Caproni Ca.42
| Caproni Ca.42 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Bomber |
| Manufacturer | Caproni |
| First flight | 6 Jul 1916[1] |
| Introduction | 24 Feb 1918[2] |
| Primary users |  Italy U.K. (RNAS)
|
| Number built | 12 [3] |
| Developed from | Ca.41 |
| Variants | Ca.43 |
| Wingspan | 29.9 m (98 ft 1 in)[4][5] |
| Propeller Diam. | 3 m (9 ft 10 in)[5] |
| Engine | 3×200-270hp Fiat or Isotta-Fraschini |
| Armament | nose flexible MG 2×rear flexible MG[note 1] 1,450 kg (3,200 lb)[6] of bombs |
| Crew | 4[4]-5[3] |
| Max Speed | see chart |
| Climb | see chart |
| Ceiling | 3,000 m (9,840 ft)[7][4] |
| Endurance | 7:00[7][4] |
The final production series of the large Caproni Ca.4 series was the Caproni Ca.42 of 1918. The engines were increased to larger Isotta-Fraschini, Fiat, or Liberty types for extra lifting capacity. Twenty-three were completed and six were supplied to the R.N.A.S. (where they were on hand April-May 1918[8]), but they did not fly combat missions and were returned to Italy after the Armistice. The Ca.43 was too slow for daylight bombing and quickly moved to night bombing missions instead. [3]
Though the prototype had been flight-tested in 1916, G.Caproni had difficulties in getting the Italian government to commit to building these large triplanes, since they preferred to stick with the well-known Caproni Ca.3. The choice of the Isotta Fraschini V5 was also a blocker, because the engine ran into production problems, and the Fiat A.12 had to be used as an alternative. The first were delivered as unarmed trainers in May 1917, but it wasn't until February 1918 that the type was first used operationally. The RNAS purchased six for use in anti-submarine patrol out of Otranto, in the heel of Italy. The USA expressed interest and put in an order for 250 to be built by Curtiss, but after learning that the Italians were switching to the Caproni Ca.5, the Americans followed suit and cancelled their triplane orders.[9]
| Engine | Speed | Climb |
|---|---|---|
| 200hp Isotta Fraschini | 124 km/h (77 mph)[5] | 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 16:00[5] 2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 43:30[5] |
| 270hp Fiat | 134 km/h (83 mph)[5] | 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 16:00[5] 2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 27:00[5] 3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 65:00[5] |
For more information, see Wikipedia:Caproni Ca.4.
Timeline
Game Data
Wings of Glory
| Availability | Maneuver | Damage | Dmg Points | Max Alt. | Climb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18Q2-end | XC | B/B+B | 30 | 11 [note 2] | 6 [note 2] |
Miniatures and Models
1:144 Scale
- Shapeways: Columbia Aerodrome, Reduced Aircraft Factory
1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale
- Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory
1:500 Scale
- Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory
1:600 Scale
- Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory
1:700 Scale
- Shapeways: Reduced Aircraft Factory
Resources
Orthographic Drawings
References
- Notes
- ↑ One on the rear of each engine nacelle.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 By Ares Climb Rates and Maximum Altitude Table, version 1.2, Oct 2021. More realistic numbers might be 8 and 8.
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Gregory Alegi, Windsock Datafile 111: Caproni Ca.4. Great Britain: Albatros Publications, Ltd., 2005. ISBN 1-902207-73-4
- Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. New York: The Military Press, 1983 edition. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
- Kenneth Munson, Bombers: Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft, 1914-1919. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1968, Blandford Press Ltd. ISBN 978-0753721711
- Ian Philpott, The Birth of the Royal Air Force. Great Britain: Pen & Sword Books Limited, 2013. ISBN 978-1-78159-333-2