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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 2356.PDF
AUGUST 22, 1940 CAPRONI TYPES (CONTINUED) Two views ot the Ca 312 bis. In the 312 I.S. the torpedo is carried in a streamline housing under the fuselage. In the three-quarter rear view the gun position in the roof ofthe fuselage can be seen. bombs stowed internally in the fuselage. Defensive armament in both versions comprises two machine guns, one in the port wing and the other in a turret on top of the fuselage. The latter gun is intended to cover the whole upper hemisphere. The aerodynamic design is straight- forward and conforms to the usual formula. In the landplane version the wheels retract into the engine nacelles. The seaplane has two long floats, sup- ported on the usual structure of stream- line steel tube struts. Each float is carried on " N" struts from the engine nacelle structure and braced laterally by inverted-vee struts from the fuselage. The floats are of light- metal construction and are of ample length. They are said to have a capacity of 5 cu. m. each, which gives, with a gross weight of 5,700 kg. (12,500 lb.), a reserve buoyancy of 88 per cent. Mixed Construction Structurally, the Ca 112 is of mixed construction, with wooden wing and chrome molybdenum welded tubular fuselage. With mixed construction it is obviously not possible to make the wing centre-section integral with the fuselage, and consequently it is attached by bolts. The fuselage itself is in two units, bolted together. It is claimed that by so designing the machine the manufacture of the various units can be carried out by different firms, provided the jigs used are sufficiently accurate to ensure the proper mating of the bolted joints. In order to give the pilot and, par- ticularly, the bomb-aimer a good view, the entire forward portion of the fuse- lage is covered with transparent material over a framework of steel angles and tees. To give the bomb- aimer a chance of escape by para- chute, the nose portion can be opened, although one doubts whether it would always be possible to get clear of floats, struts, and revolving airscrews. For the use of the pilot in emergency there are two detachable panels in the cabin roof. Dual controls are fitted, there being two rudder bars, of which the starboard one can be folded when not in use. The wheel is of the swing- over type. The equipment is planned with a view to using the machine for a variety of duties. Two-way wireless is carried, and there is full night-flying equip- ment, including a 1,000 candle-power landing light. A photographic camera is part of the equipment. As already stated, all three versions of the machine are powered by two Piaggio engines. These are of the P.XVI type, a nine-cylinder radial of 42.9 litres capacity. The rated power is 650 b.h.p. at 3,500 m. (11,500ft.), with about 700 b.h.p. for the take-off. The engine speed at rated power is 2,200 r.p.m., and the airscrew reduc- tion gear ratio 1: 1.61. Variable- pitch three-bladed airscrews are fitted. With a wing span of 16.2 metres (53ft. 2in.), a length of 13.4 m. (43ft. ioin.), and a wing area of 38.7 sq.m. (417 sq. ft.), the Caproni is approxi mately of the same size as the Bristol Blenheim. The tare weight is 4,000 kg. (8,800 lb.) and the disposable load 3,740 lb. in the Case of the torpedo- carrying version and 3,520 lb. for the bomber. Performance In view of the lower power of the Piaggio engines, it was not to be ex- pected that the Caproni could be as fast as the Blenheim, particularly when fitted with floats. Nevertheless, the makers claim for it a maximum speed at 4,000 m. (13,100ft.) of 400 km./h. (249 m.p.h.) for the bomber and 380 km./h. (236 m.p.h.) for the torpedo-plane. The wing loading is fairly high (about 30 lb./sq. ft.), but for all that it seems rather doubtful that the speeds claimed can be attained in practice. The rate of climb claimed is good, 13,100ft. in 16 minutes for the tor- pedoplane and in 13 minutes for the bomber. No performance figures are available for the reconnaissance land- plane version, but obviously they should be considerably better than those of the seaplanes. With full military load the range of the 312 I.S. is stated to be 600 km. (373 miles) and that of the 312 bis 900 km. (560 miles) If, however, the machines are used purely for reconnaissance, and carry defensive equipment only, the range goes up to 1,000 miles. The ceilings of the two types are given as 5,000 m. (16,400ft.) and 6,000 m. (19,700ft.) respectively. The Ca 311 is similar to the 312except for the wheel under- carriage. In this form themachine is used for reconnaissance.
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