This strange craft is the service station Zara 1 (Stazione di Servizio Zara 1) specifically designed at Taranto by Alcibiade Ascanelli for service afloat of the Regia Aeronautica’s seaplanes in particular the CRDA Cant-Z-501, for refueling, ordnance’s supply and maintenance and repair. In this photo a Cant-Z-501 aboard of the Zara 1 for repair and overhaul works. Victor Sierra

Zara 1

During his 90 year of history the Italian Air Force employed not only aircraft but also some boat mostly used in attendance to seaplane units in the air harbor. In this photo a high-sea rescue motorboat Rama (Motoscafo Soccorso d'Alto Mare Regia Aeronautica) employed by the Regia Aeronautica around later Thirties/early Forties XX Century in the air harbor of Cadimare, near La Spezia, Liguria. This motorboat were able to afford the sea in gale and strong gale conditions. During the East African Campaign, on Summer 1940 three Regia Aeronautica’s motorboat was allocated to Regia Marina (Italian Navy) as reinforcement of the torpedo boat’s line somewhat tatty of the XXI Squadriglia MAS, at Massawa, Eritrea. The Air Force’s boats was modified in loco with torpedo and depth charges. Victor Sierra

Regia Aeronautica’s motorboat

Italian Breda 35 and a AB 41 Armored Car in North Africa 

@Carn

