WesWorld

For Q3/41 and older info, see here.

1. For fighters, the G.55 continues service adoption. Older types are phased into other roles or out of service alltogether. The Series IV revisions begin flight testing near the end of 1943, featuring minor improvements.
   
2. On the advanced propultion front, the testing of
   motorjet designs continues. Near the end of 1943, plans to attempt fighter conversions of these testing aircraft are abandoned. During this time, more conventional jet research is started. By the end of 1943, no prototypes are ready to fly but at least 1-2 test stand demonstrations have taken place. It is planed to fit one of these "turbojets" into a adapted motorjet testbed sometime in 1944.
   
3. Types of strike aircraft receive refinements as older types are phased out. No new types.
   
4. Recon aircraft see two additions. The Macchi-Savoia-Marchetti Ermes continues limited production. The physicly largest aircraft in the Italian inventroy, the Fiat Scorpione formeraly known as the "India Bomber", compleats flight testing as a Ultra-long range maritime patrol bomber. Very limited numbers are accepted into service by the end of 1943.
   [/list=1]
   That should cover the majority of things, with the exeption of S/VTOL aircraft. Let me know if there are any questions.

Looks reasonable to me.

Overall, the proposals make sense. I'd like to see greater details on the Fiat Scorpione, but that will come eventually I suspect.

Quoted

Originally posted by BruceDuncan
Overall, the proposals make sense. I'd like to see greater details on the Fiat Scorpione, but that will come eventually I suspect.

Bruce beat me to it, I too have curiosity in the Scorpione.

Still diging for some likely stats. Welcome any sugestions.

EDIT: And all I have to do is scroll down...derp. Prototype only, will see if I can fined some production stats

Pre-production with Alfa-Romeo radial engines, no armament, armour or self-sealing tanks.

Crew: 4
Length: 24.38m Span: 36.27m Height: 6.02m Wing Area: 120m­^2
Empty Weight: 12,682kg Maximum Weight: 26,650kg
Engine: 4 x 1700cv Alfa-Romeo 135 RC.40
Maximum Speed: 540km/h@4000m
Rate of climb: 410m/min Service ceiling: 11,000m
Range: 3700km
Armament: up to 5000kg of bombs

If a remember correctly, this design was conceived in 1938? Or was it later. I'm trying to get a feel for which real-world exemplars would be appropriate to compare it with.

As far as I have been able to find, the original design parameters were issued in the late 1930's (1936-37 IIRC). These are the only specs I have been able to find, and seem to be from a 1938 prototype.

Quoted

Originally posted by snip
As far as I have been able to find, the original design parameters were issued in the late 1930's (1936-37 IIRC). These are the only specs I have been able to find, and seem to be from a 1938 prototype.

Thanks for clarifying. Now I have a better understanding and can assess its merits properly.

Me and RA often discussed the India Bomber but I haven't got any PMs saved about it. I think the specs match what was discussed, he did have some future ideas with diesels and things.

The planned defensive armament I think included dorsal and nose guns. There wasn't a tail turret. The equipment fit for maritime patrol was to be radar and some form of MAD (without a boom I think, more like the OTL Japanese MAD we discussed on the China ASW aircraft thread). With the self-sealing tanks, armour and armament it will be much heavier, slower and probably less range too. I would say its ideal for operations around the Horn of Africa. Really its like the bigger flying boats coming along now just without the hull.

Fiat Scorpione Serie I
Crew: 4
Length: 24.38m Span: 36.27m Height: 6.02m Wing Area: 120m­^2
Empty Weight: 17,682kg Maximum Weight: 26,650kg
Engine: 4 x 1700cv Alfa-Romeo 135 RC.40
Maximum Speed: 500km/h@4000m
Rate of climb: 360m/min
Service ceiling: 8,500m
Range: 3300km
Armament:Two twin remote controlled 13.2mm Breda-SAFAT gun turrets, one dorsal mount aft of the cockpit, one ventral mount aft of the bomb bay. Up to 4000kg of bombs.

Picture coming soon.

Macchi-Savoia-Marchetti Ermes Serie I

Crew: 2
Length: 18m Span: 30m without tip tanks (30.75m with) Hight: 6.5m [1]
Empty Weight: 16,200kg
Maximum Weight: 26,000kg
Engine 2 x Isotta-Fraschini 2040cv diesels driving two contra-rotating propellers.
Maximum speed: 610km/h @9000m
Rate of Climb: 840m/min
Service ceiling: 12,500m
Range: 8000km
Armament: 3 cameras



[1] Please note dimensions are WAGed based on the XF-11 and may not be 100% with the drawing.

A WiP snapshot of the total number of Aircraft in service in Q1/44. Please check back as this post will be updated. Note these figures unless otherwise specified do not include ship based airframes.

Total Numbers: 5144 total in active service (sans trainers)

1488 Fighters. primarily G.55s with small numbers of older types (C.202, CR.36). Some land based Caproni Arietes as well.

1584 Bombers. A mix of G.55/CB, Breda Ba.67 Occhiones (in both Army and Naval service land based), Fiat Scorpiones, and Caproni Ca.1001 Astores.

