Reggiane Re.2002 Ariete
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1901 |
| Founder | Roberto Longhi, Antonio Alessio |
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | Aircraft, including Re.2002 Ariete fighter-bomber |
The Reggiane Re.2002 Ariete ("Ram") was an Italian fighter-bomber developed during the course of World War II. This model represented an evolution of the Re.2000, incorporating some design changes previously introduced with the Re.2001. Primarily operated by the Regia Aeronautica (Royal Italian Air Force), it also saw limited deployment by the German Luftwaffe, who employed it in operations against the French resistance.
Design and development
Development of the Re.2002 began with adapting the Re.2000 to meet Regia Aeronautica requirements, which included redesigning the wing structure and replacing the original fuel tanks with conventional ones. Initially contracted as a single conversion, this effort led Reggiane to base a new aircraft on these modifications. The design team, led by Roberto Longhi and Antonio Alessio, combined a reinforced and altered Re.2000 fuselage with wings from the Re.2001 and installed a more powerful radial engine, the Piaggio P.XIX R.C.45 Turbine delivering 1,175 hp.[1] The choice to revert to radial engines was influenced both by difficulties in acquiring German-made Daimler-Benz DB 601 engines and Longhi’s preference for radial powerplants.
The prototype’s maiden flight occurred in October 1940, roughly three months after the first flight of the Re.2001. Testing revealed some reliability issues with the Piaggio engine, which resulted in the aircraft being primarily assigned to ground-attack roles due to its considerable payload capacity relative to Italian standards.
Operational history
In September 1941, an order for 200 units was placed by the Italian Air Force, with deliveries commencing in March 1942. The Re.2002 equipped units such as the 5° Stormo and 50° Stormo, despite ongoing engine reliability challenges. By July 1943, approximately half of the initial order—100 aircraft—had been delivered; only part of the subsequent batch arrived before Italy’s armistice with the Allies.[1]
Units flying the Re.2002 were heavily engaged during the Allied invasion of Sicily, sustaining significant losses. Within the initial four days of combat operations targeting Allied naval forces, British Spitfire Mk Vs destroyed fourteen aircraft. Nonetheless, several Allied vessels were damaged by Re.2002 attacks, including the British battleship HMS Nelson, which was compelled to withdraw to Malta for repairs.[2] Allied air raids and strafing runs inflicted heavy damage on aircraft stationed at airfields. Fuel shortages further restricted operational use, limiting sorties often to missions carrying a single 250 kg bomb alongside two additional bombs weighing 160 kg each.
One of the final confrontations against Allied forces occurred on September 3, 1943, when fifteen Re.2002s from the 5° Stormo launched an assault on British Eighth Army landings in Calabria. This engagement resulted in three pilot fatalities, including that of unit commander Giuseppe Cenni. Following Italy’s armistice with the Allies, surviving Re.2002s served within the Italian Co-belligerent Air Force, conducting strikes against German naval units en route to Corfu and engaging German forces on Cefalonia island.
Prior to Italy’s surrender, German authorities had expressed interest in procuring up to 300 Re.2002s and intended to equip them with German-produced BMW 801 radial engines to address issues associated with the Piaggio powerplant; however, production constraints prevented fulfillment of this order. After Italy’s armistice, approximately forty new-condition Re.2002s along with twenty requisitioned from operational stocks were seized by German forces and deployed against French resistance fighters.[3] Additionally, some Re.2002s remained in service with Axis-aligned units following Italy’s government surrender.[4]
Variants
Several enhancement projects were undertaken, such as the Re.2002 equipped with Re.2005 wings. Additionally, 18 units of a dive bomber variant were produced, one prototype was powered by a Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine, and there was also a prototype designed for torpedo bombing missions.
The Reggiane Re.2003 reconnaissance plane originated from the Re.2002 model.
Operators
Preserved aircraft
A single Re 2002 with serial number MM8669 is exhibited at the Italian Air Force Museum in Vigna di Valle, having undergone restoration to exhibition standards in 2017. Furthermore, the restored fuselage of a Luftwaffe-operated Re.2002 serves as a resistance memorial in the French city of Limoges.
Specifications (Re.2002)
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Angelucci, Enzo and Matricardi, Paolo. Combat Aircraft of World War II: 1942-1943. New York: Military Press, 1988. ISBN 0-517-66578-6.
- Berliner, Don. Surviving Fighter Aircraft of World War Two: Fighters. London: Pen & Sword Aviation, 2011. ISBN 978-1-8488-4265-6.
- Brindley, John F. "Caproni Reggiane Re 2001 Falco II, Re 2002 Ariete & Re 2005 Sagittario". Aircraft in Profile, Volume 13. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1973, pp. 217–241. ISBN 0-85383-022-3.
- Caliaro, Luigino. "Database: Reggiane Re 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2005". Aeroplane, Vol. 49, No. 2, February 2021, pp. 81–97. Template:ISSN.
- Longhi, Roberto. "Reggiane and I... a Fighter Designer Recalls". Air Enthusiast Quarterly, no date, Issue 2, pp. 214–224. Template:ISSN.
- Mondey, David. The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. New York: Bounty Books, 1996. ISBN 1-85152-966-7.
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