Fiat CR.32
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| CR.32 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Fiat |
| Designed by | Celestino Rosatelli |
| Retired | 1953 (Spanish Air Force) |
| Primary users | Regia Aeronautica Hungarian Air Force Spanish Air Force |
| Variants | Fiat CR.42 |
The Fiat CR.32 was an Italian biplane fighter used in the Spanish Civil War and World War II. Although considered one of the finest biplane fighters of its era, the CR.32 was overtaken by more advanced monoplane designs and was obsolete by 1939.
Contents |
[edit] Design and development
The Fiat CR.32 was designed by Celestino Rosatelli. Derived from earlier CR.20 and CR.30 designs, the CR.32 was a more streamlined biplane fighter with a conventional metallic frame utilizing an engine section in aluminum with fabric covering on the fuselage, wings and tail. A notable feature was that the lower wing was shorter than the upper wing making it sesquiplane. The Fiat A.30 engine produced 600 hp driving a dual-blade propeller. Armament included two 12.7 mm Safat machine guns located on top of the engine cover.
[edit] Operational history
After a period of testing, the prototypes were followed by a first order from the Regia Aeronautica, and by May 1939 there were already 1052 fighters in “bis”, “tris” and “quarter” versions in service. The CR.32 was well liked by its crews, being very maneuverable and having a strong fuselage structure. It was used extensively in the Spanish Civil War and in World War II, 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 late 1937 when the Chinese capital at Nanjing fell.
[edit] Variants
- CR.30
- Armed with twin Breda-SAFAT 12.7 mm or 7.7 mm machine guns and powered by single 600 hp (447 kW) Fiat A.30 V-12 water-cooled engine.
- CR.32
- Armed with twin 12.7 mm or 7.7 mm machine guns and powered by 600 hp (447 kW) Fiat A.30 RAbis engine. Delivered to Italian air force between March 1934 and February 1936.
- CR.32bis
- Close-support fighter version armed with twin 7.7 mm and twin 12.7 mm machine guns. Bomb racks with ability to carry 100 kg 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 with reduced weight, added radio and max speed 356 km/h at 3,000 m. 337 built for the Italian air force.
- 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.
- HA-132L
- Spanish version that was in service as an aerobatic trainer till 1953.
[edit] Operators
_crowned.svg/22px-Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946)_crowned.svg.png){kind=small}
- Paraguayan Air Force ordered five aircraft in 1938.
- Venezuelan Air Force ordered nine aircraft in 1938.
[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 ft²)
- 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 (220 lb)
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
- Apostolo, Giorgio. Fiat CR 32 (Ali D'Italia 4). (in Italian/English). Torino, Italy: La Bancarella Aeronautica, 1996. No ISBN.
- Cattaneo, Gianni The Fiat CR.32 (Aircraft in Profile Number 22). Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1965.
- Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. "The Facile Fiat...Rosatelli's Italian Fighter" Air Enthusiast Twenty-two August-November 1983. Bromley, Kent, UK: Pilot Press Ltd., 1983.
- Maliza, Nicola. Il Fiat C.R. 32 - Poesia del Volo (in Italian). Roma, Italy: Edizioni dell'Ateneo & Bizzarri, 1981.
- McCullough, Anson. "La Cucaracha." Airpower Volume 28, No. 5, September 1998.
- Mondey, David. The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. New York: Bounty Books, 1996. ISBN 1-85152-966-7.
- Punka, George. Fiat CR 32/CR 42 in Action (Aircraft Number 172). Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal, 2000. ISBN 0-89747-411-2.
- Westburg, Peter. "Dogfight over Ruthenia." Airpower Volume 13, No. 6, November 1983.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
- List of military aircraft of Italy
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
