CANT Z.506

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CANT_Z.506

The CANT Z.506 Airone (Italian: Heron) was a triple-engine floatplane produced
by CANT from 1935. It served as a transport and postal aircraft with the Italian
airline "Ala Littoria". It established 10 world records in 1936 and another 10
in 1937. During World War II it was used as a reconnaissance aircraft, bomber
and air-sea rescue plane, by the Italian Regia Aeronautica and Regia Marina,
Aeronautica Cobelligerante del Sud, Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana and the
Luftwaffe. The military version revealed itself to be one of the best
floatplanes ever built. Despite its wooden structure it was able to operate in
very rough seas. A number of Z.506S air-sea rescue aircraft remained in service
until 1959.

The CANT Z.506 was designed as a 12 to 14-seat transport twin-float seaplane,
powered by three 455 kW (610 hp) Piaggio Stella IX radial engines. It was
derived from the larger and heavier Z.505 seaplane. The Z.506 entered production
in 1936 as the Z.506A, powered by more powerful 560 kW (750 hp) Alfa Romeo 126
RC.34 nine cylinder radial engines, giving a maximum output of 780 CV on take
off and 750 CV at 3,400 meters. The fuselage had a wooden structure covered in
tulipier wooden lamellas. The wings were built with a structure of three
box-type spars linked by wooden wing-ribs covered by plywood. The floats were
made of duraluminium covered in chitonal, and were 12.50 meters long. The
armament consisted of a 12.7 mm (0.50 inch) Breda-SAFAT machine gun in the
dorsal position and three 7.7 mm (0.303 inch) machine guns, one in the ventral
position and two on the sides of the fuselage. The CANT Z.506 had a crew of
five.

A military version appeared after 15 civil aeroplanes had entered service with
Ala Littoria. It was developed as the Z.506B. This military version was powered
by three 560 kW (750 hp) Alfa Romeo 127 RC 55 engines and entered service in
1939. This version was also a record breaker. A larger version of the Z.506A was
built in 1937 as the Z.509. The last CANT Z.506B was built by Piaggio in January
1943. Total production was more than 320 aircraft.

Role
Patrol aircraft

Manufacturer
CANT

Designer
Filippo Zappata

First flight
August 19, 1935

Introduction
1936

Retired
1959

Primary user
Regia Aeronautica

Number built
Z.506B 314 + 2 prototypes
Z.506C 40

Variants
CANT Z.1007

Developed into
CANT Z.509

The Airone saw more than 20 years of service. The Z.506B was first used as a
reconnaissance aircraft and torpedo bomber in the Spanish Civil War. When Italy
entered the Second World War, on 10 June 1940, 97 aircraft were operational with
two Stormi da Bombardamento Marittimo (sea bombing units) and some Squadriglia
da Ricognizione Marittima. 31°Stormo B.M. "autonomo" with 22 planes was based at
Cagliari-Elmas airport, in Sardinia; 35° Stormo B.M., with 25 Z.506 in Brindisi,
Puglia. It was used extensively in 1940–41 in France and Greece. On the outbreak
of World War II, four Squadriglie for air-sea rescue missions were formed in
Orbetello. These were the 612ª in Stagnoni, with aircraft marked DAMB, GORO,
BUIE, CANT (the prototype) and POLA, and the 614ª in Benghazi, with DUCO, ALA,
DODO and DAIM. The two other sections with two aircraft each were based in Torre
del Lago and in the Aegean Sea at Leros. The latter was later transferred to
Rhodes.

The Z.506 saw its first action on 17 June 1940, the day after some French
bombers had attacked Elmas base, killing 21 airmen and destroying some Cant.
Z.501s. On the evening of 17 June, four 506Bs from 31° Stormo attacked targets
in French North Africa, each dropping two 250 kg and three 100 kg bombs. The
type also took part in the Battle of Calabria. In the war against Greece it was
used against coastal targets and the Corinth canal. It played an important part
in the conquest of many Greek islands, including Corfu, Cephalonia and Zante.
Due to its vulnerability against fighters, it was restricted to use by 'recce'
units (Squadriglie da Ricognizione). Later in the war, it was used in maritime
patrol and air-sea rescue missions. The 506 was often forced to land in Spain,
due to engine failure, combat damage or a lack of fuel. A special air-sea rescue
version, the Z.506S Soccorso, was produced; it was used in small numbers by the
Luftwaffe.

The air-sea rescue Z.506s suffered severe losses as many Allied pilots did not
stop attacking them, even after they had spotted the red crosses. For instance,
on 12 June 1942, off Malta, a Hawker Hurricane from 46 Squadron shot down a
Z.506, then shot another one down which had been sent to rescue the crew of the
first. Sergeant Etchells, in 249 at Malta recalled:

"I shot down a Cant Z506 near Sicily, painted white, which had red crosses on
its wings, and was apparently an air-rescue aircraft. Sqn Ldr Barton disapproved
but the AOC approved. I did not see the red crosses on its wings at the time and
do not know if it would have made any difference had I done so."

A Cant 506 became famous, among the Allies, because it was the only plane
hijacked by prisoners of war on the Western Front (it was then used by the RAF
from Malta).

When Italy surrendered to the Allies, on 8 September 1943, about 70 Cant 506s
were still in service with the Italian Air Force. About 30 surviving Z.506S were
assimilated into Allied forces and served with the Italian Co-Belligerent Air
Force. The Germans soon captured the 506s and started using them in Italy,
Germany, France, Yugoslavia and even on Greek islands and in Poland. The Cants
of 171ª Squadriglia kept on operating air/sea rescue and patrol missions from
the military port of Toulon, with mixed Italian/German crews. Some 506s captured
by Germans, flown by Italian volunteer crews, operated in 1944 on the Baltic
sea, patrolling the area around Peenemünde. Some examples survived in postwar
service until 1959.

Specifications (Z.506B Series XII)

General characteristics
Crew: 5
Length: 19.24 m (63 ft 1.5 in)
Wingspan: 26.50 m (86 ft 11.3 in)
Height: 7.45 m (24 ft 5.3 in)
Wing area: 86.26 m² (928.53 ft²)
Empty weight: 8,750 kg (19,300 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 12,705 kg (28,010 lb)
Powerplant: 3 × Alfa Romeo 126 R.C.34 radial engines, 560 kW (750 hp) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 350 km/h (190 kn, 220 mph)
Range: 2,000 km (1,100 nmi, 1,200 mi)
Service ceiling: 7,000 m (23,000 ft)

Armament

Guns:
1 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Breda SAFAT machine gun
3 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns

Bombs:
1,200 kg (2,600 lb) of general ordnance or
1 × 800 kg (1,800 lb) torpedo




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