| Reggiane RE.2005 Sagittario |
The last model in the series was the excellent Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer). The wings were improved and enlarged, with
new landing gear and heavy armament of 3 20mm cannon and 2 12.7mm machine guns. The first prototype was ready in
December 1941, but lacked the engine for 4 months from Germany (the Daimler Benz inline). The first flight was on 5/9/42
, after the MC.205 and G.55 had both flown. The Re.2005 was fast and maneuverable and used the Fiat 1,475 hp inline
license built version of the Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine. Maximum speed was 391 mph, a service ceiling of 40,000 ft and
a range of 786 miles. However, only 29 were built.
The Re.2005's operational career began in May 1943 with the 362nd Squadriglia and used to defend Sicily and Italy against
Allied bombers until 8/26/43. After the armistice, the Germans seized 13 and used them to defend the Romanian oil
fields.
Specifications
| Model |
Reggiane Re 2005 Sagittario |
| Max Speed |
678 Km/h |
| Ceiling |
12,000 m |
| Range |
1,250 km |
| Horsepower |
1,475 hp |
| Wingspan |
11 m |
| Crew |
1 |
| Length |
8.73m |
| Height |
3.15m |
| Weight |
2,600 Kg |
| Max Weight |
3,610 Kg |
| Engine |
Fiat RA.1050 RC 58 Tifone (license-built Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1) V-12 inline liquid-cooled piston |
| Armament |
Two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns with 350 rounds each in upper engine cowling. One 20 mm Mauser MG 151 cannon with 150 rounds firing through propellor hub. Two 20 mm Mauser MG 151 cannon with 200 rounds each in wings. Up to 2,200 lb / 1,000 kg bomb or fuel tank under fuselage. Two wing hardpoints for 353 lb / 160 kg of bombs or fuel tanks. |
Article by JDG
Sources:
Enzo Angelucci & Paolo Matricardi, World War II Airplanes (2 vol.), Rand McNally, 1978.
Hans Werner Neulen, In the Skies of Europe: Air Forces Allied to the Luftwaffe, 1939-45, Crowood Press, 2000.
Jane's Fighting Aircraft of WWII, Military Press, 1989.
Chris Bishop (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Barnes & Noble, 1998.
Bill Gunston, Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Motorbooks, 2000.
K. G. Munson, Enemy Aircraft (German and Italian) of World War II, Ian Allen, 1960.
Jonathon Thompson, Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930-45, Aero, 1960.
William Green, Warplanes of the Second World War (10 vol.), Doubleday, 1960-68.
Giorgio Apostolo, Reggiane Re 2001, La Bancarella Aeronautica, 1996.
John Brindley, Caproni Regianne Re 2001 Falco II, Re 2002 Ariete & Re 2005 Sagittaro, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1973.
Nico Sgarlato, Italian Aircraft of World War II, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1979.
Gianni Cattaneo, The Regianne 2000, Doubleday, 1970.
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