Re.2001 CN
| This page is about the Italian fighter Re.2001 CN. For other versions, see Re.2001 (Family). |
Contents
Description
The Re.2001 CN is a rank III Italian fighter with a battle rating of 4.3 (AB) and 3.3 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.85 "Supersonic". It provides a notable upgrade over the previous models with the inclusion of two MG 151/20 (20 mm) cannons mounted in the wings in place of the underwhelming 7.7 mm Breda-SAFATs.
General info
Flight performance
The Re.2001 CN "Falco II" provides an overall smooth flying experience, with a competitive turn rate, solid all-altitude performance, good elevator authority, moderate climb rate and powerful armament. However, the Falco II is plagued by several critical weaknesses. Its speed is quite lacking when compared to contemporary fighters like the Bf 109, Spitfire, and most American fighters you will encounter. It also has a relatively weak airframe and large fuel tanks which can be hit easily. The cooling system is wing-mounted and if damaged can reduce the effectiveness or even outright prevent the water-cooled inline engine from working properly.
In short, the Re.2001 CN is a plane which requires an able and smart pilot in order to make the most out of it, but when used correctly, it can be a fearful machine.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 5,450 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 501 | 484 | 11000 | 19.9 | 20.5 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 165 |
| Upgraded | 543 | 521 | 18.1 | 19.0 | 19.8 | 15.6 | ||
Details
| Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear |
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | X |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 740 | 320 | 455 | 420 | 250 | ~13 | ~9 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 350 | < 350 | < 420 | > 312 |
Survivability and armour
- 8 mm Steel - Pilot's seat
- 8 mm Steel - Armoured plate behind the pilot
- 50 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
- Critical components located at the front of aircraft (pilot, engine, controls)
- More fuel tanks located in wings near the fuselage
- Fuel tank in the fuselage behind the pilot
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
The stock Breda-SAFAT belts are very poor, containing mostly ball ammunition which causes little damage. It is recommended to o upgrade those quickly. The upgraded belts for the Bredas themselves are quite good, but the potential damage is limited by the low muzzle velocity and poor ballistics beyond 300 meters. The most important modules are Engine Injection, 20 mm belts/cannons, Engine, Compressor, Wing Repair then the survivability modules to help remedy the weak airframe.
Armaments
Offensive armament
The Re.2001 CN is armed with:
- 2 x 20 mm MG 151 cannons, wing-mounted (60 rpg = 120 total)
- 2 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, nose-mounted (350 rpg = 700 total)
Suspended armament
The Re.2001 CN can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- Without load
- 1 x 250 kg GP 250 bomb (250 kg total)
Usage in battles
The Re.2001 is a very manoeuvrable plane with decent performance at all altitudes. The great MG 151s (with access to devastating minengeschoße rounds through the Air Targets belt), respectable climb rate, and good high altitude performance allow it to be an effective interceptor. With its ability to mount a single 250 kg bomb, it can also be a fighter bomber that can drop its payload and then join the furball as a regular fighter.
Generally speaking, the Breda-SAFATs have very poor ballistics from farther than 300 m, even with Air Targets belts. To make effective use of the Breda-SAFATs, they can be used as 'spotting guns' to line up shots with your MG 151s. This is critical as using as little 20 mm rounds as possible to destroy a plane is very important due to the low ammo count of only 60 rounds per gun. Ammo conservation of the MG 151 is critical, especially in RB/SB.
Spitfires, Yaks, and A6M Zeroes are the kings of dogfighting below 3,000 meters. If one attempts to fight you above 4,000 meters, it is recommended to either make use their low speed at altitude to Boom-&-Zoom them or try to take a risk and turnfight them. The main reason the Re.2001 CN can turn fight with Spitfires and Yaks is due to its already good manoeuvrability made better by its combat flaps and decent rudder. A6M Zeroes will be able to outmaneuver the Re.2001 CN. The most common fighters of these types you will encounter are the Spitfire Mk Ia and Mk IIa, Yak-1, Yak-7B, early Yak-9s and early A6M Zeroes. Keep in mind that damaged control surfaces and engine and cooling modules will reduce the agility of the Falco II and its ability to outmaneuver enemies.
