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Italy's Fiat BR.20 Cicogna (stork) medium bomber1; Fiat B.R.20 Cigona medium bomber2
Fiat BR.20 Cicogna medium bomber:  |
Fiat BR.20 Cicogna medium bomber:  |
Fiat BR.20 Cicogna medium bomber:  |
Fiat BR.20 Cicogna medium bomber used by Japan:  |
Design
The B.R.20 had stressed skin.2 It also had retractable undercarriage.2
The BR.20M had a cleaner nose and a stronger wing.1
Prototype
The prototype of the Fiat BR.20 Cicogna first flew on February 10, 1936.1,2
The prototype of the Fiat BR.20M was flown at the end of 1939.1
The first B.R.20bis flew in December 1941.2
Production
The BR.20II entered production in 1943.1
- B.R.20: 3202
- B.R.20A: 22
- B.R.20L: 12
- B.R.20M: 2642
- B.R.20bis: 152
- Total: 6022, 6061
Variants
- BR.20:
- B.R.20A: Civilian model.2
- BR.20M: New nose and stronger wing.1 Added additional armament.2 Included more armor.2 Nose was redesigned.2
- BR.20II / BR.20bis: Had Fiat A.82 RC 32 radial engines (1,250 HP).1 Nose was redesigned.2
Usage
Italy, Japan, Spain, and Venezuela used the B.R.20.2
The 13° Stormo BT received the first BR.20s in September of 1936.1
In March of 1937 the 7° Stormo BT received its first BR.20s.1
Spain
The 7° and 13° Stormo BTs took their BR.20s to Spain in 1937.1
Japan
In 1938-1939 85 BR.20s were shipped to Japan.1,2 Japan used these BR.20s in China.1,2
The Japanese paid for them with soya beans.2
Venezuela
One BR.20 was shipped to Venezuela in 1938.1
Entry into War
In June 1940 there were four stormi that flew 148 BR.20s, the 7°, 13°, 18°, and 43°.1
Battle of Britain
In Belgium there were 80 BR.20s that were used in raids against England in November 1940.1 They suffered heavy casualties.1
North Africa
The Fiat engines were unsuitable in the desert conditions of North Africa.1
Italian Armistice
There were only 67 BR.20s in service at the time of the Italian Armistice.1
| Fiat BR.20 Cicogna1,2 | Fiat B.R. 20M Cicogna2 | Fiat B.R. 20bis Cicogna2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Medium bomber1,2 | ||
| Crew | 5 - 61,2 | ||
| Engine (Type) | 2: Fiat A.80 RC 41 piston1,2 | 2: Fiat A.80 RC412 | 2: Fiat A.82 RC322 |
| OR | 2: Fiat A.80 RC202 | ||
| Cylinders | Radial1, Radial 182 | RC41: Radial 182 | Radial 182 |
| HP | 1,000 each1,2 | RC41: 1,000 each2 RC20: 1,100 each2 |
1,250 each2 |
| Cooling | |||
| Propeller blades | 3 each2 | 3 each2 | 3 each2 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 70' 8.75"1 21.56 m1 |
70' 8.5"2 21.55 m2 |
|
| Length | 52' 9.75"1 16.1 m1 |
54' 8"2 16.66 m2 |
|
| Height | 14' 1.25"1 4.3 m1 |
15' 7"2 4.75 m2 |
|
| Wing area | 796.6 ft2 1 74 m2 1 |
||
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 14,330 lb1 6,500 kg1 |
14,330 lb2 6,500 kg2 |
|
| Loaded | 22,266 lb1 10,100 kg1 |
23,038 lb2 10,450 kg2 |
|
| Performance | |||
| Speed @ 13,125' / 4,000 m |
267 mph1 430 kph1 |
||
| Speed @ 13,450' / 4,100 m |
255 mph2 410 kph2 |
||
| Cruising speed | 211 mph2 340 kph2 |
||
| Climb | 900'/minute2 275 m/minute2 |
||
| Climb to 13,125' / 4,000 m |
13.55 minutes1 | ||
| Climb to 19,685' / 6,000 m |
25 minutes2 | ||
| Service ceiling | 24,935'1 7,600 m1 |
23,600'2 7,193 m2 |
|
| Range | 1,193 miles1 1,920 km1 |
1,709 miles2 2,750 km2 |
|
| Armament | |||
| Nose position | 1: 7.7 mm MG1,2 | 1: 12.7 mm MG2 | |
| Dorsal position | 1: 7.7 mm MG1,2 | ||
| Ventral position | 1: 7.7 mm MG1 2: 7.7 mm MG2 |
||
| Bombs | 3,527 lb1,2 1,600 kg1,2 |
Sources:
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
