B.R.20DR
Contents
Description
The B.R.20DR is a rank I Italian bomber
with a battle rating of 1.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica" alongside the initial Italian aviation tree.
The BR.20 has a superb bomb load and is quite strong, being able to soak up a bit more damage than other comparable bombers. The defensive armament has excellent coverage; however, the dorsal gunner is quite exposed and commonly gets hit while in combat. It not only looks but also flies like a brick. This is a very slow plane and in Arcade and Realistic battles, and because these game modes are so short, by the time you reach your bombing target the match may almost be over! The BR.20 is still however quite a treat to fly and is stable and well suited to Simulator.
Another very interesting strategy the BR.20 DR is capable of is ironically, attacking other bombers. When the top & front gunner are pointed forward, the combined firepower of three 7.7 machine guns makes for a nasty surprise, especially if loaded with the AP-I belt!
General info
Flight performance
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 4,000 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 411 | 398 | 7000 | 32.1 | 33.5 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 750 |
| Upgraded | 452 | 430 | 30.0 | 31.0 | 7.4 | 4.6 | ||
Details
| Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear |
| X | ✓ | ✓ | X | X |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 675 | 310 | N/A | 480 | 280 | ~5 | ~3 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 200 | < 200 | < 270 | > 335 |
| Compressor (RB/SB) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Setting 1 | ||
| Optimal altitude | 100% Engine power | WEP Engine power |
| 4,100 m | 1,000 hp | 1,163 hp |
Survivability and armour
Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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Armaments
Suspended armament
The B.R.20DR can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- 12 x 50 kg GP 50 bombs (600 kg total)
- 12 x 100 kg GP 100 bombs (1,200 kg total)
- 4 x 250 kg GP 250 bombs (1,000 kg total)
- 2 x 500 kg GP 500 bombs (1,000 kg total)
- 2 x 800 kg GP 800 bombs (1,600 kg total)
Defensive armament
The B.R.20DR is defended by:
- 2 x 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, dorsal turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
- 1 x 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, nose turret (500 rpg)
- 1 x 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg)
Usage in battles
While bombing, this is an excellent aircraft for flying in formation as course and speed are easily maintained and controlled.
Manual Engine Control
| MEC elements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
| Oil | Water | Type | ||||
| Not controllable | Controllable Auto control available |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Separate | Not controllable 1 gear |
Not controllable |
Modules
| Tier | Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Fuselage repair | Radiator | Turret 7 mm | MCSAP100 | |
| II | Compressor | Airframe | MCGP250 | ||
| III | Wings repair | Engine | New 7 mm MGs (turret) | MCRO500 | |
| IV | Engine injection | Cover | MCGP800 | ||
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Good payload for its rank
- Fast in a dive
- Pitches very well
- Combination of roof & front turret and high spawn can easily disable enemy bombers
Cons:
- Rolls very badly, poor yaw
- Slow speed
History
The standard Italian bomber of World War 2, the B.R. 20 was a technically advanced bomber for its time. More than 500 were produced over seven years, and it served on all of Italy's fronts, including Africa, Russia, the Mediterranean, and the Balkans. B.R. 20s based in Belgium participated in the Battle of Britain, taking heavy losses.
Designed by Fiat's Celestino Rosatelli, the B.R. 20 had a metal structure and duralumin/fabric covering. Its specifications had called for a top speed of 388 km/h, a bomb load of 1200 kg, and a range of 960 km, all of which it easily surpassed. Two modified B.R. 20s competed in the 1937 Istres-Damascus-Paris air race, but did not win. In 1939, another modified B.R. 20 set an endurance record for a 4,800 km flight from Rome to Addis Ababa, averaging more than 400 km/h along the route.
From 1937 to 1939 B.R. 20s served in the Spanish Civil War. The model did less well in the Battle of Britain, where the Italian air corps lost a quarter of its 80 B.R. 20Ms in their first 300 hours in the air. The model continued to be produced until 1942.
Media
- Skins
- Videos
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
External links
| Fiat Aviation (Fiat Aviazione) | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | CR.32 · CR.32 bis · CR.32 quater |
| CR.42 · Marcolin's C.R.42 CN · ▀Marcolin's C.R.42 CN | |
| G.50 serie 2 · G.50 AS serie 7 | |
| G.55 sottoserie 0 · G.55 serie 1 · G.55S | |
| G.56 | |
| Jet fighters | G.91 pre-serie · G.91 R/1 · G.91 Y · G.91 YS |
| ▄F-86K* | |
| ▄F-104G* · F-104S* · F-104S.ASA* · ▄F-104S TAF* | |
| Strike aircraft | F.C.20 Bis |
| Bombers | B.R.20DR · B.R.20M M1 |
| Export/Captured | J11 · ▀CR.42 |
| ▀G.50 serie 2 · ▀G.50 AS serie 7 | |
| ◄G.91 R/3 · ◄G.91 R/4 · G.91 R/4 | |
| *Licensed | |
| See also | North American Aviation · Lockheed Martin |
| Italy bombers | |
|---|---|
| Fiat | B.R.20DR · B.R.20M M1 |
| Savoia-Marchetti | S.81 · S.M.79 serie 1 · S.M.79 B · S.M.79 serie 8 · S.M.79 AS · S.M.79 bis/T.M |
| CANT | Z.1007 bis serie 3 · Z.1007 bis serie 5 |
| Piaggio | P.108B serie 1 · P.108B serie 2 |
| Foreign: | |
| Germany | ▄Ju 87 R-2 · ▄Ju 87 D-3 |
| Hungary | ◔Tu-2S-59 |
