Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer)

Fighter / Fighter-Bomber Aircraft

Kingdom of Italy | 1943

"The Italian Reggiane Re.2005 fighter of World War 2 certainly benefited from its German Diamler-Benz DB 605 inline engine - though limited in service by the 48 total production examples."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 10/23/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The culmination of the Reggiane Re.2000 series of Italian-originated fighter aircraft of World War 2 became the Re.2005 Sagittario ("Archer"). This form experienced its first flight on May 9th, 1942 and was introduced during April-May of 1943, eventually fighting alongside both post-surrender Italian air services (co-belligerent forces and the Italian Social Republic) as well as the German Luftwaffe. However, only 48 of the type were ever produced which extremely limited its wartime contributions. The aircraft was highly-regarded by those who flew it and those who flew against her, considered by many to be one of the best of the Italian fighters in all of the war.

Throughout the evolution of the series, the aircraft utilized a series of inline and radial engines which changes its profile silhouette. The original radial-powered Re.2000 was rebuffed by the Italian Air Force (though taken up by Hungary and Sweden) which led to the Re.2001 design furthered by the availability of the German Diamler-Benz DB 601 inline engine. The upcoming Re.2002 went to a Piaggio radial piston engine. The Re.2003 became a "one-off", two-seat reconnaissance plane also carrying a radial engine and the sole prototype Re.2004 fighter-bomber took on an Isotta-Fraschini radial. By the time of the Re.2005, the Fiat R.A. 1050 RC58 "Tifone" ("Typhoon") was the engine of choice, this being a license-produced German Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1 inline engine of 1,475 horsepower.

The Re.2005 incorporated other refinements to her design including a revised undercarriage and a modified understructure. The key change, however, was in the use of the inline engine which again changed the Re.2000 line's profile - especially from that of the preceding radial-powered Re.2002 mark. Performance of the new aircraft included a maximum speed of 390 miles per hour, a cruising speed of 320 miles per hour, a range out to 610 miles, a service ceiling of 37,700 feet, and a rate-of-climb nearing 3,900 feet per minute.

Armament was 2 x 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT heavy machine guns in the upper frontal fuselage, synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades and to this was added a 20mm MG 151 cannon firing through the propeller hub. Rounding out the armament suite were 2 x 20mm MG 151 cannons fitted to the wings, one per wing. The 12.7mm machine guns were allowed 350 rounds while the hub cannon fired from a 150-round ammunition store. The wing cannons were each given 200 rounds per minute. The aircraft could also undertake strike sorties by carrying up to 2,550lbs of external stores under a fuselage centerline hardpoint and a hardpoint under each wing. The drop ordnance could be replaced by fuel drop tanks for increased range.

On the whole, the Re.2005 looked the part of all-modern fighter. It held a sleek, long-nosed design with a cockpit fitted over midships. The nose was well-streamlined thanks to its use of an inline engine. The system drove a three-bladed propeller unit which seated a large spinner at center. The wings were low-mounted on the fuselage sides just ahead of midships. The tail was highly conventional with a single vertical tail fin and low-mounted horizontal planes. The undercarriage was of a tail-dragger arrangement and retractable. Views out of the cockpit was limited due to its positioning (and raised fuselage spine) but still serviceable in the heat of battle. Pilots and adversaries both respected the design with its good performance values and hard-hitting front-facing armament. Its qualities allowed it to take on the roles of fighter, fighter-bomber, and interception with equal fervor - limited only by low production numbers and Italy's position throughout the war, first as a member of the Axis and then as a supporter of the Allies.

Following the Re.2002 into service, the Re.2005 was also adopted for serial production which began in September of 1942 and spanned into May of the following year. Deliveries followed in 1943 with total production reaching just the stated 48 examples and some available by the time of the Italian armistice of September 1943. These saw defensive-minded service over Naples, Rome, and Sicily.

Those Re.2005s that were not destroyed by their pilots or lost through combat attrition were either absorbed into the Italian co-belligerent forces, the Axis-aligned Italian Social Republic air service, or - as was the case with thirteen Re.2005 examples - taken on by the German Luftwaffe. Further attrition saw about a handful operational by the end of 1944 and the line was formally retired in 1945 following cessation of hostilities - the aircraft never truly realizing her full combat potential.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer) Fighter / Fighter-Bomber Aircraft.

1 x Fiat R.A. 1050 RC 58 Tifone ("Typhoon") liquid-cooled inline piston engine developing 1,475 horsepower.
Propulsion

391 mph
630 kph | 340 kts
Max Speed

37,730 ft
11,500 m | 7 miles
Service Ceiling

609 miles
980 km | 529 nm
Operational Range

3,900 ft/min
1,189 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer) Fighter / Fighter-Bomber Aircraft.

1
(MANNED)
Crew

28.6 ft
8.73 m
O/A Length

36.1 ft
(11.00 m)
O/A Width

10.3 ft
(3.15 m)
O/A Height

5,732 lb
(2,600 kg)
Empty Weight

8,598 lb
(3,900 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer) Fighter / Fighter-Bomber Aircraft .

STANDARD:
1 x 20mm MG 151 cannon firing through the propeller hub.
2 x 20mm MG 151 cannons in wings (one per wing)
2 x 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT heavy machine guns in engine cowling.

OPTIONAL:
1 x 2,200lb bomb under fuselage centerline
2 x 350lb conventional drop bombs under the wings (one hardpoint per wing).

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer) family line.

Re.2005 "Sagittario" - Base Series Designation

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 48 Units
Contractor(s): Reggiane - Italy

[ Kingdom of Italy; Nazi Germany ]

1 / 1

Image of the Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer)

Image from the Public Domain.

Going Further...
The Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario (Archer) Fighter / Fighter-Bomber Aircraft appears in the following collections:

HOME

AVIATION INDEX

AIRCRAFT BY COUNTRY

AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)