The Caproni Ca.313 was an Italian twin-engine reconnaissance bomber of the late-1930s. It was a development of the Ca.310. Its variants were exported to several other countries.
| Ca.313 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber |
| Manufacturer | Caproni |
| Designer | Cesare Pallavicino |
| First flight | 22 December 1939 |
| Primary users | Regia Aeronautica Swedish Air Force |
| Number built | 271 |
| Developed from | Caproni Ca.310 |
Design and development edit
The Caproni Aeronautica Bergamasca, a subsidiary of the large Italian aviation conglomerate Caproni, developed a series of twin-engined light monoplanes in the 1930s ands 1940s, ultimately derived from the all-wooden Caproni Ca.308 Borea airliner, which first flew in 1935. The Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli colonial general purpose aircraft flew in 1936, and the more powerful Caproni Ca.310, fitted with a retractable undercarriage, and powered by 460 hp (340 kW) Piaggio P.VII radial engines, in 1937.[1] The Ca.310 was purchased in small numbers by the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force), and by several export customers, including Peru, Hungary and Norway. The Ca.310 proved unable to meet it guaranteed performance, however, and in order to meet Norwegian requirements, Caproni developed the Ca.312, a Ca.310 re-engined with 650 hp (480 kW) Piaggio P.XVI R.C. 35 radials, which first flew on 7 December 1938.[2] The Ca.312 was accepted by Norway as a replacement for the remainder of its Ca.310s (only four of which had been delivered),[3] while 24 more were ordered by Belgium for service in the Belgian Congo.[4]
Caproni had meanwhile developed the Caproni Ca.311, based on the Ca.310 with a revised nose, which was adopted by the Regia Aeronautica as a reconnaissance-bomber and observation aircraft.[3] The Ca.313 was a further development of the Ca.311 with more powerful Isotta-Fraschini air-cooled engines inverted V-12 engines, which promised greatly improved performance. The prototype, a converted Ca.310, powered by two 770 hp (570 kW) Isotta-Fraschini A.120 I.R.C.C.40 engines, first flew on 22 December 1939.[3]
The Ca.313's fuselage had a steel-tube structure, with fabric covering, while the wing was of wooden construction (initially using Spruce and later Fir) with plywood covering. The aircraft's tail surfaces were of fabric and plywood covered metal construction. The aircraft had a retractable tailwheel undercarriage, with the mainwheels retracting into the engine nacelles.[5][6][7] Production aircraft were powered by Isotta-Fraschini Delta R.C.35 I-D.S. engines rated at 730 hp (540 kW) driving three-bladed propellers.[3]
The Ca.313 had a glassed-in nose, similar to the Heinkel He 111. This Caprioni, with its characteristic 'Z' hubs, engines mounted in the wings and retractable undercarriage, was of mixed construction, i.e. metal in the fuselage and wood in the wings.
Bomb load and defensive armament were typical of the time. The aircraft could carry 400 kg (880 lb) of bombs. Three 7.7 mm (0.303 mm) Breda (or two 12.7 mm Scotti) machine guns were fitted – one in the left wing, one in a dorsal turret and one in the ventral position.
The main customer was the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force), but many aircraft were ordered by other countries. France ordered 200 machines and Great Britain 300. Of these 500, only five Ca.313F units were delivered to France before Italy's entry into World War II.[8]
Operational history edit
The aircraft served mainly with Italy, in the light transport, trainer and maritime reconnaissance roles. Swedish Air Force designations were B 16, S 16, T 16, and Tp 16.
The outbreak of war greatly affected Sweden's military buildup, as the USA stopped deliveries of hundreds of new US aircraft to Sweden (among them 60 P-35A and 144 P-66 Vanguards). Only 62 other airplanes had been delivered before the embargo took effect. To complete its war preparations, Sweden searched for other sources, eventually ordering 84 of the Caproni Ca.313S, 72 of the Fiat CR.42, and 60 of the Reggiane Re.2000, an order totaling some 90 million kronor.
The aircraft were delivered between 1940 and 1941. Between 1940 and 1943, there were 23 fatal accidents at the three air force bases (F 3, F 7 and F 11) that operated them. Three more were shot down by German fighters, on 18 and 23 May 1944. 41 crewmen died in these 'flying coffins'. The Ca.313 suffered many engine fires; this situation was not helped by the special fuel called Bentol, containing alcohol, that was used due to fuel shortage in Sweden because of the war. This fuel often dissolved the coating of the floats made of cork and also corroded the fuel tanks, causing leaks which would result in the fuel spilling onto the hot engines.[9]
Other accidents occurred when the aircraft was used in a role for which it was not suited, such as dive bombing. For example, on 10 June 1942, one aircraft crashed following a wing failure. Many parts were not made to the correct standard. When it was realized that Sweden did not have the same accident problem, a modification programme was introduced and the rate of accidents dropped. For many years this machine, with its ten-hour endurance, was the only one capable of patrolling around Sweden. By all standards, it was obsolete by 1940. It was removed from service soon after the end of the war.
The Luftwaffe eventually ordered 905 machines called the CA.313G to be used for training purposes and other secondary employment, but only 117 planes were delivered. They had a different nose from the standard model. Two series of Ca.313 had this nose difference and were called 'Ca.313 R.P.B.1 and 2.
In 1942, Croatia received ten Caproni Ca 311M bombers which had been ordered and paid for by the former Royal Yugoslav government.[10]
Variants edit
- Ca.312 An enhanced Ca.310 with inline engines. Sold to Norway.
