Main Menu

Italy's Fiat R.S.14 torpedo bomber and reconnaissance floatplane¹

Fiat R.S.14B¹:

Design

The Fiat R.S.14 was based on the A.S.14 land based ground attack bomber that had retractable landing gear.¹ It was redesigned in 1941 as unarmed R.S.14As.¹

Prototype

 

Production

• A.S.14 Prototype: 1¹
• R.14A: 2¹
• R.S.14B and R.S. 14C: 184¹
• Total: 187¹

Variants

• A.S.14: Land based prototype.¹
• R.14A: Unarmed prototype.¹
• R.S.14B: Reconnaissance and torpedo bomber.¹ Modified nose and could carry bombs or depth charges.¹ Had defensive armament.¹
• R.S.14C: Reconnaissance and air sea rescue.¹ Converted from R.S.14B.¹ Ventral tray was removed.¹

Usage

Italy and Germany used the Fiat R.S.14s.¹

Deployed

The R.S.14s were initially used in the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas as convoy escorts and reconnaissance aircraft.¹

By September 1943 almost all remaining R.S.14s were converted to R.S.14Cs.¹

After Surrender

After Italy's surrender the R.S.14s were used by the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana and the Co-Belligerent forces.¹

After World War II

After the war some R.S.14s remained in service until the late 1940s.¹

	Fiat R.S.141	Fiat R.S.14B1
Type	Torpedo bomber1 Reconnaissance1
Crew	51
Engine (Type)	2: Fiat A 74 RC381
Cylinders	Radial 141
Cooling
HP	840 each1
Propeller blades	3 each1
Dimensions
Span	64' 11"1 19.53 m1
Length	46' 3"1 14.1 m1
Height
Wing area
Weight
Empty		12,125 lb1 5,500 kg1
Loaded		17,637 lb1 8,000 kg1
Maximum load
Performance
Speed at sea level	242 mph1 389 kph1
Speed @ 13,120' / 4,000 m	254 mph1 409 kph1
Cruising speed	205 mph1 330 kph1
Climb
Service ceiling	16,400'1 5,000 m1
Range
Maximum range	1,553 miles1 2,500 km1
Armament
Dorsal turret	1: 12.7 mm MG1
Beam hatches	2: 7.7 mm MG1
Ventral tray	880 lb bombs1 400 kg bombs1
OR	2: 353 lb depth charges1 2: 160 kg depth charges1

Sources:

1. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

---