Caproni about 4

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Caproni about 4
Caproni Ca.4, prototype (Ca.40)
Caproni Ca.4, prototype (Ca.40)
Type: bomber
Design country:

Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Italy

Manufacturer:

Caproni

First flight:

1917

Number of pieces:

44 to 53

The Caproni Ca.4 was a heavy three-engined Italian bomber , who in the First World War was used.

After successfully designing the Caproni Ca.3 heavy bomber , Giovanni Battista Caproni worked on an even larger heavy bomber. With its double tail unit , a pusher propeller and the two pull propellers with motor gondolas, it was similar to the Ca.3. The biggest difference was the rare design as a three- decker instead of a double-decker like the Ca.3.

The Ca.4 was an Italian military name for a number of variants that were manufactured in many different locations from the end of 1917.

construction

The three-engine bomber was a fabric-covered wooden structure. The pull propellers sat in motor pods under the central wing. The pilots sat side by side and the gunner in front of them. The positions of the shooter could be different in the various Ca.4 variants.

The first prototype Ca.40 was equipped with three 200 hp Isotta-Fraschini V6 engines, but their output was too weak for the large aircraft. Later versions were given 250 HP Isotta Fraschini engines; the approximately 42 eventually got 400 hp Liberty engines.

Bomb container of the approx. 41

Armament

  • 4-8 × 6.5mm or 7.7mm Revelli machine guns
  • three known variants for drop armament:
    • Bomb container at the level of the lower wing for 12 vertically suspended bombs as well as 18 to 20 bombs attached outside the container
    • shorter bomb container for internal bombs only
    • Torpedo mount under the lower wing

commitment

The Ca.4 was tested in late 1917 and used for the first time in 1918. Mainly it was used for attacks against Austria-Hungary . In April 1918 the British Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) received six Ca.42s for the No. 227 Squadron. Three 42 were sent to the United States for testing .

Despite its unstable and fragile appearance, the Ca.4 was a well thought out construction. It was no bigger than many bombers of the time, but relatively fast with the modern Liberty engines. The bomb capacity was among the highest in World War I. Most of the Ca.4 were used for night missions as they flew slower than the enemy fighters .

After the First World War, the approx. replaced by Caproni Ca.36 .

variants

The lower passenger deck of an approx. 48

During the war, all variants were summarized under Ca.4. Only later did Caproni give its machines a new numbering system.

  • About 40 - first prototype
  • About 41 - series version with three 281 hp (210 kW) Fiat A.12 in -line engines , some machines had Isotta-Fraschini engines instead, each with 250 hp (186 kW), 41 machines were built
  • Approx . 42 - 400 hp (298 kW) Liberty V12 engines, 12 machines built
  • 43 - flying boat variant (1 piece)
  • Approx. 48 - double-decker passenger aircraft from approx. 42 for 23 passengers each
  • 51 - enlarged design with double-decker rear , Fiat A.14 -V12 engines, each 700 PS (522 kW)
  • Approx . 52 - 42s for the RNAS, 6 pieces
  • Approx . 58 - Approx . 48s with new Fiat A.14 V12 or Isotta Fraschini V6 engines
  • Approx 59 - renamed Approx 58 for export

Military use

Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Italy
United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
United States 48United States United States

Technical specifications

Caproni ca.42 with the Royal Naval Air Service
Parameter Dates Caproni ca.42
crew 5
length 13.10 m
span 29.90 m
height 6.30 m
Wing area 200 m²
Empty mass 4000 kg
Max. Takeoff mass 7500 kg
drive 3 × 12-cylinder Liberty V engines with 298 kW (400 hp) each
Top speed 140 km / h
Service ceiling 3000 m
Range 700 km
Armament 4 × 6.5 mm Revelli machine guns, 1775 kg bombs

See also

literature

  • Enzo Angelucci: The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. 1914-1980. The Military Press, San Diego 1983, ISBN 0-517-41021-4 .
  • The Caproni Bombing Triplane CA-4-1915. Flight, Volume XI, Issue 25, No. 547, June 19, 1919, pp. 797-799.
  • Jon Guttman: Crazy Capronis. Aviation History, July 2008.

Web links

Commons : Caproni Ca.4  - Collection of images, videos and audio files