View source for IMAM Ro.37

{{Short description|Italian reconnaissance biplane}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2007}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
  |name = Ro.37
  |image = File:Italian IMAM Ro.37 reconnaissance aircraft in flight.jpg
  |caption = 
  |type = Reconnaissance 
  |manufacturer = [[IMAM|Meridionali]]
  |designer = Nicola Romeo
  |first_flight = 6 November 1933
  |introduction = 
  |retired =
  |status = 
  |primary_user = [[Regia Aeronautica]]
  |more_users = 
  |produced = 
  |number_built = 617<ref>[http://www.alieuomini.it/catalogo/dettaglio_catalogo/imam_ro,53.html IMAM Ro.37]</ref>
  |unit cost = 
  |developed_from = 
  |variants = [[IMAM Ro.43]]
}}
[[File:Initial version of the IMAM Ro.37 reconnaissance aircraft with inline engine.jpg|right|thumb|The initial version of the Ro.37 with the [[Fiat A.30]] [[Inline engine (aviation)|inline engine]] ]]
[[File:Italian IMAM Ro.37 reconnaissance aircraft.jpg|right|thumb|The main production version of the Ro.37 with the [[Piaggio P.IX]] [[radial engine]] ]]

The '''Meridionali Ro.37 ''Lince''''' ([[Italian language|Italian]]: "Lynx") was a two-seater Italian reconnaissance [[biplane]], a product of the ''Industrie Meccaniche Aeronautiche Meridionali'' (IMAM) company. It appeared in 1934 and had a composite structure of wood and metal.<ref name="Angelucci and Matricardi 1978, p. 190">Angelucci and Matricardi 1978, p. 190.</ref> The aeroplane first saw operational duty in the [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War]] (1935–1936) and [[Spanish Civil War]] (1936–1939), and during the [[Second World War]] it saw duty on almost all fronts, except for [[Russia]] and the [[English Channel]].<ref name="Angelucci and Matricardi 1978, p. 190"/> It followed the [[Fokker C.V|Ro.1]] as the main reconnaissance aircraft for the [[Italian Army]].

==Design and development==
A contest was held by the ''[[Regia Aeronautica]]'' for a light reconnaissance aircraft and a heavier aeroplane. The first was to have had 350 km/h (190 knots/220 mph) maximum speed, five hours endurance, three machine guns and a bomblets dispenser, armour, and the capability to operate from improvised airfields. The heavier aircraft was to have had {{cvt|325|km/h|mph kn|0}} maximum speed, at least {{cvt|1300|km|mi nmi}} endurance, {{cvt|7000|m}} ceiling, climb to {{cvt|5000|m}} in 19 minutes, three crew, five weapons, a high wing and other details.

Limited production of the [[IMAM Ro.30]], an improved Ro.1 with a defensive turret and better engine, resulted. It was rejected by the ''Regio Esercito'' and not chosen for production, being capable only of {{cvt|200|km/h|mph kn}}, five hours' endurance, climb to {{cvt|4000|m}} in 20 minutes, and having three weapons.

IMAM did not give up after the modest success of the Ro.30 and so designed a new aircraft, the Ro.37, which first flew in 1933.

This was a biplane of mixed construction, with two seats, and a {{cvt|560|hp|order=flip}} [[Fiat A.30 R.A.]] V-12 engine. It reached {{cvt|300|km/h|mph kn}} and perhaps even more with this engine, the same as that of the [[Fiat CR.32]]. The Ro.37 had a {{cvt|7000|m}} ceiling, {{cvt|3000|m}} climb in 11 minutes, over {{convert|1,200|km|mi|abbr=on}} range, carrying three machine guns (two in the nose and one dorsal), twelve {{cvt|15|kg|0}} bombs, and good agility. It was similar to the [[Hawker Hind]], rather than a light army aircraft, and its performance was similar to the later [[Westland Lysander]] and the contemporary [[Hawker Hector]].

The Ro.37 was later fitted with the {{cvt|600|hp|0|order=flip}} [[Piaggio Stella P.IX R.C.40]] radial engine. The better reliability of this engine was considered more desirable and so this was the main version produced.

===Ro.45===
The last of the classic biplanes made by IMAM was an enhanced Ro.37. The sole Ro.45 was first flown on 10 December 1935, but did not enter production.

==Operational service==
The Ro. 37 served as standard equipment in observation units for many years. However, during WWII, and particularly on the African front, the aeroplane was used in other roles, including tactical support and fighter duty.<ref name="Angelucci and Matricardi 1978, p. 190"/>
103 Squadron was equipped in mid-1935 and swiftly employed in [[Ethiopia]] during the [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War]]. In December 1935 this unit was sent to [[Italian Somaliland]], and eventually another four squadrons went to this theatre: 105, 108, 109, and 110 Squadrons, for a total of ten Ro.37 and 41 Ro.37Bis. With the end of operations, 110 Squadron remained in the theatre, deployed in counterinsurgency tasks and serving as reinforcement for isolated garrisons.
[[File:Ro 37bis 105 Squadriglia.jpg|thumb|IMAM Ro.37bis of the 105ª Squadriglia AO Regia Aeronautica, the [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War|Second Italo-Abyssinian War]]]]
In the meantime, the Ro.37 also served in the [[Spanish Civil War]], with the first ten arriving in late 1936. Another 26 (possibly 58) went to this theatre and were used for many missions and tasks. They were used as assault aircraft, even though they were unarmoured. The results were satisfactory and some were even converted to a single-seat machine for use as attack fighters. The two-seat versions were used as heavy fighters, providing protection for [[Savoia-Marchetti SM.81|S.81]] bombers from Republican [[Polikarpov I-15|I-15s]]. It is not known if there were any air-to-air victories.

