraq in 1938 and saw action against the British. Chile bought twenty and Portugal ten, in June 1939. Soviet Union received 10 aircraft. Single and two seat versions of Breda Ba.64 were built.
Contents |
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (single-seat version)
Data from The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 9.30 m (30 ft 6.1 in)
- Wingspan: 12.10 m (39 ft 8.4 in)
- Height: 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 23.5 m² (253 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,400 kg (5,300 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,950 kg (6,500 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Fiat A.80 RC.41 radial engine, 746 kW (1,000 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 430 km/h (230 knots, 270 mph)
- Range: 550 km (342 mi)
- Service ceiling: 6,300 m (20,670 ft)
Armament
- Guns:
- 2 × 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns
- 2 × 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns
- Bombs: 500 kg
[edit] References
- ^ Bishop, Chris (ed.) 1998, The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Barnes & Noble, New York. ISBN 0-7607-1022-8.
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