- Reggiane Re.2001
infobox Aircraft
name = Re.2001 Falco II
type = Fighter
manufacturer =Reggiane 
caption = wartime photograph of a Re.2001 in flight c. 1943
designer = Roberto Longhi and Antonio Alessi Angelucci and Matricardi 1988, p. 58.]
first flight = July 1940
introduced =
retired = 1945
number built = 252 Mondey 2006, P. 234.]
status =
unit cost =
developed from =Reggiane Re.2000
variants with their own articles =Reggiane Re.2005
primary user = "Regia Aeronautica "
more users = "Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana "The Reggiane Re.2001 "Falco" II was an Italian
fighter aircraft , serving in the "Regia Aeronautica " (Italian Air Force) duringWorld War II . A contemporary of theMacchi C.202 , the type was not produced in large numbers but was a flexible design that proved to be able to undertake a number of roles. The Re.2001 became the basis of a later, more formidable fighter, the Re.2005.Design and development
The
Reggiane Re.2001 was a development of the Re.2000 "Falco" I which had been rejected by the Regia Aeronautica primarily because of its engine. Angelucci and Matricardi 1988, p. 58.] This was the main problem the "Falco" II set out to fix, now having a 1,175 hpAlfa Romeo inline engine (a more powerful and reliable licence-built GermanDB 601 ) rather than a 986 hpPiaggio P.IXradial engine .Sgarlato 2005]Incorporating much of the Re.2000's
fuselage structure, even retaining the entire tail unit, the Re.2001's wings were of semi-elliptical design with three spars in each wing. The initial design had conventional fuel tanks with 544 l total capacity (five tanks, one in the fuselage and the others in the wings). The armament consisted ofBreda-SAFAT machine gun s, with two nose-mounted 12.7 mm (up to 800 rounds) and two 7.7 mm guns in the wings, (1200 rounds total).Sgarlato 2005]The new "Falco" II was considered equal by most experts with the
Macchi MC.202 , although theMacchi fighter was still produced in greater numbers. The Re.2001 was then delayed because the Regia Aeronautica insisted on the fuel tanks being placed inside the wings, which required a substantial redesign of the wing structure. The first order amounted to 300 machines, but was later cut to 120 due to difficulties in the engine manufacture.Due to the wing redesign coupled with production delays, the first production aircraft were finally cleared for operational use in June 1941, nearly a year behind schedule. Angelucci and Matricardi 1988, p. 58.]
Along with the fighter variant, two other main variants were developed to suit specialised roles. The Re.2001 CB ("Cacciabombardiere", Fighter-bomber) version produced from 1942 could carry a 100 or 250 kg bomb under the fuselage for the attack role. The CN ("Caccia notturno", Night fighter) version was adapted with the introduction of engine exhaust-flame dampers and a 20 mm Mauser
MG 151/20 cannon in two gondolas, one under each wing, although many fighters retained the original armament. A total of 34 CNs were produced of the 50 ordered.Operational history
The Re.2001 was to reach operational status late in 1941 with 2° Gruppo (part of 6° Stormo) based at Gorzia. Relocated to Rome-Ciampino in December, the unit was worked up to full standard in preparation for deploying to
Sicily , arriving on4 May 1942 . Brindley 1973, p. 224.] In May 1942, Re.2001s began to fly escort missions overMalta , encountering British Spitfire Mk Vs. Generally slower than contemporary fighters, at lower and medium altitudes the Re.2001 was able to hold its own, but above 7,000 m (23,000 ft), the Spitfire clearly had a speed advantage. Brindley 1973, p. 224.] Against theHawker Hurricane , the Re.2001 fared better and could take on this opponent on a more equal basis, although the type was noticeably slower at most altitudes. [Sgarlato 2005. Note: The claims of 11 Hurricane victories against the loss of one Re.2001 and the damaging of another in a single engagement was revealed to be inaccurate. The truth was much different: 15 Italian fighters clashed with 12 Hurricanes. Only one Hurricane was downed (that just before it had shot down the single Re.2001 lost), while two others were damaged, and one of these crashed on landing.]By the end of June, 22° Gruppo based at Rome-Ciampino received their first Re.2001 CBs and redeployed to
