aircraft/loadouts Piaggio P.32

[Milocat 4,848]

I've seen this plane discussed before but I didn't find any official suggestions for it, so I decided to make one myself!

 

History: 

 

The Piaggio P.32 was an Italian medium bomber designed in 1934.  The prototype was completed in 1936 and approved for production, with 17 being built.  In 1937 they were sent to an active squadron, however the bombers were deemed difficult to fly, underpowered, slow, and poorer-handling in the air than the BR.20 or SM.79.  12 aircraft of an improved version were built, replacing the original Isotta Fraschini Asso XI inline engines (delivering ~830 horespower) with more powerful Piaggio P.XI radial engines (delivering ~1000 horsepower).  These improved aircraft were designated Piaggio P.32 II.  The new engines improved the rate of climb but decreased range due to increased fuel consumption; in addition the increased weight of the new engines meant that these aircraft did not have any improvements in speed over the earlier models.  In 1938, the P.32s were taken out of active service and used as training aircraft.  None survived the war.

 

Another design, the P.32 Bis (also known as the Ca.400, as Caproni helped with the design), attempted to further improve performance by reducing the weight of the aircraft, but the prototype crashed and the project was not pursued further. 

 

Design: 

 

The P.32 was a low-wing monoplane with two engines.  It was primarily built of wood, with a glazed nose, small cockpit, twin tail, and a banana-shaped fuselage reminiscent of the Lockheed Constellation.  The aircraft had small wings for its size, which came equipped with both Handley-Page style leading edge slats and double trailing-edge flaps that provided the necessary lift for it to get off the ground.  The small wings also gave the aircraft a very high wing loading.  Its defensive armament consisted of five 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, one in a nose turret and the others in retractable dorsal and ventral twin turrets.  It had a crew of six, consisting of a pilot, copilot, bombardier, nose gunner, dorsal gunner, and ventral gunner.  Maximum bombload was 1,600 kg (3,500 lbs). 

 

NOTE:  I have not found any information on specific bombloads for this aircraft, but given the 1,600 kg maximum, the following options seem likely:

--50 kg bomb x32

--100 kg bomb x16

--200 kg bomb x8

If anyone finds more information about bombloads, please post it below and I will add it to this post ASAP.

 

Conclusion: 

 

I think that the P.32 would be a useful addition to the Italian tech tree to provide Italy with another early heavy-ish bomber.  It is a comparable aircraft to the SM.81 and would likely receive similar tiering.  I would recommend the P.32 II model as I consider it to be the definitive version of the aircraft (it is the version that appears in nearly all photographs) and it has slightly better performance than the original design. 

 

Piaggio P.32 II Specifications: 

 

Length:  16.3m

Wingspan:  18m

Height:  5.1m

Wing Area:  60m²

Weight (empty):  6,355 kg (13,981 lbs)

Weight (takeoff):  9,355 kg (20,581 lbs)

Engines:  Two Piaggio P.XI radial engines, 1000 hp each

Maximum speed:  386 kmh (240 mph)

Range:  1,950 km (1,212 mi)

Service Ceiling:  7,250 m

Time to 5000 m:  19 min 54 sec

Crew:  6 (Pilot, Copilot, Bombardier, Nose Gunner, Dorsal Gunner, Ventral Gunner)

Armament:  Five 7.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns (two each in dorsal and ventral turrets, one in nose turret)

Bombload:  1,600 kg (3,500 lbs)

 

Pictures: 

Spoiler

 

Sources: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_P.32

https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1940/1940 - 1713.PDF

http://italianaircraftwwii.blogspot.com/2015/03/piaggio-p32.html

http://aviastar.org/air/italy/piaggio_p-32.php

Edited March 31, 2019 by Milocat

[Radom 4,245]

Open for discussion 

 

prefix added

Edited March 21, 2018 by Radom

[Milocat 4,848]

Just now, Radom said:

Open for discussion 

 

Thank you! 

[Isiat 6]

Geeze the Italians knew how to build them ugly in the 30's.

+1 would fly

[Milocat 4,848]

Found another nice picture: 

[BrentD15@psn 1,116]

+1

But sadly, bombers aren't doing well in Air matches right now.

Can't even blow up armored cars.

[Mardek 232]

+1

[Querulous1 3,276]

Yes please

[BrentD15@psn 1,116]

I am renewing calls for this to be added, considering Italian tanks are on the way!

[onemax9000 1,242]

+1 gib

[Giobhas 1,095]

+1

 

always yes for me to those bombers

[mc205v 786]

Piaggio P 32 exhibited at the International Aeronautical Show at the "Fiera di Milano" 1937.

 

Edited June 12, 2020 by mc205v

[mc205v 786]

This could be useful.
Instructions and rules for mounting the Piaggio P.32: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1TJ8svd2yo1QdggY2VNRWU4zDcsSPL-K-

 

[Охраняет-Камни 6,650]

7 hours ago, mc205v said:

This could be useful.
Instructions and rules for mounting the Piaggio P.32: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1TJ8svd2yo1QdggY2VNRWU4zDcsSPL-K-

 

It has quite good loadouts)

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

I. Want. It. All.

[mc205v 786]

Piaggio P 32

 

Edited June 12, 2020 by mc205v

[John4Plays 70]

I need this dude in game, +1 from me!

[CokeSpray 7,272]

Suggestion passed to the developers for consideration.