Fiat CR.32

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CR.32
Type	Fighter
Manufacturer	Fiat
Primary users	Italian Air Force Hungarian Air Force
Variants	Fiat CR.42

The Fiat CR.32 was an Italian biplane fighter used in the Spanish Civil War and WW2. A notable feature was that the lower wing was shorter than the upper wing. It was well liked by its crews, being very manuverable and having a strong fuselage structure. It was used extensively in the Spanish Civil War and in WW2, although by 1942 it was relegated to night missions as newer fighters were put into service. Sixteen of the type were ordered by China in 1933 and used with some initial success against the invading Japanese, but all were lost by 1937 when the Chinese capital fell.

Contents 1 Variants 2 Operators 3 Specifications (CR.32) 4 Related content

[edit] Variants

• CR.30
  • twin Breda-SAFAT 12.7 mm or 7.7 mm caliber machine guns
  • single 600 hp (447 kW) Fiat A.30 V-12 water-cooled engine
• CR.32:
  • twin 12.7 mm or 7.7 mm caliber machine guns
  • Delivered to Italian air force between March 1934 and February 1936
  • changed to 600 hp (447 kW) Fiat A.30 RAbis engine
• CR.32bis:
  • Close-support fighter version.
  • twin 7.7 mm caliber and twin 12.7 mm caliber machine guns
  • 100 kg (220 lb) bombload possible: 1 x 100 kg or 2 x 50 kg
• CR.32ter:
  • Revised CR.32bis with many improved features
• CR.32quater::
  • Revised CR.32ter (reduced weight, radio added)
  • 337 produced for the Italian air force.
  • Maximum speed: 221 mph (356 km/h) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
• HA-132L:
  • Spanish version that was in service as an aerobatic trainer till 1953.
• CR.33:
  • Only three Prototypes were built.
• CR.40:
  • One prototype powered by a Bristol Mercury IV radial piston engine.
• CR.40bis:
  • One prototype only.
• CR.41:
  • One prototype only.

[edit] Operators

•  Argentina
•  Austria
•  China
•  Germany: Luftwaffe
•  Hungary
•  Italy
•  Paraguay
•  Spain
•  Venezuela

[edit] Specifications (CR.32)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 7.47 m (24 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 9.5 m (31 ft 2.25 in)
• Height: 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in)
• Wing area: 22.1 m² (237.88 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 1,455 kg (3,210 lb)
• Loaded weight: 1,975 kg (4,350 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Fiat A30 RA-bis V12 , 600 hp (445 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 360 km/h (224 mph)
• Range: 781 km (485 mi)
• Service ceiling: 8,800 m (28,870 ft)
• Rate of climb: 9 m/s (1,822 ft/min)

Armament

• Guns: 2 Breda-SAFAT 7.7 mm machine guns
• Bombs: Up to 100 kg

[edit] Related content

Related development

• Fiat CR.42

Comparable aircraft

• Polikarpov I-15

Designation sequence

CR.20 - CR.25 - CR.30 - CR.32 - CR.33 - CR.40 - CR.41

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of Italy