B.R.20DR

B.R.20DR

B.R.20DR

Description

The B.R.20DR is a rank Italian bomber with a battle rating of (AB), (RB), and (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica" alongside the initial Italian aviation tree.

The BR.20 has a superb bomb load and is quite strong, being able to soak up a bit more damage than other comparable bombers. The defensive armament has excellent coverage; however, the dorsal gunner is quite exposed and commonly gets hit while in combat. It not only looks but also flies like a brick. This is a very slow plane and in Arcade and Realistic battles, and because these game modes are so short, by the time you reach your bombing target the match may almost be over! The BR.20 is still however quite a treat to fly and is stable and well suited to Simulator.

Another very interesting strategy the BR.20 DR is capable of is ironically, attacking other bombers. When the top & front gunner are pointed forward, the combined firepower of three 7.7 machine guns makes for a nasty surprise, especially if loaded with the AP-I belt!

General info

Flight performance

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 4,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	411	398		32.1	33.5	2.3	2.3	750
Upgraded	452	430		30.0	31.0	7.4	4.6

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
X	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
		N/A	428	280	~6	~3

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 200	< 200	< 270	> 335

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,100 m	1,000 hp	1,163 hp

Survivability and armour

• No armour
• Self-sealing fuel tanks (2 in the frontal fuselage, mounted to the right, 2 in each wing)

Armaments

Suspended armament

The B.R.20DR can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 12 x 50 kg GP 50 bombs (600 kg total)
• 12 x 100 kg GP 100 bombs (1,200 kg total)
• 4 x 250 kg GP 250 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 2 x 500 kg GP 500 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 2 x 800 kg GP 800 bombs (1,600 kg total)

Defensive armament

The B.R.20DR is defended by:

• 2 x 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, dorsal turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
• 1 x 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, nose turret (500 rpg)
• 1 x 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg)

Usage in battles

While bombing, this is an excellent aircraft for flying in formation as course and speed are easily maintained and controlled.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Auto control available	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good payload for its rank
• Fast in a dive
• Pitches very well
• Combination of roof & front turret and high spawn can easily disable enemy bombers

Cons:

• Rolls very badly, poor yaw
• Slow speed

History

The standard Italian bomber of World War 2, the B.R. 20 was a technically advanced bomber for its time. More than 500 were produced over seven years, and it served on all of Italy's fronts, including Africa, Russia, the Mediterranean, and the Balkans. B.R. 20s based in Belgium participated in the Battle of Britain, taking heavy losses.

Designed by Fiat's Celestino Rosatelli, the B.R. 20 had a metal structure and duralumin/fabric covering. Its specifications had called for a top speed of 388 km/h, a bomb load of 1200 kg, and a range of 960 km, all of which it easily surpassed. Two modified B.R. 20s competed in the 1937 Istres-Damascus-Paris air race, but did not win. In 1939, another modified B.R. 20 set an endurance record for a 4,800 km flight from Rome to Addis Ababa, averaging more than 400 km/h along the route.

From 1937 to 1939 B.R. 20s served in the Spanish Civil War. The model did less well in the Battle of Britain, where the Italian air corps lost a quarter of its 80 B.R. 20Ms in their first 300 hours in the air. The model continued to be produced until 1942.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the B.R.20DR from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Realistic: B.R.20DR [Fun Ugly Duckling] - Jengar

Update 1.69 - B.R.20DR - TheEuropeanCanadian

See also

Related development

• B.R.20M M1

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• B-10B
• Martin 139WC
• SB 2M (Family)
• Martin 167-A3
• Ki-21-Ia
• He 111 H-3

External links

• [Devblog] Fiat BR.20 DR - A Ruthless Warbird
• Official data sheet - more details about the performance
• [Wikipedia] Fiat BR.20

Fiat Aviation (Fiat Aviazione)
Fighters	CR.32 · CR.32 bis · CR.32 quater
	CR.42 · Marcolin's C.R.42 CN · ▀Marcolin's C.R.42 CN
	G.50 serie 2 · G.50 AS serie 7
	G.55 sottoserie 0 · G.55 serie 1 · G.55S
	G.56
Jet fighters	G.91 pre-serie · G.91 R/1 · G.91 Y · G.91 YS
	▄F-86K*
	▄F-104G* · F-104S* · F-104S.ASA* · ▄F-104S TAF*
Strike aircraft	F.C.20 Bis
Bombers	B.R.20DR · B.R.20M M1
Export/Captured	J11 · ▀CR.42
	▀G.50 serie 2 · ▀G.50 AS serie 7
	◄G.91 R/3 · ◄G.91 R/4 · G.91 R/4
	*Licensed
See also	North American Aviation · Lockheed Martin

Italy bombers
Fiat	B.R.20DR · B.R.20M M1
Savoia-Marchetti	S.81 · S.M.79 serie 1 · S.M.79 B · S.M.79 serie 8 · S.M.79 AS · S.M.79 bis/T.M
CANT	Z.1007 bis serie 3 · Z.1007 bis serie 5
Piaggio	P.108B serie 1 · P.108B serie 2
	Foreign:
Germany	▄Ju 87 R-2 · ▄Ju 87 D-3
Hungary	◔Tu-2S-59