Breda Ba.88

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Breda Ba.88 Lince
Type Ground attack aircraft
Manufacturer Ernesto Breda
Designed by Giuseppe Panzeri and Antonio Parano
Maiden flight October 1936
Introduced 1938
Retired 1941
Primary user Regia Aeronautica
Produced 1936-1940
Number built 149

The Breda Ba.88 Lince (Italian: Lynx) was a ground-attack plane used by the Italian Regia Aeronautica during World War II. Although its streamlined external shape and retractable undercarriage made it look highly advanced for the time, its operational career was cut short when the production aircraft were loaded down with military equipment, resulting in a greatly reduced performance.

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[edit] Design and development

The Breda Ba.88 was designed to fulfill a 1936 requirement by the Regia Aeronautica for a heavy fighter-bomber capable of a maximum speed of 530 km/h[1](more than that of any other aircraft existing or being planned at the time,[1]), armament of 20 mm cannons and range of 2,000 km. It first flew in October 1936. The project was derived from the aborted Ba.75 also designed by Giuseppe Panzeri and Antonio Parano.

[edit] Technical description

The Breda Ba.88 was an all metal, twin-engine, two-crew, high-speed monoplane, with a high-mounted wing. It employed a "concentric" fuselage design, with a framework of steel tubes and a metallic skin covering which was both streamlined (having a very small fuselage cross-section) and strong. However this internal load-bearing structure was very complex and of outdated design, as monocoque stressed-skin designs were starting to be developed elsewhere. The internal struts resulted in excessive weight compounded by manufacturing delays. The narrow confines of the fuselage would require the Ba.88 to carry bombs in a semi-external structure, much to the detriment of the aircraft's aerodynamics. The all-metal wings had two longerons, and housed the engine nacelles, undercarriage main elements, and the majority of the 12 self-sealing fuel tanks (the only protective armour in the aircraft), providing a 1,586 l total capacity. All three undercarriage units were retractable, which was unusual for the time. [1]

The aircraft was powered by two Piaggio P.XI air-cooled radial engines. They were of the same type as used in other projects such as the Re.2000, and drove two three-bladed, continuous-speed 3.2 m diameter Breda propellers. The engine nacelles also carried the two main undercarriage units. It had a twin tail to provide the dorsal Breda-SAFAT 7.7 mm machine gun with a better field of fire.

As for armament, the aircraft had three nose-mounted Breda 12.7 mm machine guns with 400, 450 and 400 rounds respectively. Another Breda (7.7 mm caliber, with 250-500 rounds) with a high arc of fire, was fitted in the rear cockpit and controlled by a complex motorised electrical system. A modern "San Giorgio" reflex gun sight was fitted, and there was even a provision to mount a 20 mm cannon instead of the central Breda-SAFAT machine gun in the nose. [1] The payload was composed of three bombs of 50 (real weight: 69 kg ), 100 (129) and 250 (259) kg, or a Nardi dispenser for 119 two kg bomblets. All these weapons gave the Ba.88 impressive armament for its time[1].

The forward pilot's cockpit was fully-instrumented, with an airspeed indicator capable of reading to 560 km/h, gyroscope and an altimeter (useful to 8,000 m).

[edit] Testing and evaluation

Despite its structural weight liabilities, the single-tailed prototype set a speed record over a 100 km. circuit on 3 February 1937 by reaching 518 km/h, taking the record away from France. Another record was obtained on 10 April 1937 when it achieved 475 km/h over 1000 km. Piloted by Furio Niclot Doglio, the Ba.88 prototype had two 900 hp Isotta-Fraschini K 14 engines. This record speed was increased to 554 km/h when the modified prototype, using a double tail, was re-equipped with the definitive engines; the 1,000 hp Piaggio P.XI-RC40s. This time it broke German records in a 100 km stage at an average speed of 554.375 km/h (with 1000 kg load) on 5 December 1937. Finally on 9 December 1937, another world record was set when averaging 524 km/h over 1000 km with a 1000 kg load. [1]

The Ba.88 had all the design specifications to be a very effective heavy fighter-bomber. It had a slim, streamlined shape (noted by all aviation observers), a rugged structure, heavy firepower, long range and high speed, with the same hp of medium bombers such as the Br.20 (but at ten tons vs. six tons). Despite its promising beginning, the addition of military equipment in the production series aircraft resulted in high wing loading and detrimental aerodynamic affects with a corresponding loss of performance, below any reasonable level. The contract was subsequently cancelled, but production was later resumed, mostly for political reasons to avoid closing production lines of Breda and its satellite company IMAM.[1]

[edit] Production

Production numbers of the first series (production started in 1939) were 81 machines (MM 3962-4042) made by Breda, and 24 by IMAM (MM 4594-4617). The first series included eight trainers, with an elevated second pilot's seat. This was one of the few combat aircraft to have a dedicated trainer version, but it was not enough to prevent the overall failure of the programme.

