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Caproni Ca.310

April 22, 2023

The Caproni Ca.310 Libeccio (Italian: southwest wind)[1] was an Italian monoplane, twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft used in World War II. Derived from the similar Ca.309, it had its combat debut during the Spanish Civil War and took part in the earlier phases of World War II in Libya. Some were used in attack groups as a temporary replacement for the unsatisfactory Breda Ba.65. The last Ca.310 was retired by the Italian Air Force in 1948.

Ca.310
Caproni-Begamaschi Ca.310
Role Reconnaissance
Manufacturer Caproni
Designer Cesare Pallavicino
First flight 20 February 1937
Introduction 1938
Retired 1948
Primary users Regia Aeronautica
Hungarian Air Force
Royal Norwegian Air Force
Air Force of Peru
Number built 312
Variants Caproni Ca.313
Caproni Ca.311

Design and development

The Ca.310 was designed as a low-wing monoplane reconnaissance/bomber, being essentially a version of the semi-military Ca.309 with retractable landing gear and uprated engines. The fuselage was of welded steel tube construction with a covering of light alloy panels and fabric, while the empennage/tail unit was of wooden construction with plywood skin on its fixed portions and fabric covering on control surfaces.[2]

Above the fuselage, mounted in line with the wing trailing edges was a manually operated dorsal turret armed with a single 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Breda-SAFAT machine gun.

Operational history

 
One of the four Norwegian Caproni Ca.310s c. 1939

Caproni pinned great hopes on the Ca. 310's effectiveness as a combat aircraft, only to be dashed when its performance fell short of expectations. This lack of performance resulted in both Norway and Hungary being disappointed with the export models they received in 1938. The Ca.310 had been evaluated by the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) which ordered a small batch. A unit of 16 aircraft was sent to Spain in July 1938 for operational trials as a reconnaissance/bomber by the Italian expeditionary force operating alongside the Nationalist insurgents in the Spanish Civil War.

The Norwegian aircraft were acquired as part of a dried and salted cod (Klippfisk) barter deal between Norway and Italy.[3][4] The original order, including options, was for 24 aircraft, but after seeing that the aircraft did not perform well, the Norwegian authorities refused to accept any further Ca.310s. Instead, a delivery of 12 Caproni Ca.312s with upgraded engines and improved performance was substituted, but not delivered before the German invasion of Norway on 9 April 1940. A similar scenario occurred with other export contracts, especially with a hoped-for Royal Air Force order for bomber trainers being curtailed during negotiations with Caproni when Italy entered the war as an Axis power.[2]

 
Partially restored Caproni Ca.310 bomber, Sola Aviation Museum

A series of 12 Ca.310bis were produced for Yugoslavia. This variant differed mainly in having an unstepped, glazed nose. The prototype Ca.310bis served as the development for the Caproni Ca.311.

The 33 Hungarian Ca.310s returned to Italy were refurbished by Caproni and reissued to the 50˚ Stormo d’Assalto. The Ca.310 was not considered an effective combat aircraft and when it saw service during World War II, it was as a reconnaissance aircraft and as a light bomber in areas where no serious opposition was expected.[5]

Peruvian Aeronautical Corps Ca.310s took part in the July 1941 Ecuadorian–Peruvian War. Together with North American NA.50s, the Peruvian Ca.310s flew bombing missions against Ecuadorian cities and supported Army of Peru ground forces.

Variants

Ca.310
Twin-engined reconnaissance aircraft, powered by two Piaggio Stella P.VII C.16/35 seven-cylinder radial piston engines.
Ca.310 Idro
Twin-float seaplane version.
Ca.310bis
Effectively the prototype of the Caproni Ca.311 with the unstepped all-glazed nose and two Piaggio Stella P.VII C.35 engines
Ca.318
Proposed derivative powered by two Gnome-Rhône 14K engines

Operators

  Independent State of Croatia
  Hungary
  • Royal Hungarian Air Force ordered 36 examples in 1938, but returned the surviving 33 in 1940 after being unhappy with type's performance.
  Kingdom of Italy
  Italy Postwar
  Norway
  Peru
  • Cuerpo de Aviación del Perú purchased 16 aircraft in 1938. 15 of them were delivered by ship in May 1938, and the last one was lost during the ferry flight from Italy to Peru on August 2, 1939, killing Capt. Pedro Canga Rodríguez and one of his crew members - their deaths being immortalized in the song "Alas Peruanas" by Los Morochucos.
  Spanish State
  Yugoslavia
  Yugoslavia

Surviving aircraft

One Norwegian example is being restored and is displayed at Sola Aviation Museum.[7]

Specifications (Ca.310)

 

