As time went on, the type was increasingly tasked to escort German aircraft. On 24 July 1942, the unit was shifted to Tatsinskaya Airfield, with 24 "Saettas". Its main task was to provide escort for Stukas in the Don Bend area, where there were few German fighters available. "Hauptmann" Friedrich Lang, "Staffelkäpitan" of 1./"StG" 2 reported the Italian escort as "most disappointing." The Saettas proved unable to protect the Stukas from Soviet fighters. On 25 and 26 July 1942, five C.200s were lost in aerial combat. After only three days of action from Tatsinskaya, one third of the Italian fighters had been shot down.