Quote:
Originally Posted by sniperton
More disturbing is what they did produce in large quantities and we've never complained about. These are the plane types (without trainers) they had in larger numbers (>100). Type / role / year entering service / number of aircraft built:
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Reggiane Re.2002 fighter 1942 140
Breda Ba.88 fighter / bomber 1938 149
Caproni Ca.111 reconnaissance 1933 152
Fiat RS.14 reconnaissance 1941 186
Caproni Ca.310 reconnaissance / bomber 1938 193
IMAM Ro.43 reconnaissance 1935 193
Macchi M.C.205V fighter 1943 199
Breda Ba.65 ground attack 1937 200
Caproni Ca.314 bomber / maritime patrol 1942 200
Junkers Ju 87B-2 & D-1 dive bomber 1940 210
Messerschmitt Bf 109G/K fighter 1943 225
Fiat B.R.20 bomber 1936 233
Caproni Ca.309 reconnaissance n/a 243
Reggiane Re.2001 fighter 1941 243
Fiat B.R.20M bomber 1936 279
Caproni Ca.164 liaison 280
Caproni Ca.311 bomber 1939 284
CANT Z.506B maritime patrol / bomber 1939 314
Savoia-Marchetti SM.84 bomber 1941 329
Caproni Ca.313 bomber n/a 338
SAIMAN 202 liaison 1939 390
Caproni Ca.133 transport / bomber 1935 443
CANT Z.501 maritime patrol 1936 454
Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 bomber 1935 534
CANT Z.1007 bomber 1939 582
IMAM Ro.37 reconnaissance 1935 617
Fiat G.50 fighter 1938 683
Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 transport / bomber 1940 726
Fiat C.R.32 fighter 1933 1052
Macchi M.C.200 fighter 1939 1151
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bomber / transport 1936 1240
Macchi M.C.202 fighter 1941 1351
Fiat C.R.42 fighter 1939 1551
I suspect other air forces would be not much different if scrutinized. |
Looking a little more in depth, the situation is not bad as described, at least for what I know and IMHO.
I divided the listed types in four groups. The first one comprises types never or little used in combat, or that had an indifferent career. We can live without them, IMHO.
Breda 88: a total failure.
Caproni 111: retired as combat type before WWII.
Caproni Ca 310: operated in small numbers over Libia.
Caproni Ca309: a minor type, in the same class as the Avro Anson.
Caproni Ca164: similar to the Tiger Moth.
Siai SM84: designed to replace the SM79, it was actually inferior.
Saiman 202: a lightplane used for training and liaison.
IMAM Ro37: an obsolete recon type, little more than fighter fodder.
Caproni Ca133: obsolete by 1940, never used operationally in WWII.
Fiat CR32: in the same class as Gloster Gauntlet. It was even more obsolete than its replacement, the CR42.
To this list, I would add:
Re 2005, a beautiful fighter with very, very short operational career.
Piaggio P108, the only Italian four engine heavy bomber.
The second group lists interesting, but not particularly important types. All of these, IMHO are not a priority by any means.
Reggiane 2001: an unremarkable performing fighter.
IMAM Ro 43: shipborne floatplane. Limited use.
Breda Ba65. An obsolete attack type, employed in Spain and North Africa.
Caproni Ca 311-313-314. An interesting light bomber-recon, mainly employed in secondary roles.
Fiat RS14. That’s an interesting floatplane, but the CANT Z506 was more widely used.
Cant Z501: An interesting flying boat, mainly used in rescue role.
Siai S81: an obsolete bomber by 1940, it was mainly used for night sorties. Relegated to transport role, it saw service in Finland, with Italian crews and Luftwaffe markings up to 1944. A minor, but interesting type.
The third group lists important types really deserving – IMHO – to be included: as you can see, it’s a short list.
Fiat BR20-BR20M. This type would complete the trio of main Italian bombers. It was used also by Japanese Army Air Force.
Cant Z506: a beautiful floatplane, widely and successfully employed.
Siai S82: a big transport, with long range and high load carrying capability. This is an important missing type by any means.
The fourth group lists types already present, flyable or AI:
Fiat G50: flyable.
Macchi 200, 202 and 205: flyable.
SM79: flyable.
Fiat CR42: flyable.
Cantz 1007: AI.
Re2002: AI.
To this list, must be added the Fiat G55, AI.
Conclusion: in my opinion, Regia Aeronautica is well represented, with most major combat types already available. I would love to see the same ratio for RAF.