Italeri 1:72 Reggiane Re.2002 Ariete

Italeri 1:72 Reggiane Re.2002 Ariete

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The Reggiane Re 2002 "Ariete" was developed to provide the Regia Aeronautica with a more modern and effective ground attack aircraft. Based on the airframe of the Reggiane Re 2000 fighter, the aircraft was equipped with a higher-performance engine than its predecessor and featured enhanced armament. In addition to the two machine guns mounted in the nose, two more machine guns were added in the wings, and the aircraft was capable of carrying an offensive bomb load of up to 500 kg. The flight units equipped with the Re 2002 were deployed by the Regia Aeronautica to counter the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943 and, following Italy's armistice in September of the same year, were also used by the German Luftwaffe.

The Reggiane Re.2002 was an Italian WWII fighter aircraft with an all-metal low wing structure. The drive was provided by a single engine Piaggio P.XIX RC 45 Turbines with 1175 hp. The flight of the prototype took place in 1940, and serial production was carried out in the period 1942-1944. About 230 aircraft of this type were built in its course. The deck armament consisted of four BREDA-Safat machine guns: two 12.7 mm and two 7.7 mm. The machine could carry a load of bombs weighing up to 650 kilograms.

Re.2002 came about as a far-reaching development of another Reggiane aviation design. The changes mainly concerned the addition of completely new wings, strengthening the overall structure of the machine and the use of a new engine. The aerodynamics of the entire structure has also been improved. Re. 2002 turned out to be a successful design, with good performance, especially at low altitude. As a result, machines of this type were very often used as fighter-bombers. Reggiane Re.2002 planes were used mainly during the fighting in Sicily in the summer of 1943, as well as during the later stages of the campaign on the Apennine (1943-1945) by the Italian armed forces fighting the German occupier. Many aircraft of this type were also taken over by the Luftwaffe.