Aviazione Ausilaria per la Regia Marina

Italy (1923-1943)

In the absence of aircraft carriers (the expression "Italy aircraft carrier" of the Duce reflected this little case the high command granted to this type of ship still in 1941), Regia Marina did not have a real naval aviation branch. On the other hand, the Regia Aeronautica had a number of seaplanes capable of carrying out very well missions of torpedoing, observation, reconnaissance and rescue. There were also those aboard the cruisers and other line units of the fleet. Italy has an important maritime facade, it naturally turned to the design of seaplanes, some of which had real qualities in terms of autonomy, as the family of original double-boomers Savoia-Marchetti, who distinguished themselves during raids sports media, like that of De Pinedo and Balbo around the world.

L'Aviazione Ausiliaria per la Regia Marina (AARM) era un reparto aereo della Regia Aeronautica destinato a supportare la Regia Marina durante il periodo tra le due guerre mondiali e la Seconda Guerra Mondiale. Dopo la nascita della Regia Aeronautica nel 1923, l'Italia adottò il principio che tutte le forze aeree militari dovessero essere sotto il comando di un'unica arma. Tuttavia, la Regia Marina necessitava ancora di supporto aereo per le sue operazioni navali. Per questo motivo, venne creata l’Aviazione Ausiliaria per la Regia Marina, una componente della Regia Aeronautica dedicata esclusivamente alle esigenze della flotta.

L'Aviazione Ausiliaria per la Regia Marina si occupava principalmente di: Ricognizione marittima, Avvistamento e puntamento per le artiglierie navali, Scorta e protezione dei convogli, Attacco contro unità navali nemiche, Lotta antisommergibile.

I velivoli assegnati a questa unità erano prevalentemente idrovolanti e bombardieri adatti alle operazioni marittime, tra cui: CANT Z.501 & Z.506 (ricognizione e soccorso), Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 (bombardiere e aerosilurante), IMAM Ro.43 (idroscout per le navi da battaglia)

Rapporto con la Regia Marina: Nonostante la collaborazione tra le due armi, vi furono spesso tensioni tra Regia Marina e Regia Aeronautica, con la prima che avrebbe preferito avere un’aviazione completamente autonoma, simile alla Fleet Air Arm britannica. Tuttavia, l’Italia non sviluppò mai una componente aerea completamente indipendente per la Marina fino alla creazione dell'Aviazione Navale nel dopoguerra.

Fine e Eredità: Dopo l’armistizio dell’8 settembre 1943, l’Aviazione Ausiliaria si dissolse. Alcuni reparti continuarono a operare con la Regia Aeronautica cobelligerante, mentre altri si schierarono con la Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana sotto il controllo tedesco. Nel dopoguerra, con la nascita della Marina Militare Italiana, venne istituita una vera e propria Aviazione Navale con elicotteri e aerei imbarcati sulle nuove portaerei italiane.

CANT Z501 Gabbiano

An aduous history

The Regia Marina did not possess offensive aircraft and was submitted for its means under Law no. 98, 6 January 1931 with the new organization of the Regia Aeronautica. The latter had been established as an independent Armed Force in 1923, on of the first in Europe. Its air units, including those cooperating with Armed Forces were unified and its tasks "for" the egia Marina had been limited to reconnaissance only (notably from on-board cruisers and capital ships). Protecting maritime traffic and defending the coast or colonial coasts were performed by the regular air force. Pilots in any case were all trained by the Regia Marina and had to team with observers being Navy officers. The planes were managed and maintained by aviation personal, but depended operationally on the Navy. This was reconfirmed by the Royal Decree-Law of 22 February 1937 n. 220, then law n. 1501 of 22 June 1937.

So by June 1940 when Italy entered WW2, the RA (Regia Aeronautica) part assigned to the RM was divided into a maritime reconnaissance and embarked components. 237 seaplanes were assigned to the AARM: 202 Cant Z.501 and 30 Cant Z.506, which for the latter were part of maritime bombing squadrons just being reconverted. The “Gabbiano” had a considerable autonomy but was slow and poorly armed, as well as too fragle to operate in rough seas. The Cant “Airone” howeve rovercame all these limitations and had to boot a significant load capacity. Despite tgrowing need for ASW, the auxiliary aviation was still denied any offensive role, and dedicated model.