540 General Reconnaissance planes. A mix of Fiat Scorpiones, Caproni Ca.1001 Astores, Cierva R1s, and CANT Z.506s

24 Ermes inclusive of all flying spares and dedicated training airframes

1504 Transport Aircraft. Mix of Caproni Atlantes, and other historical types.

Unspecified number of trainers, both historical types and some older fighters and bombers.

I'm going to offer up this thread of RA's as possible help. He had lists of planes in service as of 1936, 1937, and 1939.

Quoted

Originally posted by Red Admiral
Aircraft in Service as of 1st Jan 1939
Total: 3900

Army Air Force
Fighters: (380)
Fiat CR.35 (200)
Fiat CR.36 (180)

Bombers: (1420)
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 (580)
Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 (280)
Magni-Jona J.10 (240)
Breda Ba.65 (40)
Breda Ba.67 (280)

Reconnaissance: (400)
Caproni Ca.309 (180)
IMAM Ro.37 (180)
Magni-Jona J.10R (20)
Macchi C.200R (20)

Transport: (460)
Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 (240)
Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 (220)

Air Defence Force
Fighters: (400)
Fiat CR.36 (220)
Macchi C.202 (180)

Marina Italiana
Fighters: (320)
Reggiane Falco II (320)

Bombers: (240)
IMAM Ro.21 (120)
Breda Ba.67 (120)

Reconnaissance: (280)
CANT Z.501 (200)
CANT Z.506 (80)

Current Specifications:
- Fighter-bomber, carrier-capable (Caproni 2005)
- Heavy Fighter/Intercepter (Fiat G.55)
- Light Army cooperation aircraft
- Medium Bomber, replacement of SM.79 and SM.81 (Caproni Astore)
- Long range bomber/reconnaissance (Fiat Scorpione)
- New advanced trainer (Ambrosini S.7)

Engines in Development
Alfa-Romeo;
AR 136 RC.25 18 cylinder radial
AR 1101 RC.32/76 28 cylinder radial

Fiat;
A.38 RC.12/40/58 V16 inline

Caproni-Isotta-Fraschini;
Asso 2500 diesel
C.I-1500 Campini type

Guns;
8mm Gebauer 34M
11mm Madsen
13.2mm IFS
20mm Oerlikon FFL, standard drum fed version
20mm IFS
37mm Breda being adapted for airborne use

My google-fu is very weak as of late...

WiP, based on here and the numbers above.

Air Defense regions
The Italian Republic is divided into four Air Regions.
Northern Italy
Central Italy
Southern Italy, Sicily & Sardinia
Tripolitania & Cyrenaica

Unit Organization
Fighter Squadron
-4 Flights of 4 aircraft
-4 Additional aircraft
-2 Utility aircraft

Bomber Squadron
-3 Flights of 4 aircraft
-3 additional aircraft
-4 Utility aircraft

Reconnaissance Squadron
-3 Flights of 4 aircraft
-3 additional aircraft
-4 Utility aircraft

Air Transport Squadron
-6 aircraft

Fighter Stormo
-3 Fighter Squadrons

Bomber Stormo
-4 Bomber Squadrons
-1 Reconnaissance Squadron

Logistical Support Unit
-12 Air Transport Squadrons

Air Division
-2 Fighter Stormo
-3 Bomber Stormo
-Technical Support Unit
-Logistical Support Unit

Air Defense Division
-4 Fighter Stormo
-1 Reconnaissance Squadron
-Technical Support Unit
-Logistical Support Unit

Unit Deployments
There are Four Air Defense Divisions and Seven Air Divisions. Along with several independent smaller units, forces are deployed as follows.
Northern Italy
- First Air Defense Division
- Fifth Air Division
- Third Air Division
- Second Air Division
- Twenty Third Bomber Stormo
- Twenty Seventh Bomber Stormo
- Twenty Eighth Bomber Stormo
- First Sea Based Reconnaissance Squadron
- Eighth Sea Based Reconnaissance Squadron
- Sixth Sea Based Reconnaissance Squadron
- Third Sea Based Reconnaissance Squadron
Central Italy
- Third Air Defense Division
- First Air Division
- First Fighter Stormo [Unit charged with direct air defense of Rome in addition to the Third ADD]
- Long Range Photoreconnaissance Group [24 Ermes and supporting aircraft]
- Twenty Second Bomber Stormo
- Twenty Fourth Bomber Stormo
- Second Sea Based Reconnaissance Squadron
- Seventh Sea Based Reconnaissance Squadron
Southern Italy, Sicily & Sardinia
- Second Air Defense Division
- Fourth Air Division
- Sixth Air Division
- Twenty Fifth Bomber Stormo
- Twenty Sixth Bomber Stormo
- Fourth Sea Based Reconnaissance Squadron
- Ninth Sea Based Reconnaissance Squadron
- Fifth Sea Based Reconnaissance Squadron
- Tenth Sea Based Reconnaissance Squadron
- Eleventh Sea Based Reconnaissance Squadron
Tripolitania & Cyrenaica
- Fourth Air Defense Division
- Seventh Air Division
- Twenty Ninth Bomber Stormo
- Twelth Sea Based Reconnaissance Squadron