Derived from the Ro.37 family, the Ro.43 won the naval requirement and remained in service throughout the Second World War. Italian ships could catapult it at sea and recover it at a shore or seaplane base, an arrangement suited to Mediterranean geography. One Ro.43, apparently launched from Vittorio Veneto, was shot down by a Blackburn Skua from HMS Ark Royal. At the Battle of Calabria, another from the cruiser Eugenio di Savoia maintained visual contact with HMS Warspite while she fought Giulio Cesare before a Gloster Sea Gladiator from HMS Eagle intervened. The Ro.43 was the recurring scout and fire-control aircraft behind references to Regia Marina floatplanes in major Mediterranean actions. Roughly 200 were built, with about 105 to 120 in service at any one time. Attrition and the dismantling of damaged aircraft for spares reduced the official force to about 48 by 1943.
Chapter · 20:39-27:47
The Ro.43 as the Regia Marina's fleet scout
The ship-launched Ro.43 served as the Regia Marina's characteristic Mediterranean reconnaissance floatplane and helped Italian warships find and track opponents.