Data from Caproni Ca.310 Overview and Specifications[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3
  • Length: 12.2 m (40 ft 0 in)
  • Wingspan: 16.2 m (53 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 3.52 m (11 ft 7 in)
  • Wing area: 38.7 m2 (417 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 3,040 kg (6,702 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 4,650 kg (10,251 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Piaggio Stella P.VII C.16/35 7-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 350 kW (470 hp) each
  • Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch ptropellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 365 km/h (227 mph, 197 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 285–312 km/h (177–194 mph, 154–168 kn)
  • Range: 1,690 km (1,050 mi, 910 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 7,000 m (23,000 ft)

Armament

  • Guns:
  • Bombs: up to 450 kg (992 lb)

See also

Related lists

References

  1. ^ , archived from the original on 14 May 2011
  2. ^ a b c JDG (14 March 2010). "Caproni Ca.310 Overview and Specifications". comandosupremo. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Norwegian Aircraft in 1940". nuav.net. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Mellomkrigstiden 1918-39". det Norske Forsvarets offisielle informasjonsteneste (in Norwegian). Oslo: Forsvarets overkommando. Archived from the original on 16 June 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  5. ^ , Constable.ca, archived from the original on 23 October 2007
  6. ^ a b c . Archived from the original on 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  7. ^ "Caproni Ca.310". caproni.blogspot. Retrieved 12 December 2019.

Bibliography

  • Lucchini, Carlo (April 1999). "Le meeting saharien de 1938" [The 1938 Sahara Air Meeting]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (73): 53–57. ISSN 1243-8650.

Further reading

  • Bishop, Chris (1998). The complete encyclopedia of weapons of World War II. London: Brown Books. ISBN 1-897884-36-2.
  • Donald, David Ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. 2001. Amber Books, London. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5.
  • Mondey, David (1996). Axis aircraft of World War II. New York: Chancellor Press. ISBN 1-85152-966-7.
  • Taylor, Michael J.H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopaedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. ISBN 978-0-517-69186-1.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caproni Ca.310.
  • Comando Supremo on the CA.310
  • World War 2 Aircraft: Caproni Bergamaschi CA 310 Series

