Fiat RS.14

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RS.14
Fiat RS.14.jpg
Role Long-range maritime reconnaissance floatplane
Manufacturer Fiat
Designer
First flight May 1939
Introduction May 1941
Retired 1948[1]
Primary users Regia Aeronautica
Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force
Produced May 1941 - September 1943
Number built 186 (includes 2 prototypes) [2]

The Fiat RS.14 was an Italian long-range maritime strategic reconnaissance floatplane. The RS.14 was a four/five seat all-metal cantilever low/mid-wing monoplane powered by two wing-mounted 626 kW (840 hp) Fiat A.74 R.C.38 engines. It had a conventional cantilever tail unit with a single fin and rudder. Its undercarriage consisted of two large floats on struts. It had a glazed nose for an observer or bomb aimer. The pilot and copilot sat side by side with a wireless operator's compartment behind them. In the bombing role the RS.14 was fitted with a long ventral gondola to carry various combinations of anti-submarine bombs (up to 400 kg (880 lb)).

Development[]

The RS.14 was designed by at the works at Marina di Pisa. The first of two prototypes flew in May 1939.

A prototype landplane version AS.14 was built and first flown on 11 August 1943. It was designed as a ground-attack aircraft and intended to be armed with a 37 mm (1.5 in) cannon and 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns. It was not ordered and no others were built.

Operational history[]

The waist gun positions of a FIAT RS.14

The RS.14 went into service with the Italian Air Force with a number of maritime strategic reconnaissance squadrons at bases around the Italian coast and also in Sicily and Sardinia. They were used for convoy escort duties and anti-submarine patrols. Occasionally they engaged in aerial combat, obtaining unexpected victories such as when, on Saturday 9 May 1942, an RS.14 intercepted Spitfires that took off from the carriers HMS Eagle and USS Wasp, headed for Malta, and machine-gunned two. The two RAF fighters collided and fell into the sea. Both pilots were killed.[3] After the 1943 Armistice a few survivors were operated by the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force. At the end of the Second World War the aircraft were used for liaison duties around the Mediterranean carrying up to four passengers.

Variants[]

RS.14
Production float plane with 626 kW (840 hp) Fiat A.74 R.C.38 engines, 188 built including two prototypes.
AS.14
Land plane version with retractable landing gear, one built.

Operators[]

 Kingdom of Italy
 Italy

Specifications[]

Data from Donald, 1997, pg 413.

General characteristics

  • Crew: three
  • Length: 14.1 m (46 ft 3.25 in)
  • Wingspan: 19.54 m (64 ft 1.25 in)
  • Height: 5.63 m (18 ft 5.75 in)
  • Wing area: 50 m2 (538.21 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 5,470 kg (12,059 lb)
  • Gross weight: 8,470 kg (18,673 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Fiat A.74 R.C.38 14-cylinder radial piston , 626 kW (840 hp) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 390 km/h (242 mph, 210 kn)
  • Range: 2,500 km (1,553 mi, 1,350 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,300 m (20,670 ft)

Armament

  • 1 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine gun
  • 2 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns
  • up to 400 kg (882 lb) of bombs

See also[]

  • CANT Z.501
  • CANT Z.506

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Notes[]

  1. ^ aeriflight
  2. ^ Fiat RS.14
  3. ^ Rogers 2010, p. 149.
  4. ^ "Birth of Aeronautica Militare" Aeronautica Militare. Retrieved 13 July 2016

References[]

  • Donald, David, ed. (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Prospero Books. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
  • Monday, David (1984), The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II, Chancellor Press, ISBN 1-85152-966-7
  • Rogers, Anthony, Battle over Malta - Aircraft Losses & Crash Sites 194042. Phoenix Mill Thrupp - Strout, Gloucestershire, Sutton Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-7509-2392-X.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1812
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