- Yes
- No
Breda Ba.65 Tipo Chile
History:
On June 6, 1937, Chilean officers flew to Milan, to the “Societa Ernesto Breda” factory, where they signed “letters of intent” for the acquisition of twenty Breda-65 aircraft (numbered from 1 to 20), 17 single-seaters and three two-seaters. This aircraft was already being used in the Spanish Civil War, which is why it sparked interest in the Chilean Air Force. The aircraft was of all-metal construction, and the version chosen by Chile featured a Piaggio P.XI RC 40 engine with fourteen air-cooled cylinders arranged in a double star pattern and a power output of 900 hp which could deliver 1000 hp driving a Piaggio variable-pitch propeller, this engine was also 100 kg lighter than the Fiat A.80 and K.14 engines used by other Breda 65s. The final acquisition was on August 16, 1937. The last Bredas would eventually arrive two years later, in 1939.
As mentioned above, the Chilean Bredas were powered by Piaggio P.XI RC 40 engines, which were not standard model in Italy. Another difference between the Chilean and Italian Bredas was their armament, as the 7.7 mm and 12.7 mm Breda Safat machine guns were replaced by Danish 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm Madsen machine guns, which were standard model for the Chilean Air Force in those years, in addition, Chile’s Ba.65s could either carry 20 x 10kg anti-personnel bombs or 4 x 50 kg general-purpose bombs in the internal bomb bay located behind the pilot’s seat. These changes led to the Chilean Breda 65 being named the Ba.65/65 Bis Tipo Chile (Type Chile) by its manufacturer. The aircraft used as a prototype to be converted to the Chilean variant had the serial number MM.75156 and once completed the modifications were replicated to the other Chilean Breda 65s. The three Breda Ba.65 Bis aircraft were later converted into single-seat aircraft, as the M type turret was heavy and difficult to operate.
In Italy, Chilean officers had been offered the Caproni AP.1 ground-attack aircraft, the Breda Ba.65 and the Fiat CR.32 biplane fighter models, but they finally decided on the Breda 65 because they had been advertised as attack aircraft that could also perform fighter duties due to their high maximum speed and firepower. Therefore, to kill two birds with one stone, the Breda was chosen.
Despite being excellent at dive attacks, unfortunately during flights in Chile these aircraft would prove to be not very maneuverable to be used as fighters, so they suffered many accidents, some of them with fatal results, in total 6 were destroyed in accidents (Numbered 1, 5, 10, 11, 15, 17)
In 1940 the Chilean Air Force attempted to exchange the remaining Breda 65s for CR.32 biplane fighters but this did not happen due to Italy’s entry into World War II. This would be solved in 1942 when the United States offered the Pan-American countries free shipping of North American material to confront the Axis countries, so all the Italian material was decommissioned that same year, thus closing the unfortunate service of these aircraft in Chile.
Specifications:
- Crew:
- 1
- Armament:
- Primary: 2x Danish Madsen 12.7 mm machine guns, 2x Danish Madsen 7,62mm machine guns
- Secondary: 20x 10kg bombs , 4x 100 kg bombs, 4x 50 kg bombs
- Dimensions:
- Length: 9.3 m
- Wingspan: 12.1 m
- Height: 3.2 m
- Wing Area: 23.5 m²
- Empty Weight: 2,400 kg (100 kg lighter than the Fiat A.80 and K.14 engines)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 2950 kg
- Performance:
- Powerplant: Piaggio P.XI R.C.40 14-cylinder 900 hp, 1000 hp at maximum power
- Maximum Speed: 490 km/h
- Range: 550 km
- Maximum Service Ceiling: 9800 m
Photos:
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