Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario

Template:Infobox Aircraft

The Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Italian: Archer) was an Italian monoplane fighter/fighter-bomber produced for the Regia Aeronautica during the later years of World War II. Along with the Macchi C.202/C.205 and Fiat G.55, the Re. 2005 was one of the three "Serie 5" Italian fighters built around the famous Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine. Only 48 examples were built.

Design and development

The Reggiane 2005 was the last of the Reggiane aircraft line to be built in World War II. The project which started in 1941 was carried out by a team led by Roberto Longhi, and included designers Alessio, Maraschini, Toniolo and Pozzi. Preliminary work was completed before the end of the year despite being a new project, and not simply a revamping of an existing aircraft design such as the Reggiane Re.2002. The DB 605 engine still had to be delivered when the airframe was ready in February 1942.^[1]

The resulting machine was not only rated as one of the best Italian wartime aircraft, but also one of the best if not the best-looking^[1]. Its semi-elliptical wings, long nose and large tail were all distinctive features of this small, nimble fighter.

The prototype MM.494 first flew 9 May 1942, but the day after, a heavy landing led to an undercarriage failure which caused serious damage, and consequently was unable to fly again until June (MM.494 was damaged two other times in tests). This prototype had four Breda 12.7 mm machine guns and one Mauser cannon and was primarily used for testing and then, to defend the skies around Naples.

After a fierce competition, in which the C.205N was quickly abandoned, and the G.55 considered marginally better, 750 examples were ordered by the Regia Aeronautica.

Technical design

The Re.2005 was a low-wing, single-engine, single-seat fighter monoplane, made of light alloys. Propulsion was by a 1,475 hp Daimler Benz DB.605A-1 engine, either of original German production or built by Fiat as the RA.1050 RC.58 Tifone (Typhoon), driving a right-handed three-bladed Piaggio P.2001 constant speed, mechanically controlled variable-pitch metal propeller. The streamlined but tiny fuselage was almost totally dominated by the DB 605 engine and did not allow for fuel storage. As well, the fuselage-mounted MG 151/20 cannon had less ammunition than those mounted in the wings (150 rounds versus 170 rounds in the wing gun bays from the second prototype on). The comparable Fiat G.55 had 250 rounds for the fuselage gun, but also 600 for a 12.7 mm machine gun. The smaller Re.2005 also carried 100 less 20 mm but 100 more 12.7 mm rounds, with an overall lighter armament array.

The aft fuselage was unusually small, even by Italian standards. It contained the radio equipment and oxygen bottles, and supported the contrastingly large vertical tail surface. The cockpit was covered by a canopy which tilted to the right for access, and had an armoured 50 mm glass windscreen. Other protection included an armoured seat incorporating an 8 mm-thick steel shell weighing 40 kg. Overall its effectiveness wasn't anything special by 1942 standards, and provided little protection against 12.7 mm rounds which were capable of piercing even 25 mm at short distances, but the armour used was more resistant than homogeneous steel, thanks to its hardened high quality. Given the heavy weight of a thick steel plate, every attempt was made to make the steel alloy used stronger. A headrest was attached to bulkhead six.

The sophisticated wing design, often described as elliptical, was actually semi-elliptical, with wing/chord thickness ranging from 15% to 8%. The structure of the three spars incorporated a "T" section. The triangular-shaped wing and tail control surfaces were mostly fabric-covered, and included all-metal two-part split flaps, and statically balanced ailerons. Fuel was carried in four self-sealing wing tanks, two forward and two behind, providing a capacity of 525 litres. The undercarriage included "wide-stance" main gear retracting outwards into the wings, and a fully-retractable tail wheel.

It was one of the most advanced Italian fighters but it was also reputedly too advanced to be made by the Italian industry, and one of the most expensive if not the most expensive to produce.^[1] Its complex design and small dimensions led to the Fiat G.55 being evaluated as a superior choice for mass production.

Operational history

File:Re. 2005.jpg

Artist's impression of an operational Reggiane Re.2005 in flight c. 1943

After flight test evaluations in Guidonia, the prototype MM.494 was sent to Naples to defend the city from B-24 attacks. Then, several more aircraft arrived at the same squadron, 362 ima Squadriglia, and in the next weeks, this unit displayed a lot more potency than C.202 units, claiming several B-24s for the loss of a pair of Re.2005s.^[1] Italian "ace" Vittorio Minguzzi was impressed by this aircraft following its tests and combat debut on 2 April 1943. He wrote:

The aircraft is in ideal flying conditions at an altitude of 7,000-7,500 meters and can make repeated attacks on American heavy bombers in all positions and from all directions... I can therefore say that the speed and handling qualities are excellent even at 7,000 meters and that compared to the Macchi 202, the Sagittario made two attacks in the time required by the Macchi C.202 for a single pass.^[2]

This statement provides a realistic comparison between the two aircraft: in terms of theoretical speed, the Macchi C.205 was only 30 km/h slower, but the Re.2005's DB-605, coupled with its larger wing, provided a substantial improvement in performance at high altitude (the difference was less marked at medium-low altitudes, as the comparison with the C.205V showed).

Reggiane Re.2005 pilots claimed a total of seven B-24s and many others damaged by 25 June 1943. However, losses "claimed" seldom matched true losses (see as an example Macchi C.205, about the Battle of Capo Pula on August 2 when none of the 12 P-38s claimed was actually lost by the USAAF). At least one Reggiane was shot down as well, the MM.092343 of Lt. Moresi.

