I believe that these prototypes of Italian heavy bombers provide a good reason to grind through the Italian bomber tech tree, given that the Piaggio P108B is the only four-engine bomber available.
Caproni CA204
It has a top speed of 500 km/h and can carry eight people; its minimum speed is 130 km/h; its maximum range is 4,000 km, and its speed is 400 km/h at an altitude of 4,000 meters.
CANT Z.1014
It was a 1938 project, powered by four Alfa Romeo 135 RC 32 radial engines, each with 1,410 hp, a wingspan of 36 meters (more than a B-17), a total weight when fully loaded of 25 tons, a maximum speed of 516 km/h, and a climb rate to 4000 meters in just 10 minutes.
It was supposed to have a war load of over 2,400 kg, defensive armament with six 12.7 mm gun turrets, one of which was twin-mounted. The practical ceiling was to be 8,800 meters. The project did not come to fruition, partly because the engines were a failure.
It was supposed to have a war load of over 2,400 kg, defensive armament with six 12.7 mm gun mounts, one of which was twin-mounted. Its practical ceiling was to be 8,800 meters. The project did not go ahead, partly because the engines were a failure.
Regarding the bomb bay of the Z.1014: the position of the wing, which was low at 3/4 of the fuselage, meant that the bomb bay was not very large; the Handley Page Halifax had the same problem with its low wing at 3/4; on the other hand, one of the reasons for the Avro Lancaster’s excellence was the mid-height position of the wing, which allowed for a large bomb bay and the ability to carry the most cumbersome and bizarre bombs of World War II. Analysing the layout of the Z.1014’s bomb bay, it is clear that the placement of 250 kg bombs in the outer engine nacelles was not so much an extravagance as a necessity dictated by the small size of the central bomb bay, since the structural wing spars severely limited the space below the fuselage, even though the overall volume available was apparently ample.
Fiat G30B
The first prototype of the Fiat G.30B flew on July 19, 1942, and was not mass-produced. The aircraft had a speed of 480 km/h and a range of 4,000 km at a speed of 400 km/h.
Its armament was to consist of six 12.7 mm machine guns (with 400 rounds per weapon) and 4,000 kg of bombs.
