Caproni Ca.111: Difference between revisions

|image=Image:Caproni Ca.111bis.jpg

|primary user=[[Regia Aeronautica]]

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|Ca.101]], it used a different engine. The [[fuselage]] was of square section, and the wing was practically rectangular, with the extremities sloped and the [[aileron]]s running the whole length of the [[trailing edge]]. Steel tubing was also used for the [[Landing gear|undercarriage]]. This was fixed and had a complex structure that had two legs supported by several steel tubes between the fuselage and the wings.

Fuel capacity was 1,690960 L (446 US gal) in two tanks, one of 1,060 L (280 US gal) and onetwo of 440450 L (116 US gal). Range was 2,000 km (1,240 mi). The oil tank was below the engine and contained 150 L (40 US gal).

The [[cockpit]] [[Flight instruments|instrument]]s were repeated for each pilot. The instrument fitpanel included a 'Pezzoni' compass, a 'Sonia' aerometer, a [[variometer]], 'OMI' altimeters and fire detectors with extinguisher controls. The [[Aircraft canopy|canopy]] was detachable to allow for exit in an emergency. There was also a rice-transmitter radio, for the marconistwireless-operator/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 aan OMI APR 3 panoramic. Sometimes, a cine-machine-gun was also fitted.

[[ImageFile:Caproni Ca.111Idro.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Caproni Ca.111''Idro'' [[floatplane]]]]

Possibly the most important version was the [[seaplane]], fitted with two 'shoes'floats 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 weightedweighed 3,500 kg (7,720 lb) and had a 2,000 kg (4,410 lb) payload. The two shoesfloats were made of cedarwood. The engine remained the same but with 1,940 L (510 US gal) of fuel. Range was greater, but speed was reduced. Defensive weapons were four 7.7 mm (.303 in) Lewis guns with 2,000 cartridges each. Bombload was similar to that shown above. An 800 kg (1,760 lb) [[torpedo]] could also be carried.

The Ca.111 was used as a long-range work-horse by the ''Regia Aeronautica''. Its main employment was in the [[Second Italo-Abyssinian 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 aircraft|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.

Nevertheless, the machine served until the early 1940s, when it was replaced as a reconnaissance aircraft by the [[Cant Z.501]] and the [[IMAM Ro.37]]. It was then used in the photoplannimetric role and as a supplier of isolated troops, this time in the Balkans, after the '[[Invasion of Yugoslavia|conquest' of [[Yugoslavia]].

[[Peru]] took delivery of a number of Ca.111s in the 1930s which they nicknamed ''Panchos'' for use as "heavy" bombers, but found them unsatisfactory in service and by 1935 had begun to consider replacing them. In 1936, Peru ordered [[Caproni Ca.135]] bombers—which entered [[Peruvian Air Force]] service in 1937—as replacements for its Ca.111s. However, Peru never procured enough Ca.135s to replace its Ca.111s; Ca.111s served in Peruvian Air Force heavy bomber squadrons alongside the new Ca.135s until 1940, when all Peruvian Ca.111s were reassigned for use as [[Military transport aircraft|transport aircraft]].<ref>[http://www.laahs.com/artman/publish/article_225.shtml The Latin American Aviation Historical Society: South American Aviation: "The Caproni Bergamaschi Ca.135 in Peruvian Service" by Amaru Tincopa Gallegos]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.</ref> Peru which had a small unit of paratroopers trained by Italy, during the [[Ecuadorian–Peruvian War#War|Zarumilla War]] of 1941 dropped a small number of paratroopers from Ca. 111 R.C. aircraft on 27 July to seize the river port of Port Bolivar in disputed territory. This was the first combat use of paratroopers in South American or North America's military history.

;{{flagcountry|KingdomNationalist of Italygovernment}}

|eng1 typename=[[Isotta- Fraschini]] Asso 750 RC]]

|armament1armament = *4 × 7.7 mm (.303 in) [[Breda-SAFAT machine gun]] in flexible positions in dorsal, ventral, and beam positions

|armament2=*Up to 600 kg (1,323 lb) of bombs

*[http://www.laahs.com/artman/publish/article_225.shtml The Latin American Aviation Historical Society: South American Aviation: "The Caproni Bergamaschi Ca.135 in Peruvian Service" by Amaru Tincopa Gallegos]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

* [httphttps://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=https%3A%2F%2Fbackend.710302.xyz%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.arribasiemprearriba.com%2FArticulos%2FParacaidismoEnElPeru.htm&sl=es&tl=en Peruvian Paratroopers in 1941 War between Peru and Ecuador with photos of paratroopers and Ca. 111 before take off - translated from Spanish to English]

[[Category:Peruvian1930s AirItalian Forcemilitary reconnaissance aircraft]]