Then, on 2 July 1943, 362ma was sent to Sicily to face the imminent invasion and were involved in combat with Spitfires, claiming on 11-14 July to shoot down five of them (two were confirmed kills; a reconnaissance Spitfire and another downed in a strafing attack over Comiso). Spitfires were tough opponents (even if many were only Mk Vs), with two Re.2005 destroyed as well (11 July) and the rest bombed or strafed on the ground. Only two aircraft returned to Sicily. One example was captured by the United States Army Air Force and sent to the USA. Little is known of this aircraft which vanished in the postwar period. While German and some Japanese aircraft were extensively tested, the few captured Italian aircraft (another example and still in existence, is a captured Macchi C.202) were not known to be tested, so a theoretical, interesting source of information about them and their flight characteristics, is not available.

In the meantime, another ten fighters joined 362ma but when one was damaged in a steep dive on 21 August 1943, some concern was raised. On 25 August, MM.092356 was lost during another dive and so further flights were discontinued. It was discovered that at speeds over 660 km/h TAS(true airspeed), every manoeuvre could adversely affect the flight control in the tail, and then cause damage to the fuselage from flutter being set up, subsequently, Re.2005 pilots were forbidden to attain very high speeds (VNE 800 km/h), however, by that time, operations were winding down as the Armistice was taking effect.^[1] However, in July 1943 trials, Cmdr. de Prato achieved a speed of 980 km/h in a dive with no loss of control, and experienced no flutter problems.

The production Fiat R.A. 1050 Tifone engines, licensed produced DB 605s, were limited to 2,650 rpm instead of the usual 2,800 rpm with a corresponding drop in power from 1,475 hp to 1,350 hp. The MM.494 prototype fitted with a DB 605 had a recorded speed of 678 km/h when flown fully equipped.^{[citation needed]} The Reggiane had good handling in close dogfight actions and, according to General Minguzzi, who flew both the Re.2005 and the Spitfire, the Re. 2005 was even better than the Spitfire in tight turns and handling.^{[citation needed]}.

One of the few examples of combat reports, dated 11 July 1943, seems to contradict Minguzzi's statement, when together with other Italian fighters, Eugenio Salvi's Re.2005 "tangled" with Spitfires over Sicily. A Spitfire Mk V latched onto the tail of the Reggiane. Salvi tried all the tricks he knew: dives, tight turns, climbs, but the Spitfire remained steadily attached to his tail following every move, and then started to fire. Salvi's Re.2005 was struck by many bullets, and Salvi was sure he was going to be killed when the Spitfire just as suddenly vanished, possibly out of ammunition.^[3]

As Italy fell, approximately 13 Re. 2005s were seized by Germany and were used by the Luftwaffe. Although they had combat service, there is no data available on these fighters or their fate. Some were retained in Italy for training purposes, and Sweden was interested in the Re.2005 (already producing the DB-605 under licence) but the order for 50 airframes was never finalized.

Concepts and advanced projects

A prototype of the follow-on Re 2006 was almost completed, starting in September 1943 but not flown. It was to use the DB 603 engine with 1,750 hp and had an estimated maximum speed of 740 km/h (462 mph). Only the G.56 was flown with this engine. Other projects, like a twin-fuselage version, and the R.2005R were also planned but not seriously considered for production. The Re.2005R was a hybrid, with a Campini-turbojet in the tail, equipped with an afterburner. The speed could have been increased to 750 km/h (466 mph), but the fuel consumption would have reached almost 1,000 l/h, almost four times the normal Re.2005's fuel usage at full throttle. This aircraft project, while interesting, wasn't considered as a serious alternative to the Re.2006.

Often mentioned is the proposed Re.2007, a jet project capable of performances similar to the F-86 Sabre. This design appeared to be only a concept and had been proposed before the end of the war, with information regarding the designs only coming to light in the 1960s. In fact this design was wholly fictitious and "planted" by Longhi in the Reggiane archives during the 1960s. The real Re.2007 project was a modification of the Re.2006 with a new fuselage housing a radial engine and with extensive glazing. It was intended as a high-speed mail carrier.^{[citation needed]}

Operators

Germany

Luftwaffe operated captured aircraft.

Italy

Regia Aeronautica

Italian Social Republic

Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana

Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Performance Armament

Guns :Two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in upper cowling (350rpg); one 20 mm MG 151 cannon firing through propeller hub (150rpg); two 20 mm MG 151 cannon in wings (200rpg)
Bombs: Underfuselage (not standard) hardpoint 640 kg, 160 kg (350 lb) hardpoints on wings

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Sgarlato 2005
^ RE2005 in action
^ Govi 1984, p. 201-202.

Bibliography

Alegi, Gregory. Ali d'Italia 16: Reggiane Re 2005(in Italian/English). Turin, Italy: La Bancarella Aeronautica, 2001. ISBN unknown
Brindley, John F. Caproni Reggiane Re 2001 Falco II, Re 2002 Ariete & Re 2005 Sagittario, Aircraft in Profile No. 244. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: 1973. No ISBN.
Di Terlizzi, Maurizio. Reggiane Re 2005 Sagittario, Aviolibri 4(in Italian). Rome, Italy: IBN Editore, 2001. ISBN 88-86815-38-7.
Govi, S. Dal Re.2002 al Re.2005(in Italian). Milan, Italy: Giorgio Apostolo Editore (GAE), 1984.
Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 0-753714-60-4.
Punka, George. Reggiane Fighters in Action, Aircraft number 177. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 2001. ISBN 0-89747-430-9.
Sgarlato, Nico. "Reggiane: i Caccia Italiani più Belli ("Reggiane: the Best Looking Italian Fighters).(in Italian)" I Grandi Aerei Storici, N. 17, July 2005. Delta Editrice. ISSN 1736-0636. Note: This source includes all the Reggiane fighters, included projected versions.
Taylor, John W. R. "Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer)". Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the Present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.