- IMAM Ro.37
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Ro.37 
Role Reconnaissance Manufacturer Meridionali First flight 1933 Primary user Regia Aeronautica 
The initial version of the Ro.37 with the Fiat A.30 inline engine.
The main production version of the Ro.37 with the Piaggio IX radial engine.The Meridionali Ro.37 Lince (Italian: "Lynx") was a two-seat Italian reconnaissance biplane, a product of the Industrie Meccaniche Aeronautiche Meridionali (IMAM) company. It followed the Ro.1 as the main reconnaissance aircraft for the Italian army.
Contents
Development and design
A contest was held by the Regia Aeronautica for a light reconnaissance aircraft and a heavier aeroplane. The first should have 350 km/h (190 knots/220 mph) maximum speed, five hours endurance, three machine-guns and a bomblets dispenser, armour, and the capability to operate from improvised airfields. The heavier one should have 325 km/h maximum speed, at least 1,300 km (810 mi) endurance, 7,000 m (22,750 feet) ceiling, climb to 5,000m (16,000) in 19 minutes, three crew, five weapons, high wing and other details.
Limited production of the IMAM Ro.30, an improved Ro.1 with a defensive turret and better engine, resulted. It was rejected by the Regio Esercito and not chosen for production, being only capable of 200 km/h (110 knots), five hours endurance, a climb rate of 4,000 m (13,000 feet) in 20 minutes, and had three weapons.
IMAM did not give up after the modest success of the Ro.30 and so designed a new aircraft, the Ro.37, which first flew in 1933.
This was a biplane aircraft of mixed construction, with two seats, and a 560 hp Fiat A.30 inline engine. It reached 300 km/h (162 knots) and perhaps even more with this engine, the same as that of the Fiat CR.32. The Ro.37 had a 7,000 m ceiling, 3,000 m climb in 11 minutes, over 1,200 km (750 mi) endurance, three machine guns (two in the nose and one dorsal), twelve 15 kg bombs, and good agility. It was similar to the Hawker Hind, rather than a light army aircraft, and its performance was similar to the later Westland Lysander, but the contemporary British design was the Hawker Hector.
The Ro.37 was later fitted with the 600 hp Piaggio P.IX radial engine. The better reliability of this engine was considered more desirable and so this was the main version produced.
Operational service
103 Squadron was equipped in mid-1935 and swiftly employed in Ethiopia. In December this unit was sent to Somalia, and eventually another four squadrons went to this theatre: 105, 108, 109, and 110 Squadrons, for a total of ten Ro.37 and forty-one Ro.37Bis.
With the end of operations, 110 Squadron remained in the theatre, deployed in counterinsurgency tasks and serving as reinforcement for isolated garrisons.
In the meantime, the R.37 also served in the Spanish Civil War, with the first ten arriving in late 1936. Another 26 (possibly 58) went to this theatre and were used for many missions and tasks. They were used as assault aircraft, even though they were unarmoured. The results were satisfactory and some were even converted to a single-seat machine for use as attack fighters. The two-seat versions were used as heavy fighters, providing protection for S.81 bombers from Republican I-15s.
It is not known if there were any air-to-air victories.
The Ro.37 was generally liked by pilots, and the only complaint was that aircraft was prone to damage to the undercarriage, and had some engine faults.
The aircraft was produced until 1939 with a total of 569 (237 + 332bis) produced, and as late as 1940 there were provisions to have 17 Squadron equipped with this machine. In fact, the Ro.37 continued to be used as reconnaissance aircraft for years, since its replacement, the Caproni Ca.311, proved unsatisfactory.
Ro.37 were also quite widely exported (ten to Uruguay, sixteen to Afghanistan, fourteen to Hungary, eight to Austria, and one to Ecuador) and around 280 were in service in 1940, in thirty squadrons consisting of 215 aircraft.
Some were in service up to 1943 and perhaps even later. They were very vulnerable, but in the war Italy did not have sufficient resources to produce a better observation aircraft, not even the Ro.63, a superior aircraft, similar to the Storch, but with more endurance.
Ro.45
The last of the classic biplanes made by IMAM was this machine, an enhanced Ro.37. It was 10.37 m length, with a 12.32 m wingspan. First flight was on 10 December 1935.
The 820 hp Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI.RC40 engine boosted maximum speed to 350 km/h, ceiling to 8,000 m, and endurance to 2,250 km. Destined for long-range reconnaissance and light bombing, it remained a single prototype for unknown reasons: perhaps it was rated too costly or the improvements over the Ro.37 were not enough.
Variants
- Ro.37 - Reconnaissance biplane.
- Ro 37bis - Improved version.
- Ro.43 - Regia Marina reconnaissance floatplane.
- Ro.44 - Regia Marina single-seat fighter floatplane.
Operators
- Afghan Air Force
- Austrian Air Force (1927-1938)
Specifications (Meridionali Ro.37)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 28 ft 1 in (8.56 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 4 in (11.08 m)
- Height: 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
- Wing area: 337.46 sq ft (31.35 m²)
- Empty weight: 3,494 lb (1,585 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 5,335 lb (2,420 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Piaggio P.IX RC.40, 9-cylinder, air-cooled, radial, piston engine, 560 hp (418 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 205 mph (330 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 155 mph (250 km/h)
- Range: 696 miles (1,120 km)
- Service ceiling: 23,620 ft (7,200 m)
Armament
- Two 7.7mm (0.303in) fixed forward firing Breda-SAFAT machine guns
- One 7.7mm (0.303in) flexible mount machine gun in rear cockpit
- 397 lb (180kg) of bombs on underfuselage racks
Engine Length Weight
empty/maxSpeed Climb to 4000 m Ceiling Endurance A.30 8.62 m 1563 kg / 2425 kg 325 km/h 9 min 15 sec 6,700 m 1,650 km P.IX 8.57 m 2040 kg / 2425 kg 320 km/h 9 min 30 sec 7,500 m 1,300 km References
- Gunston, Bill (2001), The Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Salamander, ISBN 1 84065 092 3
- Marcon, Tullio L'aviazione per il regio esercito Storia Militare magazine July 1995. (Italian)
- Mondey, David (1984), The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II, Chancellor Press, ISBN 1 85152 966 7
External links
- Virtual Aircraft Museum
- IMAM Ro.37 and its derivatives
- Comando Supremo
- Stormo Magazine (on line), IMAM Ro.37
See also
- Related development
Aircraft produced by OFM, Romeo and IMAM Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- Italian military reconnaissance aircraft 1930–1939
- IMAM aircraft
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