Fiat RS.14

The Fiat RS.14 was an Italian long-range maritime strategic reconnaissance floatplane. The RS.14 was a four/five seat all-metal cantilever low/mid-wing monoplane powered by two wing-mounted 626 kW (840 hp) Fiat A.74 R.C.38 engines. It had a conventional cantilever tail unit with a single fin and rudder. Its undercarriage consisted of two large floats on struts. It had a glazed nose for an observer or bomb aimer. The pilot and copilot sat side by side with a wireless operator's compartment behind them. In the bombing role the RS.14 was fitted with a long ventral gondola to carry various combinations of anti-submarine bombs (up to 400 kg/882 lb). 
==Development==
The RS.14 was designed by Manlio Stiavelli at the CMASA works at Marina di Pisa. The first of two prototypes flew in May 1939. A prototype landplane version AS.14 was built and first flown on 11 August 1943. It was designed as a ground-attack aircraft and intended to be armed with a 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon and 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns. It was not ordered and no others were built. 
==Operational history==
The RS.14 went into service with the Italian Air Force with a number of maritime strategic reconnaissance squadrons at bases around the Italian coast and also in Sicily and Sardinia. They were used for convoy escort duties and anti-submarine patrols. Occasionally they engaged in aerial combat, obtaining unexpected victories such as when, on Saturday 9 May 1942, an RS.14 intercepted Spitfires that took off from the carriers HMS Eagle and USS Wasp, headed for Malta, and machine-gunned two. The two RAF fighters collided and fell into the sea. Both pilots were killed.[3] After the 1943 Armistice a few survivors were operated by the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force. At the end of the war the aircraft were used for liaison duties around the Mediterranean carrying up to four passengers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_RS.14
==Sources==
Category:ItalianCategory:Fiat AviazioneCategory:World War 2Category:Bomber typeCategory:MonoplaneCategory:Multiple crew membersCategory:Multi enginedCategory:Piston enginedCategory:Water based