Reggiane Re.2001 Ariete I

When the inverted V Daimler-Benz DB 601 became disposable (also manufactured under license) in good quantity, some aeronautical industries mounted this new engine on their radial engine fighters: the FIAT proposed a new C.R. 42 (but stopping its attempt at the prototype phase); Macchi projected the M.C. 202 "Folgore", Caproni-Reggiane the Re. 2001, unofficially called both "Falco II" (Hawk II – to remember it was a modified Re. 2000) and "Ariete I" (Ram I – linking it to the development of the Re. 2002 "Ariete II").
The Regia Aeronautica summit decided the mass production of this aircraft also to prevent a possible failure of the M.C. 202 and it could have totalized a higher number of aircrafts, if not for problems from the lack of experience by Reggiane workers. Despite it had a top speed 30 m.p.h. less than the M.C. 202, the Re. 2001 earned the respect of many Commonwealth pilots over Malta and the Mediterranean Sea (for instance the ace George Beurling), being able to match without problems (except for its armament) against Spit Mk V, Hurricane and P-40.
In my opinion (and apart from the above pictured project for aircraft carriers) the most interesting versions were:
- Re. 2001 CB (Cacciabombardiere = Fighter bomber): 39 built, with ventral attack for 250 Kg. (= 551 lb) bomb; one of them was also tested with a 640 Kg (= 1,410 lb) liquid oxygen bomb: it didn't work (the bomb, not the airplane).
- Re. 2001 CN (Caccia Notturna = Night fighter): 94 built in three series. They had modified exhausts, black under surfaces and 2 x 20 mm. Mauser cannons in underwing nacelles, instead of the 2 x 7,7 mm. machine guns. Despite the primitive state of the night interception in Italy, this "emergency night fighter" caught some success, also when used (lacking other more outstanding machines) in daylight attacks against the Allied bombers.
- Re. 2001G: experimental aircraft for carrying a 600 Kg. (= 1,322 lb) torpedo.

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what the outcome of the war might have been had Italy had these Reggiane fighters in numbers comparable to the Spitfires, Hurricanes and P-40's of their Allied opponents.

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A very important factor in the Mediterranean fighting over places like Sicily and Malta, here are the statistics for the Reggiane Re. 2001 Falco II according to the book by Squadron /Signal Publications, Inc. of 1115 Crowley Drive, Carrolton, Texas 75011-5010 and authored by George Punka:
Wingspan: 36 ft. 1 inch
Length: 28 ft. 3 inches
Ht.: 10 ft. 4 inches
Empty Weight: 5423.3 lbs.
Max. Wt.: 7142.9 lbs.
Powerplant: 1 x 1,175 hp. Alfa Romeo RA 1000 R.C. 41-1a "Monsonie", 12-cylinder, liquid cooled, inverted-Vee, inline engine.
Armament: Two cowl-mounted 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT mg's with 350 rounds per gun and two wing-mounted 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT mg's with 600 rounds per gun.
Maximun Speed: 338.7 mph at 17,946.2 ft.
Service Ceiling: 36,089.2 ft.
Maximum Range: 683.5 miles at 291.4 mph and 19,685 ft.
Crew: One
First flight of the Falco II was on July 14, 1940 by test pilot Mario de Bernardi. After only 252 Re.2001's were built at Reggiane's factory at Regio Emilia, the plant was destroyed in an Allied air raid. The Regia Aeronautica had only 71 servicable Re. 2001's left when the Allies invaded Sicily on July 10, 1943 and only 33 operational at the armistice on Sept. 8, 1943. The Re. 2001 was to be succeeded by the Re. 2002 "Ariete", very similar in appearance but using an 1,175 hp Piaggio radial engine and designed for ground attack. About 225 were built with the Germans taking some of them for their own use after the armistice. An excellent combat airplane, we can only imagine what the outcome of the war might have been had Italy had these Reggiane fighters in numbers comparable to the Spitfires, Hurricanes and P-40's of their Allied opponents.

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I love this plane. To me, it is the most graceful and beautiful WWII plane.

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Yea looks like a Carrier version for on the Never-finnist carrier Aquila for the Regia Marina.

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If you want to see a Reggiane(without wings)there is one in the Musée de la resistance of Limoges France.It was display outside in a public garden during a long time,restaured by French armée de l'air.

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I liked this painting,from Regia Marina I suppose?

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