The Fiat RS.14 was an Italian long-range maritime strategic reconnaissancefloatplane. The RS.14 was a four/five seat all-metal cantilever low/mid-wing monoplane powered by two wing-mounted 626 kW (840 hp) Fiat A.74 R.C.38 engines. It had a conventional cantilever tail unit with a single fin and rudder. Its undercarriage consisted of two large floats on struts. It had a glazed nose for an observer or bomb aimer. The pilot and copilot sat side by side with a wireless operator's compartment behind them. In the bombing role the RS.14 was fitted with a long ventral gondola to carry various combinations of anti-submarinebombs (up to 400 kg (880 lb)).
The RS.14 was designed by Manlio Stiavelli [it] at the CMASA [it] works at Marina di Pisa. The first of two prototypes flew in May 1939.
A prototype landplane version AS.14 was built and first flown on 11 August 1943. It was designed as a ground-attack aircraft and intended to be armed with a 37 mm (1.5 in) cannon and 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns. It was not ordered and no others were built.
Operational historyedit
The RS.14 went into service with the Italian Air Force with a number of maritime strategic reconnaissance squadrons at bases around the Italian coast and also in Sicily and Sardinia. They were used for convoy escort duties and anti-submarine patrols. Occasionally they engaged in aerial combat, obtaining unexpected victories such as when, on Saturday 9 May 1942, an RS.14 intercepted Spitfires that took off from the carriers HMS Eagle and USS Wasp, headed for Malta, and machine-gunned two. The two RAF fighters collided and fell into the sea. Both pilots were killed.[3] After the 1943 Armistice a few survivors were operated by the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force. At the end of the Second World War the aircraft were used for liaison duties around the Mediterranean carrying up to four passengers.
Variantsedit
Fiat RS.14 in bare metal finish
RS.14
Production float plane with 840 hp (618 kW) Fiat A.74 R.C.38 engines, 188 built including two prototypes.
AS.14
Land plane version with retractable landing gear, one built.
fiat, italian, long, range, maritime, strategic, reconnaissance, floatplane, four, five, seat, metal, cantilever, wing, monoplane, powered, wing, mounted, fiat, engines, conventional, cantilever, tail, unit, with, single, rudder, undercarriage, consisted, larg. The Fiat RS 14 was an Italian long range maritime strategic reconnaissance floatplane The RS 14 was a four five seat all metal cantilever low mid wing monoplane powered by two wing mounted 626 kW 840 hp Fiat A 74 R C 38 engines It had a conventional cantilever tail unit with a single fin and rudder Its undercarriage consisted of two large floats on struts It had a glazed nose for an observer or bomb aimer The pilot and copilot sat side by side with a wireless operator s compartment behind them In the bombing role the RS 14 was fitted with a long ventral gondola to carry various combinations of anti submarine bombs up to 400 kg 880 lb RS 14Role Long range maritime reconnaissance floatplaneManufacturer FiatDesigner Manlio StiavelliFirst flight May 1939Introduction May 1941Retired 1948 1 Primary users Regia Aeronautica Italian Co Belligerent Air ForceProduced May 1941 September 1943Number built 186 plus 2 prototypes 2 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications 6 See also 7 Notes 8 ReferencesDevelopment editThe RS 14 was designed by Manlio Stiavelli it at the CMASA it works at Marina di Pisa The first of two prototypes flew in May 1939 A prototype landplane version AS 14 was built and first flown on 11 August 1943 It was designed as a ground attack aircraft and intended to be armed with a 37 mm 1 5 in cannon and 12 7 mm 0 50 in machine guns It was not ordered and no others were built Operational history editThe RS 14 went into service with the Italian Air Force with a number of maritime strategic reconnaissance squadrons at bases around the Italian coast and also in Sicily and Sardinia They were used for convoy escort duties and anti submarine patrols Occasionally they engaged in aerial combat obtaining unexpected victories such as when on Saturday 9 May 1942 an RS 14 intercepted Spitfires that took off from the carriers HMS Eagle and USS Wasp headed for Malta and machine gunned two The two RAF fighters collided and fell into the sea Both pilots were killed 3 After the 1943 Armistice a few survivors were operated by the Italian Co Belligerent Air Force At the end of the Second World War the aircraft were used for liaison duties around the Mediterranean carrying up to four passengers Variants edit nbsp Fiat RS 14 in bare metal finishRS 14 Production float plane with 840 hp 618 kW Fiat A 74 R C 38 engines 188 built including two prototypes AS 14 Land plane version with retractable landing gear one built Operators edit nbsp Kingdom of ItalyRegia Aeronautica Italian Co Belligerent Air Force nbsp ItalyItalian Air Force operated six surviving Fiat RS 14 until 1948 4 Specifications edit nbsp The waist gun positions of a FIAT RS 14Data from Donald 1997 pg 413 General characteristicsCrew three Length 14 1 m 46 ft 3 25 in Wingspan 19 54 m 64 ft 1 25 in Height 5 63 m 18 ft 5 75 in Wing area 50 m2 538 21 sq ft Empty weight 5 470 kg 12 059 lb Gross weight 8 470 kg 18 673 lb Powerplant 2 Fiat A 74 R C 38 14 cylinder radial piston 618 kW 840 hp eachPerformance Maximum speed 390 km h 242 mph 210 kn Range 2 500 km 1 553 mi 1 350 nmi Service ceiling 6 300 m 20 670 ft Armament 1 12 7 mm 0 5 in machine gun 2 7 7 mm 0 303 in machine guns up to 400 kg 882 lb of bombsSee also editCANT Z 501 CANT Z 506Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Hall XPTBH Heinkel He 115 Fokker T VIIIRelated lists List of aircraft of World War II List of Interwar military aircraftNotes edit Hayles John ed 2008 08 12 Italian Air Force Aircraft Types Aeroflight Archived from the original on 2019 12 27 Fiat RS 14 Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2014 11 26 Rogers 2000 p 149 Birth of Aeronautica Militare Aeronautica Militare Retrieved 13 July 2016References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fiat RS 14 Donald David ed 1997 The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Prospero Books ISBN 1 85605 375 X Monday David 1984 The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II Chancellor Press ISBN 1 85152 966 7 Rogers Anthony 2000 Battle over Malta Aircraft Losses amp Crash Sites 1940 42 Stroud Gloucestershire Sutton Publishing ISBN 0 7509 2392 X The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Part Work 1982 1985 1985 Orbis Publishing Page 1812 Portals nbsp Italy nbsp Companies nbsp Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fiat RS 14 amp oldid 1173345755, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