The Re.2001 CN can be used quite effectively in ground attack. Its 250 kg bomb has a decent kill radius due to its explosive mass and the aircraft's maneuverability can allow it to bomb very accurately. The 20 mm MG 151s can do a lot of damage to light targets, either by AP rounds punching through thin roof armor, or by HE rounds detonating on and around exposed crewmembers and ammo racks. During night missions, the Re.2001 CN's nearly all black night camoflage can assist in keeping the aircraft hidden from enemy fighters and SPAAs.
Manual Engine Control
| MEC elements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
| Oil | Water | Type | ||||
| Not controllable | Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Separate | Not controllable 1 gear |
Not controllable |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Solid all-altitude performance
- Twin MG 151s with access to minengeschoβ
- Responsive elevator
- 50 mm bulletproof glass
- Good turn rate
- Respectable climb rate
- Can mount a 250 kg bomb for ground attack
- Good energy retention
- R.A.1000 engine is basically a more powerful and reliable DB 601
- Small target
- Decent roll rate at intermediate speeds
- Solid high-speed manoeuvrability
- Can remain competitive when up-tiered
Cons:
- 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns have a slow fire rate and lose effectiveness past 300 m
- Cannons are mounted in the wings, resulting in significant convergence.
- Limited 20 mm ammunition count (60 rpg)
- Slow speed; can be outrun by many fighters at its BR
- Large fuel tanks can get hit easily
- Cooling systems are wing-mounted and unarmored, leaving them vulnerable to damage
- Engine overheats quickly
- Weak airframe
History
The Reggiane Re.2001 was designed to be a replacement for the failed Re.2000, and did away with the weak Piaggio P.IX radial, in favour of a new, more powerful R.A.1000RC.41-1a Inline (which was a fiat built, more powerful and reliable DB 601A, the same engine used in the early BF 109s). Other than the engine and shape of the nose, there were no real notable changes between the Falco I and Falco II. The Falco II retained a fairly similar fuselage and even kept the entire tail unit. While considered to be equal to the Macchi MC.202, the MC.202 had the first call on the R.A.1000, and the Re.2001 was delayed by several design changes the Italian army insisted on, giving the MC.202 almost a full year head-start on its rival, leading to more Macchi fighters being produced than Reggiane fighters.
Despite its late introduction and production issues, it received a mostly positive reception from the Italian pilots, as it was proven to be a thorn in the side of Spitfire and Hurricane pilots. Jack Rae, the best New Zealand Spitfire pilot, exclaimed that the Re.2001 he encountered was a surprisingly dangerous opponent, saying that he almost "spun off" twice while trying to pursue him and found it hard to get an excellent shot on the Italian plane.
The CN variant was a Night Fighter and Fighter Bomber able to mount an optional payload of 640 kg and fitted with two Mauser MG 151/20 in gondolas under the wings and was primarily used in defence of Italian cities.
Media
- Skins
- Images
- Videos
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the series of the aircraft;
- links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.
External links
- [Devblog] Reggiane Re.2001 CN: The Black Falcon
- Official data sheet - more details about the performance
| Reggiane Mechanical Factory (Officine Meccaniche Reggiane SpA) | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | Re.2000 serie 1 · Re.2000 G.A. |
| Re.2001 serie 1 · Re.2001 gruppo 22 · Re.2001 CB · Re.2001 CN | |
| Re.2002 Early | |
| Re.2005 serie 0 | |
| Export | J20 |
| Italy fighters | |
|---|---|
| Fiat | CR.32 · CR.32 bis · CR.32 quater · CR.42 · 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 | |
| Reggiane | Re.2000 G.A. · Re.2000 serie 1 |
| Re.2001 serie 1 · Re.2001 gruppo 22 · Re.2001 CB · Re.2001 CN | |
| Re.2002 Early | |
| Re.2005 serie 0 | |
| Macchi | C. 200 serie 3 · C. 200 serie 7 |
| C. 202 · C. 202D · C. 202EC | |
| C. 205 serie 1 · C. 205 serie 3 · C. 205N2 | |
| IMAM | Ro.44 |
| Foreign: | |
| Germany | ▄Bf 109 G-14/AS |
| USA | ▄P-47D-30 |
| Britain | ▄Spitfire Mk Vb/trop |
| Hungary | ◐Bf 109 F-4 · ◐Bf 109 G-2 · ◔Yak-9P |
| Romania | He 112 B-1/U2 · IAR-81C |