April 22, 2023
caproni, libeccio, italian, southwest, wind, italian, monoplane, twin, engine, reconnaissance, aircraft, used, world, derived, from, similar, combat, debut, during, spanish, civil, took, part, earlier, phases, world, libya, some, were, used, attack, groups, te. The Caproni Ca 310 Libeccio Italian southwest wind 1 was an Italian monoplane twin engine reconnaissance aircraft used in World War II Derived from the similar Ca 309 it had its combat debut during the Spanish Civil War and took part in the earlier phases of World War II in Libya Some were used in attack groups as a temporary replacement for the unsatisfactory Breda Ba 65 The last Ca 310 was retired by the Italian Air Force in 1948 Ca 310Caproni Begamaschi Ca 310Role ReconnaissanceManufacturer CaproniDesigner Cesare PallavicinoFirst flight 20 February 1937Introduction 1938Retired 1948Primary users Regia AeronauticaHungarian Air ForceRoyal Norwegian Air ForceAir Force of PeruNumber built 312Variants Caproni Ca 313 Caproni Ca 311 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Surviving aircraft 6 Specifications Ca 310 7 See also 8 References 9 Bibliography 10 Further reading 11 External linksDesign and development EditThe Ca 310 was designed as a low wing monoplane reconnaissance bomber being essentially a version of the semi military Ca 309 with retractable landing gear and uprated engines The fuselage was of welded steel tube construction with a covering of light alloy panels and fabric while the empennage tail unit was of wooden construction with plywood skin on its fixed portions and fabric covering on control surfaces 2 Above the fuselage mounted in line with the wing trailing edges was a manually operated dorsal turret armed with a single 7 7 mm 0 303 in Breda SAFAT machine gun Operational history Edit One of the four Norwegian Caproni Ca 310s c 1939 Caproni pinned great hopes on the Ca 310 s effectiveness as a combat aircraft only to be dashed when its performance fell short of expectations This lack of performance resulted in both Norway and Hungary being disappointed with the export models they received in 1938 The Ca 310 had been evaluated by the Regia Aeronautica Italian Air Force which ordered a small batch A unit of 16 aircraft was sent to Spain in July 1938 for operational trials as a reconnaissance bomber by the Italian expeditionary force operating alongside the Nationalist insurgents in the Spanish Civil War The Norwegian aircraft were acquired as part of a dried and salted cod Klippfisk barter deal between Norway and Italy 3 4 The original order including options was for 24 aircraft but after seeing that the aircraft did not perform well the Norwegian authorities refused to accept any further Ca 310s Instead a delivery of 12 Caproni Ca 312s with upgraded engines and improved performance was substituted but not delivered before the German invasion of Norway on 9 April 1940 A similar scenario occurred with other export contracts especially with a hoped for Royal Air Force order for bomber trainers being curtailed during negotiations with Caproni when Italy entered the war as an Axis power 2 Partially restored Caproni Ca 310 bomber Sola Aviation Museum A series of 12 Ca 310bis were produced for Yugoslavia This variant differed mainly in having an unstepped glazed nose The prototype Ca 310bis served as the development for the Caproni Ca 311 The 33 Hungarian Ca 310s returned to Italy were refurbished by Caproni and reissued to the 50 Stormo d Assalto The Ca 310 was not considered an effective combat aircraft and when it saw service during World War II it was as a reconnaissance aircraft and as a light bomber in areas where no serious opposition was expected 5 Peruvian Aeronautical Corps Ca 310s took part in the July 1941 Ecuadorian Peruvian War Together with North American NA 50s the Peruvian Ca 310s flew bombing missions against Ecuadorian cities and supported Army of Peru ground forces Variants EditCa 310 Twin engined reconnaissance aircraft powered by two Piaggio Stella P VII C 16 35 seven cylinder radial piston engines Ca 310 Idro Twin float seaplane version Ca 310bis Effectively the prototype of the Caproni Ca 311 with the unstepped all glazed nose and two Piaggio Stella P VII C 35 engines Ca 318 Proposed derivative powered by two Gnome Rhone 14K enginesOperators Edit Independent State of CroatiaZrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Drzave Hrvatske operated seven captured ex Yugoslav aircraft HungaryRoyal Hungarian Air Force ordered 36 examples in 1938 but returned the surviving 33 in 1940 after being unhappy with type s performance Kingdom of ItalyRegia Aeronautica 193 aircraft 6 Aviazione Legionaria 16 aircraft 6 Italian Co Belligerent Air Force Italy PostwarAeronautica Militare Italiana NorwayNorwegian Army Air Service operated four Ca 310s Serial 501 503 505 and 507 PeruCuerpo de Aviacion del Peru purchased 16 aircraft in 1938 15 of them were delivered by ship in May 1938 and the last one was lost during the ferry flight from Italy to Peru on August 2 1939 killing Capt Pedro Canga Rodriguez and one of his crew members their deaths being immortalized in the song Alas Peruanas by Los Morochucos Spanish StateAviacion Nacional 16 aircraft 6 YugoslaviaRoyal Yugoslav Air Force purchased 12 aircraft in 1938 YugoslaviaSFR Yugoslav Air Force Postwar Surviving aircraft EditOne Norwegian example is being restored and is displayed at Sola Aviation Museum 7 Specifications Ca 310 Edit Data from Caproni Ca 310 Overview and Specifications 2 General characteristicsCrew 3 Length 12 2 m 40 ft 0 in Wingspan 16 2 m 53 ft 2 in Height 3 52 m 11 ft 7 in Wing area 38 7 m2 417 sq ft Empty weight 3 040 kg 6 702 lb Max takeoff weight 4 650 kg 10 251 lb Powerplant 2 Piaggio Stella P VII C 16 35 7 cylinder air cooled radial piston engine 350 kW 470 hp each Propellers 3 bladed variable pitch ptropellersPerformance Maximum speed 365 km h 227 mph 197 kn Cruise speed 285 312 km h 177 194 mph 154 168 kn Range 1 690 km 1 050 mi 910 nmi Service ceiling 7 000 m 23 000 ft Armament Guns 3 7 7 mm 0 303 in Breda SAFAT machine guns 2 fixed forward firing mounted in the wing roots 1 in a dorsal turret Bombs up to 450 kg 992 lb See also EditRelated lists List of Interwar military aircraft List of Regia Aeronautica aircraft used in World War IIReferences Edit Glossary of Meteorology archived from the original on 14 May 2011 a b c JDG 14 March 2010 Caproni Ca 310 Overview and Specifications comandosupremo Retrieved 12 December 2019 Norwegian Aircraft in 1940 nuav net Retrieved 12 December 2019 Mellomkrigstiden 1918 39 det Norske Forsvarets offisielle informasjonsteneste in Norwegian Oslo Forsvarets overkommando Archived from the original on 16 June 2007 Retrieved 12 December 2019 Caproni Ca 310 Reconnaissance Bomber Libeccio Constable ca archived from the original on 23 October 2007 a b c Caproni Ca 310 Archived from the original on 2017 10 01 Retrieved 2021 07 07 Caproni Ca 310 caproni blogspot Retrieved 12 December 2019 Bibliography EditLucchini Carlo April 1999 Le meeting saharien de 1938 The 1938 Sahara Air Meeting Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 73 53 57 ISSN 1243 8650 Further reading EditBishop Chris 1998 The complete encyclopedia of weapons of World War II London Brown Books ISBN 1 897884 36 2 Donald David Ed The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft 2001 Amber Books London ISBN 0 7607 0592 5 Mondey David 1996 Axis aircraft of World War II New York Chancellor Press ISBN 1 85152 966 7 Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopaedia of Aviation London Studio Editions ISBN 978 0 517 69186 1 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caproni Ca 310 Comando Supremo on the CA 310 Constable ca on the Ca 310 World War 2 Aircraft Caproni Bergamaschi CA 310 Series Portals Italy Companies Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Caproni Ca 310 amp oldid 1136471812, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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