A
MODERN AIR WARFARE
AN INCOMPLETE PURSUER FLEET
The Fiat CR 32, "world famed and sible to classify the CR 32 among the constantly shot down": this is the first class types of super-pursuer de- But in this role, this ma- statement contained in a confidential fenders.
in Spain,' note of the Intelligence Service of the chine was Indispensable Ebro General Staff, with regard to the despite the fact that it was often shot small pursuer imported into Spain in down, that its engines run hot if its During cooler was hit by the enemy artillery. large numbers by the Axis. the first fortnight of September 1938, For the other small pursuer types im 773 of these machines took part in the ported into Spain by German and campaign of the Ebro. As a matter Italy in no wise attain the quality of of fact, 200 have been shot down in the CR 32. the war. But notwithstanding these Both Heinkel HE 51 and Romeo RO losses, the Fiat pursuer reckons, on ac- 41, with their 330-335 km. per hour count of its flexibility, as the best are not only slower by 50-60 km., but German-Italian type, which, together their armament of two machine guns with the German ME 109, constitutes is far inferior to that of the CR 32. a valuable unit in modern air warfare. And then, their climbing capacity is (HE 51 climbs 200 meters At an altitude of 300 metres, a 550 mediocre. HP Fiat engine (type A 30 R.A.) pro- duces a top speed of 340 km. per hour. The fact that the modern fast bombers exceed this speed (HE III by 20 kin. and BR 20 by 50 km.) makes it pos-
THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 2, 1939.
By W. H. RINGS-KELL
CR82: Flat purauer-the best small pursuer.
in 3 minutes one second, RO 41 in 2
The three other 41 and RO 37) whose top speed does formation, that a certain political and minutes 45 seconds). German pursuer planes in Germany, not exceed 300 km. per hour, have reciprocal distrust has led each of the Heinkel HE 45 and HE proved completely insuitable for mo- military partners to take certain mea- During the last (Heinschel,
These types were sures of precaution. last weeks the 112) and the two Italian pursuers (CR dern air warfare.
of the Catalonian campaign finally withdrawn during
into. year of the war to the less exposed Italian introduced a new type
Spain, which may in circumstances, sections of the south Spanish front.
Germany has therefore no first class outclass the German super-pursuer pursuers for the defence of her super- ME 109. This Italian machine is the pursuer ME 109, and Itly, who up to Fiat G 50. It is related that the G 50 now has produced no first class super- has a top speed of 470 km. per hour pursuer, possesses the best small pur- (only less by 10 km. than the German suers, but has no modern defensive super-pursuer ME 109), and with its cruising speed of 420 km. per hour armament for her bombers.
BARCLAY'S LAGER
IN
ABALLEM CANS
The thirty months of modern air outclasses the German machine by 10 warfare in Spain have taught the les- km. Its landing speed of 118 km. is, son that, although Italy possesses the however, higher by 28 km. than that increase prototypes of the modern bomber re- of the German type, which quired by Germany for a socalled the perils of an improvised landing. "total war", the partners of the Axis To prevent the destruction of its pe- are still completely dependent upon trol reservoirs, the latter are distri-
BARCLAYS
BP
&COLTO
EXPORT
PILSNER LAGER
BREWED & CANNED
// AT THE BREWERY
BARCLAY
PRODUCE OF GREAT BRITAIN
PERKINS APON ENGIVAND
CO LTD
ENGLAND'S BEST BEER
BREWED IN ENGLAND FOR OVER 250 YEARS BY BRITISH BREWMASTERS
GILMAN & CO., LTD., Sole Agents
MUTT AND JEFF
THE QUESTION IS NOW THAT WE HAVE AN ESKIMO FAMILY
ON OUR HANDS WHERE ARE WE GONHA KEEP EM?
WE COULD KEEP 'EM.
IN THE CELLAR! THAT'S
ABOUT THE COOLEST,
PLACE IN
WANTUM THE HOUSE! GUMDROPS!|
HE51: Heinkel pursuer.
each other in the event of a war at buted in four different places, two be- present. For the German ME 109 hind the engine and two in the centre The reduction of wings. and the Italian CR 32-for Germany of the and Italy indispensable elements of a weight, owing to the soldering of the modern pursuers' fleet - are linked metal body enables it to carry an in- together like the Siamese twins: Berlin creased numbers of hand grenades.
the has one twin and Rome the other. To Can the tlalian G 50 replace renounce the super-pursuer would re- German super-pursuer? In this case, sult in disproportionately high losses Italy would be assured of her air in- in a modern war as regards bombers, dependence, and Germany's air fleet, and to renounce the small pursuer which is far inferior to the Italian of quality, prototype would entail heavy losses in from the point of view respect of super-pursuers.
would lose its sole superiority, namely The much talked about interdepen- that of the super-pursuers. But G 50 The dence of the Axis partners would has not yet undergone its test. therefore seem to be absolutely neces- first impressions of G 50, during the sary for the present from a military last days of the Catalonian campaign point of view. But was it not Berlin as reported to the military observers, and Rome's desire to become autarki- were not very favourable. cal, each of them stronger than the de- mocracies?
,
But Germany also has produced a new pursuer in the light of the ex- is AIR AUTARKY DESIRED perience of the Spanish war. It There is nothing surprising in the already manufactured in series and is fact that, both in tlaly and Germany, known as the Heinkel HE 112. This notwithstanding official friendship, model, which had mishap after mis- each of the partners aims at air au- hap at the beginning of the war, has tarky, for it is clear from recent in-
(Continued on Page 23)
ICA
By BUD FISHER
IC