- Yes
- No
In the early 1930s, the Regia Aeronautica began examining the concept of an all-metal monoplane capable of playing the role of attacker. The first example of this type of aircraft for ground attack and close air support was the Breda Ba.64, designed by the engineers Antonio Parano and Giuseppe Panzeria, this aircraft was derived from the design of the fighter Breda Ba.27, the Ba.64 was one of the first aircraft to be built entirely of metal in Italy, built by Breda in 42 units, it entered service in 1937 until 1943. The engine was an ALFA 125 RC 35 9-cylinder with radial piston air-cooled, the power was 650HP, the speed of the Ba.64 was not high but it was similar to that of the Ju 87B. The armament consisted of two 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, two 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, mounted in the wings, another 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun was mounted in the dorsal turret, and carried up to 400kg of bombs. The Breda Ba.64 remained in service for a short time, but laid the foundations for future planes designed in Italy.
Specifications:
Crew: 2 (Pilot, Machine Gunner)
Wingspan: 12,10 m
Length: 9,60 m
Height: 3,57 m
Wing area: 23,50 m²
Weight empty plane: 2030 kg
Weight normal take off: 3034 kg
Performance:
Engine: ALFA 125 R.C. 35 (9 cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine)
Horsepower: 650 (478 kW)
Maximum speed: 350 km/h
Cruising speed: 275 km/h
Practical range: 900 km
Practical ceiling: 7000 m
Propellers: 3 bladed variable pitch propeller
Armament:
2 x 12,7 mm Breda-Safat machine guns mounted in the wings (350 rpg)
2 x 7,7 mm Breda-Safat machine guns mounted in the wings (500 rpg)
1 x 7,7 mm Breda-Safat machine gun mounted in dorsal turret (500 rounds)
Bombs: up to 500 kg
Photos:
Sources:
Breda Ba.64 - Aircraft Erection and Maintenance Manual
https://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/2022/12/22/breda-ba-64/
http://www.airwar.ru/enc/aww2/ba64.html