123 Reggiane Re.2000

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Publisher: Profile Publications England
Cover: Soft
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Synopsis: The Hawker Hurricane I stands as Britain's first modern monoplane fighter and the aircraft that bore the brunt of aerial combat during the critical Battle of Britain, representing the transition from biplane to modern fighter design while maintaining the rugged construction and pilot-friendly characteristics that made it beloved by RAF pilots. This comprehensive profile examines the development of this revolutionary fighter under Sydney Camm's design leadership, creating an aircraft that combined innovative engineering with proven construction techniques to produce a fighter available in sufficient numbers when Britain faced its greatest aerial threat. The book details the aircraft's design philosophy that balanced performance with ease of manufacture and maintenance, featuring fabric-covered wings, traditional tube-and-fabric construction aft of the cockpit, and robust construction that could absorb tremendous battle damage while remaining controllable. Technical specifications reveal the Hurricane I's capabilities at the time of its introduction: powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin II or III engine producing 1,030 horsepower, achieving maximum speed of 328 mph at 20,000 feet, with excellent handling characteristics and stable gun platform qualities that made it ideal for novice pilots transitioning from biplane fighters. The profile analyzes the aircraft's armament of eight .303 Browning machine guns with 334 rounds per gun, providing concentrated firepower with excellent reliability and sufficient hitting power against contemporary aircraft construction materials and defensive armor. Operational history chronicles the Hurricane's introduction to RAF service in December 1937, providing the foundation for Fighter Command's expansion and pilot training programs that would prove crucial during the coming conflict with Germany. The book examines the aircraft's early combat experience during the Battle of France, where Hurricane squadrons learned valuable lessons about modern air combat while facing superior numbers of Luftwaffe fighters and bombers. Battle of Britain operations receive extensive coverage, analyzing the Hurricane's crucial role in defending Britain during July-October 1940, where the type equipped more squadrons than Spitfires and achieved the majority of Fighter Command's victories. Combat accounts detail typical interception missions against German bomber formations, revealing how Hurricane pilots used the aircraft's stability and firepower to achieve success against He111, Do217, and Ju88 bombers despite facing escort fighters with superior performance. The profile examines the aircraft's evolution through various sub-variants including the Hurricane I with Merlin III engine, tropical versions equipped for Middle East operations, and Sea Hurricane variants adapted for carrier operations. Technical sections analyze the aircraft's construction methods that enabled rapid production and field maintenance, examining the combination of modern stressed-skin forward fuselage with traditional tube-and-fabric rear structure that simplified manufacturing and repair procedures. The book details the aircraft's service in secondary theaters including North Africa, where Hurricane squadrons provided crucial air defense during Rommel's offensive operations, and the Far East where the type faced Japanese fighters with mixed results. Notable Hurricane pilots featured include Douglas Bader, Ginger Lacey, and other Battle of Britain aces whose achievements demonstrated the aircraft's effectiveness in the hands of skilled pilots despite performance limitations compared to contemporary German fighters. The profile analyzes the aircraft's strengths in bomber interception missions, where stability, firepower, and robust construction proved more important than ultimate performance in fighter-versus-fighter combat. Production achievements are examined with over 12,780 Hurricanes of all variants manufactured, demonstrating the aircraft's importance in providing Fighter Command with sufficient numbers of modern fighters during Britain's hour of greatest peril.

123 Reggiane Re.2000, is one of the many primary source materials in the Army Air Corps Museum collection.