It was only when the presence of a british submarine was reported, with smoke or gunfire, that the attack was pressed on by surface naval units. Bu the lack of common radio standard prevented an efficient coordination. This shortcoming had severe consequences as no llied submarine was claimed by air action from Italy, despite 70% of these patrols being ASW. Compared to 56% of the Axis tonnage sunk at by allied submarines.

The embarked AARM component comprised 105 Ro.43 biplanes, 44 assigned to capital ships (the two Duilio, Cavour, three Littorio). The Ro.43s was capable of catapult launched but could not be recovered after launch, a real issue. Only Guiseppe Miraglia was capable of carrying 17 seaplanes, launched by catapults, and retrieved at sea with special cranes. But this converted coaler was very slow and could not take in any battle squadron. Efforts were made after the dssiter of Cape Matapan to convert two rfecent, fast liners as aircraft carriers, Aquila and Sparviero, but none was completed when the capitulation was signed in September 1943. A modern modern, versatile Caproni-Reggiane Re.2000 was planned for them.

The aircraft intended for offense, as seen above, were not part of the AARM and instead, belongs were to the Air Force, only. The noew obsolete maritime bombardment units were reformed and re-equipped for better operating against ships. In June 1940, the Regia Aeronautica only had a single experimental torpedo aircraft, the tromotor S.M.79, specially designed for the task and capable of carrying two torpedoes. The Reparto Speciale Aerosiluranti was formed at the end of July 1940 and it became the first experimental squadron (278th from 10 February 1941), a model followed by nine others in 1941. At the end of 1942 these nine autonomous torpedo bomber groups showed promises. However the more units were created as the war progressed, the most losses were registred as allied air presence increased in quality and quantity. The ratio between tonnage hit and attackers decreased sharply from 1940 to 1942, halved in 1942 despite having twice as much of these excellent SM.79 operating. The dive bombing option was in addition never explored by the Regia Aeronautica and only partly solved with the adoption of the German Ju 87 Stuka in Italian units.

Missed opportunities

It is remarkable that Macchi did not developed a naval fighter entirely from the excellent seaplanes from the Schneider Cup, the last of which reached the 700 kph without difficulty. To make it a military version from which the legendary Spitfire derives, Macchi has produced only mediocre star-powered engines before turning to Daimler-Benz online engines. The Italian naval aviation reflected the general condition of the Regia aeronautica in 1940. A modest force numerically, counting devices sometimes behind a generation, often under-motorized. This is one of the reasons for the fact that Italian bomber aircraft are typically powered by three engines instead of two. A technical delay that was much more worrying for the hunt.

IMAM Ro-43

Other experiments

For a time, when the catapult was operational, the Regia Marina used various aircraft that were land models with floats, the Macchi M18, Piaggio P6 and Cant 25 among others. With the Macchi M41b, derived from a racing machine, it put into service its main embedded fighter, until 1940. But the latter, slow and poorly armed, was totally outclassed at the time of the entry into the war of the Italy. The standard fighter in 1940 was the Ro44, single-seat derivative of the observation Ro43 (1934). Biplane heavy and unwieldy, it lented itself pretty badly to this role but was nevertheless maintained in this role until 1943. In parallel, the Navy tried to adopt the Caproni Reggiane Re-2000 as an onboard fighter, but without floats, which made it a non-reusable gear. Caproni-Reggiane also supplied the navalized Re2001, which tested with a landing gear, intended for use on Aquila and Sparviero. Eventually, the Fiat G55s centauro was a sub-version of the torpedo fighter, of which ten were produced in 1943.

CANT Z506 SAR

The bulk of the number of non-carried seaplanes (but whose aircraft could be used with the Giuseppe Miraglia) consisted of the single-engine Cant z501, and the latter having fallen into disuse, the excellent Airone z506b. On the other hand, shore-based aircraft capable of carrying out anti-ship operations, and large enough to carry one or two standard 457 mm aviation torpedoes, will save Savoia-marchetti Sm79 II bombers and Cant z1007b Alcione bombers. The battle of Matapan and the disaster that showed that lack of radar, aviation could be decisive, caused the decision to convert cruise ships into aircraft carriers. As we know, neither was completed in time. During the two battles of Greater Sirte, and in general, the combined German-Italian against Maltese operations and the British convoys of North Africa demonstrated serious shortcomings in the coordination of Regia Marina with the fleet. The "aircraft carrier Italy" was actually never operational...

