Macchi M. 41 bis.

ImportantSimone5 · July 24, 2024, 5:28pm

[Would you like to see this in-game?]

Yes
Maybe
No

0 voters

Macchi M. 41 bis

History.

The Macchi M.41bis was a late 1920s/early 1930s Italian mid-hull biplane hydrofighter-bomber designed and manufactured by Macchi. The aircraft was based on the Macchi M.41, a hydrofighter built in a single example following a 1927 tender by the Royal Navy for a new vehicle capable of replacing the Macchi M.7ter. Macchi proposed the M.41, which however did not interest the Italian authorities too much. With the new tender from the Ministry of Aeronautics (which intended to equip the Regia Marina and the Regia Aeronautica with a seaplane model capable of covering multiple roles with the possibility of carrying bombs), Macchi decided to revisit the Macchi 41 by adding hooks for bombs and changing the radiator on the plane’s engine. During testing the Macchi M.41bis outperformed its competitor, the SIAI S.58ter, and Macchi secured a contract to produce 41 examples of the aircraft. The first examples entered the Italian ranks in 1931 and were decommissioned in 1938 after honorable service.

Armaments and propulsion.

The aircraft was armed with two 7.7 mm Vickers machine guns of English origin mounted on the fighter. Compared to the prototype, the weapons were mounted slightly higher. As a war load, the aircraft could carry up to 60 kg of bombs.
The aircraft was powered by a 420 HP Fiat A.20 12-cylinder V engine mounted in a pusher configuration and placed on the central struts of the aircraft. With this engine the plane could reach a maximum speed of 256 km/h.

Specifications.

Spoiler

Crew: 1
Length: 8.66 m
Height: 3.12 m
Wingspan: 11.12 m
Maximum weight: 1,600 kg
Engine: 1x Fiat A.20, 420 hp
Maximum speed: 256 km/h
Autonomy: 700 km
Tangency: 7,500 m
Armament: 2x 7.7 mm Vickers and up to 60 kg of bombs

Pictures and drawnings.

Spoiler