B.R.20M M1
| This page is about the Italian bomber B.R.20M M1. For other versions, see B.R.20 (Family). |
Contents
Description
The B.R.20M M1 was an important upgrade over the original BR.20 Cicogna, in fact it was the most widely produced variant of this bomber. The upgrades consisted of a redesigned nose with a smaller glass area for the gunner and more glass at the lower section of the nose. It also had a redesigned deffensive armament, now introducing access to 12.7mm HMGs, far more superior than prior 7.7mm LMGs. The BR.20 was Italy's most predominant bomber during World War II, however it was considered outdated by the time the war started, but even with that in mind, it served with Italy between 1936 and 1945. It also served with Japan, although it was not very well regarded and was retired to training duties in 1941.
It was introduced in Update 1.93 "Shark Attack". Just like its predecessor the B.R.20M M1 is a very sluggish bomber, with poor speed, although it is a very stable airframe in simulator battles. It features a redesigned nose that has not a lot of effects in the battlefield. But it now has access to a gunner with a 12.7mm HMG, far more lethal than the 7.7mm machine guns. The bomb load is also quite good, being able to carry a little more explosive mass than other bombers at its BR. However the flight performance and the lack of armour make this bomber very likely to get intercepted at the start of the match and the mediocre defensive armament make it really hard to survive in situations were multiple fighters are targeting you.
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 | 397 | 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 | 428 | 280 | ~6 | ~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
- No armour protection
- Self-sealing fuel tanks (2 in each wing, 2 in the fuselage)
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armaments
Suspended armament
The B.R.20M M1 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.20M M1 is defended by:
- 1 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, dorsal turret (350 rpg)
- 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
The B.R.20M is an all-round medium bomber with a variety of bombs from 50 kg to 800 kg, making it potent against all manner of targets, even heavy tanks. It is not an attacker, so best not use it as one. Still, it is equally good at attacking tactical as well as strategic targets (just bring a friend as escort).
Manual Engine Control
| MEC elements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
| Oil | Water | Type | ||||
| Not controllable | Controllable Auto control available |
Controllable Auto control available |
Controllable Auto control available |
Separate | Not controllable 1 gear |
Not controllable |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Good payload for its rank
- Fast in a dive
- Good pitch control
- Good all around defences
- Top gun is 12.7 mm, which is unique for rank
Cons:
- Rolls very badly, poor yaw
- Slow speed
History
Designed by Fiat's Celestino Rosatelli in the mid 1930s and first flying 10 February 1936, the "Bombardiere Rosatelli 20" (B.R.20) Cicogna (Stork) was an advanced design with a first for Italy all metal structure of duralumin. The fuselage was a space frame structure with the forward half covered in sheets of aluminum and the rear half fabric covering, including all the tail surfaces. The wing was all clad in metal, but the ailerons were also fabric covered. This may seem unusual compared to better known modern semi-monocoque structure, but it was a very common and effective design for the 1930s.
Typical with Italian aircraft was the retractable turrets and wind driven electrical turbine which was also retractable. The engines and propeller were domestic modifications of foreign makes, and the armament was Italian Breda-SAFAT machine guns in Breda designed turrets. Overall it proved to be a successful machine for the Italians and very competitive with foreign types then in service.
Early on it was earning awards for long distance and payload competitions and was an easy-to-fly stable platform. During the Spanish Civil War it did well with very few losses. This caught the attention of the Japanese Army, who had an urgent need for bombers, and the B.R.20 was chosen after a cursory review of other candidates. Eventually the Japanese purchased 82 fully equipped bombers, a huge purchase for the time. It served well in China, and was almost as good as the first of the Ki-21s, however the defending fighters were more numerous and better than in Spain and losses mounted.
After war in Europe broke out and France was defeated, Italy sent a contingent of B.R.20s with fighter escorts to attack England with Germany. There the age of the Cicogna was apparent as losses were extremely heavy. Not even 4 years old, these bombers where clearly vulnerable to and rapidly being outclassed by new aircraft like the Ju 88 and A-20. Unfortunately the Italians were slow to make a better replacement, and the B.R.20 had to soldier on.
For the last few years of Italian belligerence, the B.R.20 was used in less active theatres, avoiding strong defences and managing to eke out some success in the Mediterranean and East Europe until the Italians surrendered. After the Italian Armistice the 67 remaining aircraft were used for mundane duties and training. The last was retired in 1946, none were preserved, only dusty photos and a few scattered parts remain.
This model, the "M", was improved over the original with lightly longer nose, more powerful engines, and the top turret replacing the 7.7 mm with a single 12.7 mm retractable powered turret.
Media
- Skins
- Videos
See also
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 |
