- Yes
- Maybe
- No
History.
The Breda Ba.65 “Nibbio” was a low-wing single-engine assault monoplane produced by the Italian company Società Italiana Ernesto Breda during the second half of the 1930s. The aircraft was designed to replace the previous Breda Ba.64. The new aircraft, called Ba.65, maintained the same general characteristics of its predecessor, even if it differed in its armament and engine, as well as in other minor details. The prototype was powered by an Isotta Fraschini K.14 engine, a licensed version of a French engine, and first flew in September 1935. The aircraft made a good impression on the inspectors, and a batch of 81 was ordered specimens. Later, as time passed and needs changed, some examples of this aircraft were upgraded with a Type M revolving defensive turret, which in addition to allowing better defense of the aircraft also increased its weight, thus decreasing its acceleration. Some of these planes were sold to the Kingdom of Iraq, which used them against the British during the short war between the two nations, while the other examples were used in the North African theater by the Regia Aeronautica. None of these planes have survived to modern times, except for some parts of the aforementioned aircraft.
Armaments and propulsion.
The aircraft was armed with a powerful offensive armament, consisting of 2 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns and 2 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns. Furthermore, the aircraft was equipped with a Type M rotating turret with a 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun attached. The drop armament remained the same as a classic Ba.65, and beyond that there were no differences in armament.
The engine also remained the same as the classic Ba.65, as it was equipped with a 725 hp Isotta Fraschini K.14 engine, which by adding the additional defensive weapon, allowed the aircraft to reach a maximum speed of 410 km/h.
Specifications.
Spoiler
Length: 9.3m
Wingspan: 12.0 m
Wing surface area: 23.50 m²
Maximum height: 2.98 m
Maximum weight: 4.5 tons
Maximum speed: 410 km/h
Engine: 1x Isotta-Fraschini K.14C
Armament: 3x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT (two fighter and one defensive), 2x 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT and up to 400 kg of bombs
Pictures and drawnings.
Sources.
Spoiler
Breda Ba
Breda Ba.65 - Wikipedia
Breda Ba.65 - Wikipedia
SI VIS PACEM, PARA BELLUM: Il Breda Ba.65 Nibbio era un monoplano monomotore d'assalto ad ala bassa prodotto dall'azienda italiana Società Italiana Ernesto Breda
https://www.colettiscombataircraft.com/item/breda-ba-65/
Gnome-Rhône K14C
Breda Ba.65 | Plane-Encyclopedia
