Piaggio P.108

A Piaggio P.108 viewed from the side.

The Piaggio P.108 was a four engined heavy bomber used by the Italian Regia Aeronautica during World War II. It first flew in 1939 and entered service in 1942

History

The P.108's nose turret was positioned above the bombardier.

The only four engined aircraft to be used by the Regia Aeronautica during World War II, the P.108 was a development on the earlier P.50-II. Four versions of the P.108 were designed only one, the P.108B, was produced in any quantity. Other variants included the P.108A anti-shipping bomber with a 102mm cannon, one built and the P.108C, an airliner with an extended wingspan and remodelled fuselage capable of carrying 32 passengers, of which 16 were built, and the P.108T, a transport specifically for military use. Most of the P.108Cs were modified for use as military transport aircraft which could accommodate 56 soldiers.

The P.108B had many interesting features, its engines were designed to be more powerful than the ones propelling the B-17 and most of the gun turrets for self defense were remote-controlled, it proved one of the few military vehicles where the Italian industry froved to be ahead of the German ones, which was still struggling with the idea of a strategic bomber in the guise of the He-177 'Greif'.

P.108Bs first saw action in night bombing raids over Gibraltar in June, 1942. They were deployed across the Mediterranean, North African theatre. A number of transport aircraft were handed to the Luftwaffe and were used in the Eastern Front, notably during the 1944 evacuation of Axis troops from Crimea following the fall of Sevastopol.

With poor manoeuvrability and continual engine problems, P.108s had heavy losses, over 95% being destroyed by Italian armistice in 1943. Most of the remaining aircraft served the Italian Social Republic's air force and few survived the war.

Specifications (P.108)

General characteristics

Crew:
Length: 22.30 m (73 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 32.00 m (105 ft 0 in)
Height: 6.00 m (20 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 135.0 m² (1,453 ft²)
Empty: 17,325 kg (38,195 lb)
Loaded: kg ( lb)
Maximum takeoff: 29,885 kg (65,885 lb)
Powerplant: 4x Piaggio P.XII RC.35 radials, 1,120 kW (1,500 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 430 km/h (267 mph)
Range: 3,520 km (2,187 miles)
Service ceiling: 8,500 m (27,187 ft)
Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
Power/Mass: kW/kg ( hp/lb)

Armament

Operators

Germany, Italy,

Reference

Mondey, David. (2002). The Hamlyn Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press. ISBN 1-8515-2966-7

Piaggio P.108

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