The Ro.37 was generally liked by pilots, and the only complaint was that aircraft was prone to damage to the undercarriage, and had some engine faults.

The aircraft was produced until 1939 with a total of 569 (237 + 332bis) produced, and as late as 1940 there were provisions to have 17 Squadron equipped with this machine. In fact, the Ro.37 continued to be used as reconnaissance aircraft for years, since its replacement, the [[Caproni Ca.311]], proved unsatisfactory.

Ro.37s were also quite widely exported (ten to [[Uruguay]], 16 to [[Afghanistan]], 14 to [[Hungary]], eight to [[Austria]], and one to [[Ecuador]]) and about 280 were in service in 1940, in thirty squadrons consisting of 215 aircraft.

Some were in service up to 1943 and perhaps even later. They were very vulnerable, but in [[World War II]] Italy did not have sufficient resources to produce a better observation aircraft, not even the [[IMAM Ro.63]]<!-- Meridionali Ro.63 or IMAM Ro.63?? -->, a superior aircraft, similar to the [[Fieseler Fi 156 Storch]], but with more endurance.

==Variants==
;Ro.37:Reconnaissance biplane, powered by a {{cvt|560|hp|0|order=flip}} [[Fiat A.30 R.A.]] V-12.
;Ro 37''bis'':Improved version, powered by [[Piaggio P.IX R.C.40]] or [[Piaggio P.X R.]] radial engines.
;[[IMAM Ro.43]]:  reconnaissance floatplane for the [[Regia Marina]] .
;Ro.44:single-seat fighter floatplane for the [[Regia Marina]] .
;Ro 45:A revised Ro.37, powered by a {{cvt|820|hp|0|order=flip}} [[Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI R.C.40]] engine. Maximum speed was boosted to {{cvt|325|km/h|mph kn|0}}, ceiling to {{cvt|000|m|0}} and range to {{cvt|2250|km|mi nmi|0}}. Designed for long-range reconnaissance and light bombing, the single prototype was {{cvt|10.37|m|0}} long, with a {{cvt|12.32|m|0}} span and first flew on 10 December 1935.

==Operators==
;{{flag|Kingdom of Afghanistan}}
*[[Afghan Air Force]]
;{{flag|First Austrian Republic|name=Austria}}
*[[Austrian Air Force (1927-1938)]]
;{{flag|Ecuador}}
*[[Ecuadorian Air Force]]
;{{flag|Kingdom of Hungary (1920-1946)|name=Hungary}}
*[[Hungarian Air Force]]
;{{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}
*[[Regia Aeronautica]]
*[[Aviazione Legionaria]] 36 aircraft
;{{flag|Francoist Spain||name=Spain}}
*[[Spanish Air Force]]
;{{flag|Uruguay}}
*[[Uruguayan Air Force]]

==Specifications (Ro.37''bis'' P.IX engine)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=''Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930–1945'' <ref name=thompson>{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Jonathon W. |title=Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930–1945 |url=https://archive.org/details/italiancivilmili00libg |url-access=limited |year=1963 |publisher=Aero Publishers |location=USA |isbn=0-8168-6500-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/italiancivilmili00libg/page/n99 198]-201}}</ref>
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=2
|length ft=28
|length in=1.25
|length sigfig=3
|length note=
|span m=
|span note=
|height ft=10
|height in=3.75
|height sigfig=3
|height note=
|wing area sqm=31.35
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb=3498
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=2420
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Piaggio Stella P.IX R.C.40]]
|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 kw=418
|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=(later:- 3-bladed variable-pitch propeller)

