ITALIAN DIVE-BOMBER

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21211, 6 September 1940, Page 5

ITALIAN DIVE-BOMBER

NEW TYPE DESIGNED FIGHT BRITISH WARSHIPS (United Press £Ssn.—Elec. Tel. Cop.yrlg-hi) LONDON, September 4 The Times reveals that a new type of Italian dive-bomber, specially designed to fight British warships in the Mediterranean, was used in Monday’s operations. It is reported to resemble the German Stuka dive-bomber, but has a greater range and carries one bomb, as well as a small torpedo. A Rome communique stated: “Italian dive-bombers boldly attacked an enemy naval formation in the Mediterranean, seriously damaging an aircraft-carrier, a battleship, a cruiser and a destroyer. Four enemy escort fighters were shot down.” Italy’s latest dive-bomber is a product of the noted Savoia-Mar-chetti concern, known as the 5.M.85 model. It is a single-seater, twinengined type, and first appeared in public at the Guidonia research station on June 11 this year, just before Italy entered the war. A monoplane with large flaps to limit diving speed, the machine is believed to have two Piaggio engines. It is mainly of wooden construction, and in the bottom of the fuselage at the extreme nose is a window for the use of the pilot when approaching his target. Of the new Italian model, “Flight,” an English technical journal, said recently: “The 5.M.85, although interesting as an offensive weapon, would stand little chance against a Hurricane, Spitfire or Defiant, or, for that matter, against a Skua, Roc or Gladiator.” The first three British machines named are fighters, and the other three their sea-going counterparts of the Fleet Air Arm.