The second series totalled 19 Breda (4246-4264) and 24 IMAM (MM:5486-5509) machines. There was a limited evolution in this series, with the second series fitted with small engine cowling rings.

[edit] Operational history

Two Gruppi (Groups) were equipped with the Breda Ba.88 on June 1940, operating initially from Sardinia against the main airfield of Corsica, with 12 aircraft on 16 June 1940 and three on 19 June 1940. The crews soon found that the Bredas were extremely underpowered and lacked agility, but the lack of fighter opposition resulted in them being able to perform their missions without losses.

Later, 64 aircraft became operational serving 7imo Gruppo in the North African Theatre with 19imo stationed in Sardinia, but their performance remained extremely poor resulting in the 7imo Gruppo being grounded from the end of June until September, when the Italian offensive against British forces started. Of three aircraft used, one was not even capable of taking off, and another could not turn and was forced to fly straight from their base at Castelvetrano to Sidi Rezegh.

With anti-sand filters fitted, a maximum horizontal speed of 250 km/h was reported in some cases and several units were even unable to take off at all. These machines were fitted with "Spezzoniera" Nardi dispensers (with 119  kg bomblets), 1,000 rounds for the three 12.7 mm machine guns and 500 rounds for the 7.7 mm Bredas. Although the weapons were not loaded to full capacity and the aircraft was lightened by eliminating the rear machine gun, observer, bombs and some fuel, lessening the weight did not substantially affect the aircraft's performance. Every attempt to reduce weight didn't achieve positive results.

Just five months after the start of the war, on 10 June 1940, Bredas were phased out as bombers and given new tasks as decoys on airfields. This was a degrading end for the new, (theoretically powerful) Breda Ba.88 [1]. This action forced Regia Aeronautica to use totally outdated aircraft in North-Africa, such as the Breda Ba.65 and Fiat C.R.32. As an additional problem, Regia Aereonautica remained without any suitable heavy fighter, a notable weakness for a major air arm.

Similar "heavy fighter-zertsorer" projects were developed in several countries. In France, the Breguet Br.690 even with only 1,400 hp was more capable than the Ba.88. Despite some problems of reliability, the Br.690 showed a practical usefulness that the Breda never achieved. It is notable that the Breda 88 was also a contemporary of the Messerschmitt Bf 110, with no great differences in hp, weight, P/W ratio or wingload. But the difference in success was immensely in the Bf 110's favour.

Niclot was the only pilot capable of flying this machine at its best (and only in the racer version which was much lighter), while the average pilot was not capable of using it effectively. Despite its impressive world records and aggressive, slim shape, the BA.88 was a failure and totally unable to undertake combat missions. Its structure was too heavy, wing loading too high, and the engines were quite unreliable with insufficient power. The Piaggio P.XI was quite powerful, but never reliable, leading also to the overall failure of the Reggiane Re.2000. (Hungary substituted the engines with similar ones for the first license-produced examples).

An improved version, the Ba.88M, was developed by Agusta and evaluated at Guidonia in late 1942. It had a greater wingspan, and had the forward machine gun armament removed for the role of a dive bomber, but this model had no success either. Three examples were built and used as trainers for dive bombing.

[edit] Operators

Flag of Italy Italy

[edit] Specifications (Ba.88)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 10.79 m (35 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 15.6 m (51 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 3.1 m (10 ft 2.75 in)
  • Wing area: 33.34 m² (358.9 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 4,650 kg (10,252 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 6,750 kg (14,881 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2× Piaggio P.XI RC. 40 Radial, 1,000 hp (746 kW) each

Performance

Armament

  • Bombs :Internal bomb load of 1,000 kg

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Lembo 2005

[edit] Bibliography

  • Donald, David, ed. "Breda Ba.88." The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada: Prospero Books, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
  • Lembo, Daniele. "Breda 88 Lince." Aerei Nella Storia n.44 October 2005. Parma, Italy: West-ward Edizioni.
  • Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 0-753714-60-4.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

Comparable aircraft Fiat CR.25

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