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Breda Ba.65

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Breda Ba.65
Company typeMilitary aircraft
IndustryAviation
FoundedSeptember 1935
FounderAntonio Parano, Giuseppe Panzeri
ProductsGround-attack aircraft


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File:Breda Ba.65 on ground.JPG
Breda Ba.65 K.14 prototype (MM.325) on the ground

The Breda Ba.65 was a single-engine, all-metal, low-wing monoplane developed in Italy and employed by the Aviazione Legionaria during the Spanish Civil War as well as by the Regia Aeronautica during the early years of World War II. It represented the sole Italian ground-attack aircraft to actively participate in combat operations, predominantly serving in the North African and Middle Eastern campaigns.[1] Besides over 150 units operated by Italian forces, an additional 55 were exported to air services in Iraq, Chile, and Portugal.[2]

Design and development

Derived from the earlier Ba.64, the Ba.65 was conceived by Antonio Parano and Giuseppe Panzeri as a single-seat, all-metal cantilever low-wing monoplane featuring retractable rearward main landing gear. Like its predecessor, it was designed for multiple combat roles including fighter, attack, and reconnaissance missions.[3] Its armament configuration included two wing-mounted 12.7 mm (0.5 in) and two 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns, with internal bomb bays capable of carrying up to 400 kg (440 lb) of ordnance.[4] The prototype first took flight in September 1935 and initially utilized the licensed-produced 522 kW (700 hp) Gnôme-Rhône K-14 radial engine by Isotta Fraschini. From the production of the eighty-second unit onward, it was equipped with the more powerful Fiat A.80 RC.41 eighteen-cylinder twin-row radial engine delivering a takeoff power of 746 kW (1,000 hp).[3] Manufacturing concluded in July 1939 after a total of 218 aircraft had been completed by both Breda and Caproni.

Operational history

File:Breda Ba.65 in flight.jpg
Breda Ba.65

The Ba.65's initial combat deployment occurred during the Spanish Civil War, when thirteen Series I models powered by Gnôme-Rhône engines were assigned to the 65a Squadriglia within the Aviazione Legionaria. Their first engagement took place over the Santander front in August 1937.[3][5] On August 24th, a notable incident involved a Ba.65 pilot intercepting and downing a lone Republican Tupolev SB bomber near Soria while patrolling their base.[5] Between December 1937 and February 1938, this unit actively participated in the Battle of Teruel, engaging heavily against Republican offensives and supporting Nationalist counterattacks before contributing to the Aragon Offensive during March–April 1938.[6] Starting June 1938, dive bombing missions were incorporated into their operations, and from July onwards they fought in the Battle of the Ebro, reinforced by newly delivered Fiat-powered Ba.65s arriving in August.[7] Of the twenty-three Ba.65s deployed to Spain, twelve were lost throughout the conflict.[8] They flew a total of 1,921 sorties including ground strafing runs totaling 368 and dive bombing attacks numbering fifty-nine.[9] Upon withdrawal of the Aviazione Legionaria in May 1939, eleven surviving Ba.65s were handed over to the Spanish Air Force.[8] Due to spare parts shortages, these aircraft saw limited operational use in Spain; no unit was fully equipped with them and they were progressively dismantled for parts before being scrapped prior to World War II's conclusion.[8]

In 1938, Iraq acquired fifteen Fiat-powered two-seat Ba.65s comprising twelve armed with Breda M turrets plus two dual-control trainers.[10] During May of 1941—from the second through thirty-first—the Royal Iraqi Air Force deployed these aircraft amid the Anglo-Iraqi War. This conflict erupted following an Iraqi coup d'état that installed a new government while retaining the monarchy but sought to expel British and Commonwealth forces stationed under pre-existing treaties.

Throughout World War II, Ba.65s engaged British forces primarily across North Africa. At Italy’s entry into hostilities in June 1940, approximately one hundred fifty remained operational but suffered severe attrition against British fighter opposition; by early 1942 most had been lost or rendered unserviceable. The aircraft continued service beyond its intended retirement following failures of other Italian types such as the Breda Ba.88 and underwhelming performance of the Caproni Ca.310. Eventually supplanted as a dive bomber by imported Ju-87 Stuka units acquired in 1940,[11] or adapted fighter aircraft, it nonetheless proved effective when flown by skilled pilots like Captains Antonio dell'Oro and Tenente Adriano Visconti, as well as experienced veterans from Spain.[12] From June through late that year, Bredas of the 50 Stormo conducted fierce ground attack missions demonstrating precision against British armored units at locations including Sidi Rezegh and Sidi Barrani; they even contributed to an aerial engagement resulting in three Gloster Gladiators being downed.

In September 1937 Chile placed an order for twenty Ba.65s including three dual-control trainers.[13] These differed from Italian models mainly through installation of Piaggio P.XI C.40 engines (a derivative of the Fiat A14K), modified landing gear fairings, and armament replaced with Madsen machine guns chambered for both standard rifle rounds (7mm) and heavy caliber (12.7 mm), instead of Breda SAFAT guns.[14] Although twenty Breda dorsal turrets were ordered alongside these aircraft, their usage was limited due to added weight.[15] Deliveries occurred between late 1938 and early ’39 but frequent accidents led to grounding by November that year.[16][17] Further analysis revealed deficiencies such as poor maneuverability unsuitable for fighter roles, short operational range, and long runway requirements for safe takeoff and landing operations.[18] Limited flight resumed late in November 1940 but a subsequent review in October ’41 declared them unfit for combat duties relegating them solely to unarmed training roles until their final flight in February ’43 before retirement and scrapping in ’44.