<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=330
|max speed note=at {{cvt|16400|ft|order=flip}}
|cruise speed kmh=249
|cruise speed note=at {{cvt|16400|ft|order=flip}}
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=1120
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m={{cvt|23616|ft|order=flip|disp=number}}
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude={{cvt|6560|ft|order=flip}}  4 minutes 10 seconds
::::{{cvt|13120|ft|order=flip}}  9 minutes 20 seconds 
::::{{cvt|19680|ft|order=flip}}  16 minutes 30 seconds
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns= <br>
:* Two {{cvt|7.7|mm|3}} fixed forward firing [[Breda-SAFAT]] machine guns
:* One {{cvt|7.7|mm|3}} flexibly mounted machine gun in the rear cockpit
|bombs= <br>
:* 180kg (397 lb) of bombs on underfuselage racks
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Engine
! Length
! Weight<br /> empty/max
! Speed
! Climb to 4000 m
! Ceiling
! Range
|-
| [[Fiat A.30 R.A.]] || {{cvt|8.62|m|0}} ||  {{cvt|1563|kg|0}} / {{cvt|2425|kg|0}}|| {{cvt|325|km/h|mph kn|0}} || 9 min 5 sec || {{cvt|6700|m}} || {{cvt|1650|km|mi nmi}}
|-
| [[Piaggio P.IX R.C.40]] || {{cvt|8.57|m|0}} || {{cvt|2040|kg|0}} / {{cvt|2425|kg|0}}|| {{cvt|320|km/h|mph kn|0}} || 9 min 30 sec || {{cvt|7500|m}} || {{cvt|1300|km|mi nmi}}
|-
| [[Piaggio P.X R.]] || {{cvt|8.57|m|0}} || {{cvt|2040|kg|0}} / {{cvt|2425|kg|0}}|| {{cvt|320|km/h|mph kn|0}} || 9 min 30 sec || {{cvt|7500|m}} || {{cvt|1300|km|mi nmi}}

|}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|see also=
|related=<!-- related developments -->
|similar aircraft=
* [[Heinkel He 46]]
* [[Polikarpov R-5]]
* [[Weiss WM-21|Weiss Manfred WM.21]] Sólyom
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
* [[List of Afghan Air Force aircraft]]
* [[List of Interwar military aircraft]]
}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Angelucci, Enzo and Paolo Matricardi. ''World Aircraft: World War II, Volume I'' (Sampson Low Guides). Maidenhead, UK: Sampson Low, 1978. {{ISBN|0-562-00096-8}}.
* {{in lang|it}} Bignozzi, Giorgio. ''Aerei d'Italia''. Milano, Edizioni E.C.A 2000
*{{cite journal |last1=Arrez Cerda|first1=Juan |title=Le Romeo Ro.37bis en Espagne |journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=April 2000 |issue=85 |pages=38–43 |trans-title=The Romeo Ro.37bis in Spain|language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Arrez Cerda|first1=Juan |title=Le Romeo Ro.37bis en Espagne |journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=May 2000 |issue=86 |pages=22–32 |language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Arrez Cerda|first1=Juan |title=Le Romeo Ro.37bis en Espagne |journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=June 2000 |issue=87 |pages=36–37 |language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}
* Cull, Brian with Frederick Galea. ''249 at Malta: Malta top-scoring Fighter Squadron 1941–1943''. Malta, Wise Owl Publications, 2004. {{ISBN|978-99932-32-52-0}}
* {{in lang|it}} De Marchi, Italo – Tonizzo, Pietro. ''CANT. Z. 506 "airone"- CANT. Z. 1007 "alcione" ''. Modena, Mucchi Editorr, 1997. NO ISBN.
*{{cite journal |last1=Domange|first1=Yves|title=Quand les démocraties occidentales achetaient des avions dans l'Italie fasciste... (1<sup>ère</sup> partie: la France)|journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=February 1999 |issue=71 |pages=16–24 |trans-title=When Western Democracies Bought Their Aircraft from Fascist Italy... (Part 1: France) |language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}
*  Green, William. ''War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Six – Floatplanes''. London:Macdonald, 1962.
* {{in lang|en}} Gunston, Bill. ''Gli aerei della seconda guerra mondiale''. Milano, Alberto Peruzzo Editore, 1984
* Gunston, Bill (2001), ''The Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of World War II'', Salamander, {{ISBN|1-84065-092-3}}
* Marcon, Tullio ''L'aviazione per il regio esercito'' Storia Militare magazine July 1995. {{in lang|it}}
* Mondey, David (1984), ''The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II'', Chancellor Press, {{ISBN|1 85152 966 7}}
* Mondey, David. ''The Hamlyn Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II''. London: Bounty Books, 2006. {{ISBN|0-7537-1460-4}}.
*''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985)'', 1985, Orbis Publishing
*{{cite journal |last1=Sapienza|first1=Antonio Luis|last2=Luzardo|first2=Eduardo|name-list-style=amp |title=Le Romeo Ro.37 dans l'aviation militaire uruguayenne (1937–1945) |journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=August 2001 |issue=101 |pages=21–23 |trans-title=The Romeo Ro.37 in the Uruguayan Air Force |language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://milano.corriere.it/milano/notizie/cronaca/12_gennaio_22/rottami-kabul-museo-biplano-bianco-1902963964701.shtml]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927033750/http://worldatwar.net/chandelle/v4/v4n1-2/ro37.html IMAM Ro.37 and its derivatives]
* [https://comandosupremo.com/imam-ro37/ IMAM Ro.37]
* [http://www.stormomagazine.com/ModelArticles/IMAMRo37/DS/IMAMRO37_DS_1a.html Stormo Magazine (on line), IMAM Ro.37]

{{IMAM aircraft}}
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[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1933]]