WOW543 Iman Ro.43

Description

WOW543 Iman Ro.43

The Ro.43 was designed to meet a 1933 requirement by the Regia Marina (the Italian navy) for a catapult-launched reconnaissance aircraft to equip the Maritime Reconnaissance Squadrons operating from its ships. The specification called for a speed of 240 km/h (149 mph), with a range of 600 km (370 mi) or an endurance of 5.5 hours. The Ro.43 exceeded all of these requirements and was accepted into service. One hundred and five aircraft were in service at the start of World War II, more than enough to equip the major surface units of the Italian Navy, these versatile and nimble aircraft served the Italian navy admirably during their service and were well respected by their crews.

The aircraft’s endurance meant that seaplanes were useful in the constrained Mediterranean. Six Ro.43 launched from light cruisers played a role in spotting the British fleet during the battle of Calabria, in the opening months of the war. One of them kept visual contact with the battleship HMS Warspite during the exchange of fire between the British capital ship and the Italian battleship Giulio Cesare before being chased off by a Sea Gladiator from the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle. The Ro.43s continued to take part in shipborne operations as late as June 1942, during the Italian cruiser attack on the Harpoon convoy. One of the Italian seaplanes was shot down by a Beaufighter from Malta in the course of this action.

By 1941, the production of the Ro.43 was discontinued and they began to be replaced by Reggiane Re.2000 fighters specially adapted for operation with ships. IMAM Ro.43 machines were used in the course of operations in the Mediterranean in 1940-1943, incl. in the initial phase of the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941.

Our RO.43, numbered 711, flew from the light cruiser Eugenio di Savoia. The cruiser was part of the 7th cruiser division and during WW II she fought at the Battle of Punta Stilo, Operation Harpoon (1942), in which she crippled HMS Bedouin, which was later finished off by a torpedo bomber and also took part in Operation Pedestal.

This 1/30 scale mahogany model with clear glass observation panels inset into the fuselage is limited to 3 in number, we only have one available at the moment as the remainder are coming by sea freight but should be here next month. The retail price is $899 plus shipping,

The TG/K&C/JJD figures and accessories are shown for scale comparison purposes only and are not included.