Fiat CR.25
| CR.25 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fiat CR.25 over the Alps c. 1941 | |
| Role | Fighter Bomber aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Fiat |
| First flight | 22 July 1937 |
| Primary user | Regia Aeronautica |
| Number built | 12 |
The Fiat CR.25 was an Italian twin-engine reconnaissance-bomber fighter aircraft which served in small numbers for the Regia Aeronautica during World War II.
40 CR.25s were ordered after the operative failure of the apparently more promising Breda Ba.88 bomber. Later, it was decided to use the CR.25 as a reconnaissance plane, with a total of ten aircraft entering service. It was used during the war by the 173a Squadriglia Ricognizione Strategica Terrestre (Strategic Land Reconnaissance Squadron), operating from Sicily. Despite positive reports from the pilots, and a proposal by Fiat to resume production, no further aircraft were produced.
It was also used for transport of senior air force officers from Rome to Berlin.
Variants
- CR.25 : Twin-engined reconnaissance bomber aircraft, two prototypes built.
- CR.25bis : Strategic reconnaissance aircraft, long-range escort fighter aircraft, ten preproduction aircraft built.
- CR.25D : The 10th preproduction aircraft, redesignated CR.25D as a transport for the Italian air attaché in Berlin.
- CR.25quater : The CR.25quater, flown in 1940, was a more heavily armed version with a slight increase in wing area .
Operators
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Specifications (CR.25)
General characteristics
- Crew: two or three (a third member was needed for bombing missions)
- Length: 13.56 m (44 ft 6 in)
- Wingspan: 16 m (52 ft 6 in)
- Height: 3.30 m (10 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 39.20 m² (421.39 ft²)
- Empty weight: 4,475 kg (9,845 lb)
- Loaded weight: 6,625 kg (14,575 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Fiat A.74 R.C.38 radial engines, 627 kW (840 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 450 km/h (241 kn, 278 mph)
- Range: 1,500 km (810 nmi, 925 mi)
- Service ceiling: 7,950 m (26,076 ft)
Armament
- Guns: 3 × 12.7 mm (.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns
- Bombs: Up to 300 kg (660 lb)
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fiat CR.25. |
- Garello, GianCarlo. CR 25. Turin: La Bancarella Aeronautica, 1997.