Caproni Ca.111
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| Ca.111 | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Manufacturer | Caproni |
| Designed by | Rodolfo Verduzio |
| Maiden flight | February 1932 |
| Number built | 148 |
The Caproni Ca.111 was a long-range reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber produced in Italy during World War II. It was a derivative of the Ca.101.
[edit] Design and development
A robust and simple aircraft, it was meant to be used in harsh conditions with minimal support. It was designed by the engineer Rodolfo Verduzio of Gianni Caproni in 1931, and first flew in February 1932 as MM 205.
This aircraft was a high-wing monoplane, built with a robust but simple structure consisting of a tubular steel skeleton with a fabric and wood skin. Derived from the earlier Caproni Ca.101, it used different a engine. The fuselage was of square section, and the wing was practically rectangular, with the extremities sloped and the ailerons running the whole length of the trailing edge. Steel tubing was also used for the undercarriage. This was fixed and had a complex structure that had two legs supported by several steel tubes between the fuselage and the wings.
The crew consisted of three men. The pilot, a co-pilot/observer and a flight engineer/gunner.
The main innovation was the engine. Whilst the previous Ca.101 had three units, the newer type had only one. This was a risk because the engines of the time were not very reliable. It seems that the gamble paid off as the Ca.111 was faster than the three engined Ca.101 and even the Ca.133. The engine was a water-cooled Isotta Fraschini Asso 750RC 18cylinder in a 'W' layout. The first examples were equipped with a four bladed wooden propeller. Later models were fitted with the 3 bladed metal propeller with variable pitch. The required pitch had to be set on the ground and was not variable in flight. It was heavier and more expensive but provided a worthwhile improvement.
Fuel capacity was 1,690l in two tanks, one of 1,060l and one of 440l. Range was 2,000km. The oil tank was below the engine and contained 150l.
Maximum payload was 2,000kg, but if necessary could be raised to 2,500-2,800kg.
The cockpit instruments were repeated for each pilot. The instrument fit included a 'Pezzoni' compass, a 'Sonia' aerometer, a variometer, 'OMI' altimeters and fire detectors with extinguisher controls. The canopy was detachable to allow for exit in an emergency. There was also a rice-transmitter radio, for the marconist-gunner. This consisted of a RE 350 and AR 5 transmitter-receiver. This allowed both telegraphic and voice transmissions. To make this possible, there were two radio antennas: one fixed, one flexible. There were two accumulators and two air-generators. Finally, there was a photographic, photoplanimetric O.M.I. 13x18 camera, or a OMI APR 3 panoramic. Sometimes, a cine-machine-gun was also fitted.
Defensive armament varied between three and six 7,7mm machine-guns. Initially the armament was quite weak, one Lewis gun in the dorsal position, and one in each beam position. This was a serious failing as the gunner could only man one weapon at a time. One improvement was the replacement of the single dorsal gun by a turret fitted with two 7,7mm Bredas. Another machine-gun was sometimes fitted in the ventral position, both for offensive and defensive tasks. Some examples also had a machine-gun fixed in the nose, firing with a synchronizer through the propeller disk.
Bombload, theoretically was up to 600kg, in practice, it was more. This load was held vertically inside the fuselage, and consisted of two launchers for:
- 6x100kg (total practical, 780kg)
- 6x50 (total, practical, 420kg)
- 6x24, 20, 15, 12, 10kg.
Up to fifteen 12, 15 or 24kg bombs could be carried in a third laucher. It was also possible to carry two bombs of 250 or 500kg or incendaries (144x1kg and 144x2kg). Finally, chemical bombs could also be dropped.
The door for entry into the aircraft was on the left-hand side.
A civil version was built with seven seats. THe Caproni Ca.140 was, instead, a retractable version of the basic project, but remained prototype. Another prototype was a version with a 3,000km range, but the redesigned Ca.112 it was not put into production. Its most notable difference was a new elliptic and enlarged wing.
One example had an 1000hp A.80 engine.
Possibly the most important version was the hydroplane, fitted with two 'shoes' under the belly. It had been tested in 1932 and was called the Ca.111 'Idro'. The 'Idro' version was the first to enter service. It was almost identical to the land version, but weighted 3,500kg and had a 2,00kg payload. The two shoes were made of cedarwood. The engine remained the same but with 1,940l (1,455kg) of fuel. Range was greater but speed was reduced. Defensive weapons were 4 Lewis-guns with 2,000 cartridges each. Bombload was similar to that shown above. An 800kg torpedo could also be carried.
[edit] Operational history
The first examples were used by 146 and 183 Squadrilia, 85° Gruppo, to perform maritime reconnaissance, followed by the 142. They had six machines each. After just a year, these machines were replaced by CANT Z.501s. The aircraft were not scrapped but converted for land use, complete with undercarriage. Over 100 machines were rebuilt between 1934 and 1936. 25 were 'Idro' versions.
The Ca.111 was used as a long-range work-horse by the Regia Aereonautica. Its main employment was in the Ethiopian war. This aircraft was, like all other machines, sent to the Ethiopian theatre by sea. The aircraft performed a variety of tasks, such as long range reconnaissance, ground attack, bombing, and as a refuelling machine. It was even used to drop live animals to the troops ! The aircraft was well suited to this kind of environment. It was relatively simple to maintain and could often be repaired with local materials. In this theatre it was second only to the SM.81, which was much more sophisticated.
On the whole this machine was cheap, robust and reliable. It had good performance and could be armed with a variety of ordnance. It was also highly vulnerable and so was not deployed to places like Spain.
Nevertheless, the machine served until the early 1940s, when it was replaced as a reconnaissance aircraft by the Cant Z.501 and Ro.37. It was then used in the photoplannimetric role and as a supplier of isolated troops, this time in the Balkans, after the 'conquest' of Yugoslavia.
[edit] Specifications (Ca.111)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2-4
- Length: 15.30 m (50 ft 3 in)
- Wingspan: 19.65 m (64 ft 3 in)
- Height: 3.85 m (12 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 61.5 m² (662 ft²)
- Empty weight: 3,490 kg (7,694 lb)
- Gross weight: 5,490 kg (12,103 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Isotta-Fraschini Asso 750 RC, 619 kW (830 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 290 km/h (180 mph)
- Range: 1,300 km (808 miles)
- Service ceiling: 6,700 m (21,980 ft)
- Rate of climb: 3.1 m/s (610 ft/min)
Armament
- 4 × 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun in flexible positions in dorsal, ventral, and beam positions
- Up to 600 kg (1,323 lb) of bombs
[edit] References
- Lembo, Daniele Caproni Ca.111, Storia Militare N.35, Westward editions, pagg. 8-19.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 234.
- World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 891 Sheet 10.
[edit] External links
- Caproni Ca.111 Photo
[edit] See also
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