Monserrato ,Sardinia , later to be transferred to Sicily to participate in the raids on Malta. Brindley 1973, p. 226.] Canadian ace "Buzz" Beurling claimed a Re.2001 over Malta.Sgarlato 2005]A notable action took place on
12 August 1942 when two Re.2001G/Vs modified to carry single 640 kg (1,410 lb) fragmentation bombs, accompanied by a fighter escort of Re.2001s, carried out a successful attack on HMS "Victorious" duringOperation Pedestal . Reportedly, the Re.2001s were not challenged because of their similarity in appearance to Sea Hurricanes.Sgarlato 2005] During the attack, a direct hit was scored on the aircraft carrier'sflight deck but the bomb failed to explode and fell harmlessly into the sea. Brindley 1973, p. 224.]Beginning in spring 1942 Reggiane Re.2001 CN
night fighter s were issued to 59° Gruppo, and primarily used in the defence of Italian cities. Brindley 1973, p. 226.] As the tide of war shifted, the Re.2001 units were constantly moved from base to base and finally by10 July 1943 when the invasion ofSicily began, all available Re.2001 fighters were diverted to defend Italy and nearby Mediterranean islands held by Italian forces. Brindley 1973, p. 226.]Later in 1943, the fighter in all of its variants was used to defend northern and central Italy. Fighter pilots praised the Re.2001's handling qualities (some considered it more maneuverable than the Macchi C.202) but like many Italian combat aircraft, the type experienced poor serviceability and many of the units using the Re.2001 were not fully equipped. Brindley 1973, p. 230.]
The complexity of the Re.2001 design led to higher costs (in 1942, the production cost of the Re.2001 was 600,000 lire versus 520,000 lire of the Macchi C.202)Sgarlato 2005] and slowed production rates which also limited its effectiveness as a fighter. Due to attrition, only 33 Re.2001s were available at the
Armistice . Brindley 1973, p. 226.] Furthermore, poor serviceability meant that only nine Re.2001s survived the split into civil war in Italy, eight going to theItalian Co-Belligerent Air Force with the Allies, and one to theItalian Social Republic .Fact|date=August 2007Variants
;Re.2001:Prototypes, two built. Second prototype had three-spar wing, modified canopy and fixed tailwheel. First flight on may 1940;Re.2001 Serie I:First production series operated as
fighter-bomber and carrier trainer; also used for land-based catapult tests, 100 built.;Re.2001 CB:Modified fighter-bomber produced from 1942, to carry 100 or 250 kg bomb under the fuselage for the attack role.;Re.2001 OR Serie II:Proposed ship-borne fighter version for the carrier "Aquila", 50 built. First addition of wing-mounted machine guns to development and optional cannon, able to carry a 600 kg torpedo or bomb as standard. ;Re.2001 CN Serie III & IV:Night fighter and fighter-bomber version, 74 built. Optional bombload of up to 640 kg (1,410 lbs) or additional fuel tank on Serie IV. Two 20 mm MauserMG 151/20 cannon (60 rounds each) were fitted in two gondolas, one under each wing.;Re.2001 G/H:Experimental torpedo- (carrying a 600 kg torpedo) fighter or anti-tank version with lengthened tailwheel and two 20 mm cannons, two built.;Re.2001 G/V:Modified fighter-bomber, with reinforced fuselage structure to carry a single 640 kg (1,410 lb) bomb with 120 kg HE, derived from a 381 mm shell (made for theLittorio class battleship s). A small number of the variant was built; two G/Vs took part inOperation Pedestal but this was the sole use of the variant. Angelucci and Matricardi 1988, p. 58.] ;Re.2001 Delta:Prototype version powered by 840 hpIsotta-Fraschini Delta RC 16/48 engine, one built- first flight12 September 1942 . After tests when a top speed of only 478 km/h at 5,760 m was reached, the Regia Aeronautica cancelled the 100 variants on order.;Re.2001bis:Prototype (MM.438) version with repositioned radiators, one built; although flight trials were successful, proving to be the fastest of the Re.2001 variants, it was converted back to a standard Re.2001.
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