Portugal acquired ten Fiat-powered Bredas featuring distinct leading-edge slots placement[19] along with Breda M turrets in November of 1939.[3] On February 15th, 1941 a severe storm caused extensive damage at Sintra Air Base where these aircraft were housed; repairs proved unsuccessful leading to their eventual scrapping.[20]

The Chinese Nationalist Air Force selected the Breda Ba.65 for licensed manufacture at Sino-Italian National Aircraft Works (SINAW) located at Nanchang with plans for thirty units powered by Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engines; however production was halted in December 1937 after withdrawal of Italian technical staff.[21]

In September 1937 Switzerland evaluated the Ba.65 alongside competitors such as the Heinkel He 112 and Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 but ultimately chose the Morane for its air force requirements.

Variants

  • Ba.65 K.14: A single-seat model powered by the Isotta Fraschini K.14 fc engine, armed with two 12.7 mm Breda SAFAT machine guns alongside two 7.7 mm machine guns.
  • Ba.65 K.14 M: Two-seat variant equipped with a 12.7 mm Breda M defensive turret.
  • Ba.65 K.14 L: Two-seat configuration featuring a 7.7 mm Breda L defensive turret.
  • Ba.65 K.14 d.c.: Trainer version known as Doppio Comando (Dual Control), unarmed.
  • Ba.65 A.80: Single-seat type fitted with a Fiat A.80 R.C. 41 engine.
  • Ba.65 A.80 L: Two-seat model incorporating the Fiat A.80 engine and a 7.7 mm Breda L defensive turret.
  • Ba.65 A.80 M: Exported version utilized by Iraq and Portugal, powered by the Fiat A.80 engine and armed with a 12.7 mm Breda M defensive turret; the Portuguese aircraft differ from Iraqi ones in the arrangement of their leading-edge slots.
  • Ba.65 P.XI: Export variant delivered to Chile, featuring a Piaggio P.XI engine, modified landing gear housing, and initially equipped with Madsen machine guns, later upgraded with Breda M defensive turret.
  • Ba.65 P&W R-1830: Proposed export model for China, fitted with a Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engine.
  • Ba.65M: The Modificato dive bombing trainer variant, converted from 40 units by Caproni Vizzola; modifications included dive brakes installation, fitting underwing hardpoints for two 15 kg practice bombs, removal of all fuselage bomb racks and most machine guns except for one 7.7 mm gun mounted on the right wing.

Operators

Kingdom of Italy
File:Breda Portugal.jpg
Breda Ba.65 A.80 M acquired by Portugal
Iraq
Chile
Portugal
Spanish State

Specifications (single-seat version)

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See also

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References

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Notes

  1. ↑ Angelucci and Matricardi 1978, p. 191.
  2. ↑ Mondey 2006, pp. 25–26.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Mondey 2006, p. 25.
  4. ↑ Ministero dell'Aeronautica, 1939
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cerda Avions December 1995, p.39
  6. ↑ Cerda Avions December 1995, pp. 39–40
  7. ↑ Cerda Avions December 1995, pp. 40–41
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Cerda Avions December 1995, p. 42
  9. ↑ "Breda Ba.65." Archived 2007-08-24 at the Wayback Machine comandosupremo.com. Retrieved: 9 August 2010.
  10. ↑ Garello sources
  11. ↑ Becchetti & Gueli source
  12. ↑ Cerda source
  13. ↑ Garello sources
  14. ↑ Garello sources
  15. ↑ Tincopa & Rivas source
  16. ↑ Tincopa & Rivas source
  17. ↑ Poletti & Roux source
  18. ↑ Tincopa & Rivas source
  19. ↑ Garello source
  20. ↑ Ledet source
  21. ↑ Andersson source

Bibliography

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  • Angelucci, Enzo and Paolo Matricardi. World Aircraft: World War II, Volume I (Sampson Low Guides). Maidenhead, UK: Sampson Low, 1978. ISBN 0-562-00096-8.
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  • Mondey, David. "Breda Ba.65." The Hamlyn Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. New York: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 0-7537-1460-4.
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Sgarlato, Nico. Italian Aircraft of World War II. Warren, Michigan: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-89747-086-9.
  • Shores, Christopher. Regia Aeronautica, a Pictorial History of the Italian Air Force. Vol. 1: 1940–1943. Warren, Michigan: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1976. No ISBN.
  • Taylor, Michael J.H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation Vol. 2 . Danbury, Connecticut: Grolier Educational Corporation, 1980. ISBN 0-7106-0710-5.
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Winchester, Jim. "Breda Ba.65." Aircraft of World War II (The Aviation Factfile). Kent, UK: Grange Books plc, 2004. ISBN 1-84013-639-1.

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