- Ca.313 Prototype A Ca.310 airframe with inline engines in place of previous radial engines.
- Ca.313 Production Improved derivative of Ca.310 with inline engines.
- Ca.313S Production Export model Ca.313 for Sweden with 84 aircraft made and delivered in three batches.[11]
Swedish variants edit
Swedish Ca.313s were armed with one 13.2mm m/39 cannon in each wingroot and had 8mm m/22s in the turret and for the ventral gunner.[12]
- B 16A Bomber variant. Had an internal bomb capacity of 500 kg and external bomb capacity of 400 kg with a total capacity of 800 kg. It was used as a dive bomber.[13]
- S 16A Reconnaissance variant.[14]
- T 16A Torpedo variant. Due to bad craftsmanship they were never used as torpedo bombers but were converted to reconnaissance planes.[15]
- S 16B Designation for T 16s converted to reconnaissance planes.[16]
- TP 16 Transport aircraft.
Operators edit
- French Air Force - Five Ca 313F aircraft
- Planned
Belgium
- Belgian Air Force 24 Ca.312 were ordered in 1940, none could be delivered before the Fall of Belgium.
- Royal Air Force 300 Ca 313s and 300 Re 2000s were ordered in January 1940, but the orders were cancelled when Italy entered the war in June 1940.
Surviving aircraft edit
There are no original Ca.313 survivors. A full size replica built in Sweden for a TV miniseries using some original parts was put in the Flygvapenmuseum, Linköping after filming was completed. It can still be seen in that location.
Specifications (Ca.313 R.P.B.2) edit
Data from The Caproni that Nearly Joined the RAF[18]
General characteristics
- Crew: three
- Length: 11.80 m (38 ft 9 in)
- Wingspan: 16.65 m (54 ft 8 in)
- Height: 3.70 m (12 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 38.90 m2 (418.7 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 4,300 kg (9,480 lb)
- Gross weight: 5,900 kg (13,007 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Isotta Fraschini Delta R.C.35 I-DS air-cooled inverted V12 engines, 540 kW (730 hp) each (take-off power)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 436 km/h (271 mph, 235 kn) at 3,500 m (11,500 ft)
- Cruise speed: 350 km/h (220 mph, 190 kn) (70% power, at 3,500 m (11,500 ft))
- Range: 1,200 km (750 mi, 650 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 7,300 m (24,000 ft)
- Time to altitude: 11 min 30 s to 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
- Take-off distance: 350 m (1,150 ft)
- Landing distance: 380 m (1,250 ft)
Armament
- Guns: 3 × 12.7 mm Scotti–Isotta Fraschini machine guns (1 in wing root, 1 in dorsal turret and 1 in ventral step)
- Bombs:
- 4 × 100 kg (220 lb) or
- 8 × 50 kg (110 lb) bombs or
- 16 × 15 kg (33 lb) bombs or
- 32 × 12 kg (26 lb) bombs
References edit
- ^ Air Enthusiast July 1971, p. 97
- ^ Air Enthusiast July 1971, pp. 97–98
- ^ a b c d Air Enthusiast July 1971, p. 98
- ^ Domange Avions March 1999, p. 44
- ^ Air Enthusiast July 1971, p. 102
- ^ Apostolo 2007, p. 47
- ^ Micrander Aeroplane Monthly November 1990, p. 675
- ^ Taylor 1989
- ^ "In flight fire". www.ww2incolor.com. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- ^ Neulen 2000, p. 177.
- ^ "Pennan & Svärdet - S 16A, B 1940-1945". Archived from the original on 2017-09-24. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
- ^ "B 16 - Caproni Ca 313".
- ^ "Pennan & Svärdet - B 16A 1940-1943". Archived from the original on 2017-09-24. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
- ^ "Pennan & Svärdet - S 16A, B 1940-1945". Archived from the original on 2017-09-24. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
- ^ Torpedflyget I Sverige by Mikael Forslund
- ^ Torpedflyget I Sverige by Mikael Forslund
- ^ aeoflight
- ^ Air Enthusiast July 1971, p. 101
Sources edit
- Alonzo, F.S, "Il Caproni Ca.313 in Svezia", Storia militare n. 64, page 15.
- Apostolo, Giorgio (2007). Caproni Ca.311/314. Ali d'Italia (in English and Italian). Turin: La Bancarella Aeronautica.
- Domange, Yves (February 1999). "Quand les démocraties occidentales achetaient des avions dans l'Italie fasciste... (1ère partie: la France)" [When Western Democracies Bought Their Aircraft from Fascist Italy... (Part 1: France)]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French). No. 71. pp. 16–24. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Domange, Yves (March 1999). "Quand les démocraties occidentales achetaient des avions dans l'Italie fasciste... (2ème partie: la Belgique et l'Angleterre)" [When Western Democracies Bought Their Aircraft from Fascist Italy... (Part 2: Belgium and England)]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French). No. 72. pp. 40–47. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Micrander, Bengt (November 1990). "Capricious Caproni (part 1)". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 18, no. 11. pp. 672–675. ISSN 0143-7240.
- Micrander, Bengt (December 1990). "Capricious Caproni (part 2)". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 18, no. 12. pp. 762–765. ISSN 0143-7240.
- Neulen, Hans Werner. In the Skies of Europe. Ramsbury, Marlborough, UK: The Crowood Press, 2000. ISBN 1-86126-799-1.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 236–37.
- "The Caproni that Nearly Joined the RAF". Air Enthusiast. Vol. 1, no. 2. July 1971. pp. 95–103.
- World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 891 Sheet 11.
External links edit