Savoia Marchetti SM-79 Sparviero

The Savoia-Marchetti SM55b of the Pinedo-Italo Balbo Raid, 1932.

The Savoia-Marchetti SM55X, but not the one of the Pinedo-Italo Balbo Raid, 1932.

Macchi M41
Macchi M41b

Fighters used on the cruisers Trento and Bolzano in 1936. These planes participated in the campaign of Ethiopia, and again the first operations of the fleet in 1940, in second line. The last ones were used for schooling.

CANT z501 Gabbiano

This multi-purpose hydroplane was the standard unregistered aircraft of the fleet in 1940. It was developed in 1933 and made its maiden flight in 1934. Constructed entirely of wood, 202 units were built. In 1940, it was exceeded, because of a speed of only 275 km / h. They were able to embark 640 kgs. bombs in the hold and counted three defensive turrets, but suffered heavy casualties in the open sea against the RAF. In 1943, many survivors were reused by the free Italian forces.

CANT z508

The CANT Z.508 was a three-engine Italian flying boat developed as a heavy bomber. It was a scaled-up, three-engine version of the much smaller Z.501. Three prototypes were built, the first, which flew in 1936, setting several world records for its class, notably with a 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) load. It was also the largesty model ever built so far by Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini. However it had serious issues and no production was eventually ordered. The three models built were used as commercial transports, then military transports in WW2.

CANT z506 Airone

The "Heron", developed in 1937, was a torpedo bomber and a rescue aircraft highly appreciated because manageable, fast and solid. The Germans also used it from 1943 in Mediterranean, especially the Z506s soccorsio version. The talien specimens had a very visible livery, with variegated wings of red and white bands. These aircraft were operational as early as 1939, and 324 copies were released. Its qualities made it remained in service until the 50's. Defended by three light machine guns, these devices embarked a torpedo of 457 mm or 120 kgs. bombs. Powered by three Alfa Romeo 126 RC34 star engines of 750 hp, they could fly at 365 Km / h, and had 2000 km range. During their patrols on the Greek islands, they sank at least one British submarine.

Caproni-Reggiane Re2000

Reggiane Re2000 in her livery of North Africa at the beginning of the conflict. the 10 copies made for the navy were more generally dark gray. Without floats, they were not recoverable and constituted a one-time defense; like the Hurricanes embedded on British CAM-ships. Two served on the Roma, one on the Litorrio. Speed: 530 Km / h, engine: Piaggio PXI bis 1000 hp, armament 2 mitt. 12.7 mm.

Caproni-Reggiane Re2002 Ariete
Reggiane Re 2002 Ariete

Clearly more efficient, the Re2002 existed in version in motor in line and in star. Some copies were used instead of the Re2000 in 1943 on the Italian cruisers .. Speed: 590 Km / h, engine: Piaggio PXI bis of 1050 hp, armament 2 guns of 20 mm, 2 mitt. 7.7 mm. Re 2001 was anticipated to be navalized and used on Aquila.

Medidionali IMAM Ro-43/44

IMAM Ro 43

IMAM Ro 44

These aircraft, developed in 1936 on the basis of the Ro37 terrestrial observation aircraft, will be the standard observation and fighter aircraft of the fleet until 1943. They were maneuverable and solid but slow. The Ro44 version of 1939 was a single-seat version of hunting, under-powered and poorly armed. 106 were in service in 1940, and 194 will be produced in all. Speed: 300 Kmh, engine: Piaggio PXR 700 hp, armament 2 mitt. 7.7 mm.

Savoia-Marchetti SM79 II Sparviero
Savoia-Machetti Sm 79b Sparviero

Savoia-Machetti Sm 79 Sparviero

These famous Italian bombers, among the most prolific of the Regia Aeronautica, were originally from civil aircraft, remotorized for service from 1934. In version I succeded the much faster and more powerful version II, intended especially for the Naval Aviation. These aircraft embarked two torpedoes of 457 mm. Speed 460 Km / h, 3 engines Fiat 1030hp.