×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Chart (2024) Special Forces
HOME
AVIATION INDEX
MODERN AIR FORCES
AIRCRAFT BY COUNTRY
AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE AIRCRAFT
AIRCRAFT BY CONFLICT
AIRCRAFT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT BY DECADE
WWI AIRCRAFT
Aviation / Aerospace

Caproni Ca.4


Triple-Engine Heavy Bomber Triplane Aircraft [ 1918 ]



The Caproni Ca.4 triplane heavy bomber proved itself a heady performer for the Italians during World War 1.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/31/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
Giovanni Caproni was a prolific Italian aircraft designer of the 20th Century with his contributions seen throughout both World Wars. His initial venture was the Ca.1 experimental biplane of 1910 which led to the line of large aircraft seen in World War 1 (1914-1918) - the Ca.2, Ca.3 and Ca.4 heavy bombers all emerged during this time. The Ca.4 was a progressive development of the earlier, successful Ca.3 and led to production of some 50 or so aircraft. The product achieved a first flight in 1917 and was formally introduced during 1918, the last year of the war. It was eventually taken into service with the forces of Italy and Britain while United States evaluated three examples.

For its Ca.4 product, Caproni took the Ca.3 as a starting point and retained the twin-boom / center nacelle arrangement. The twin-boom configuration resulted in triple-rudders at the tail. Drive power was from a single engine installed at the rear of the center nacelle in a "pusher" setup while the forward sections of each boom structure housed an engine in a "puller" setup. All three engines were Liberty L-12 series V12 liquid-cooled powerplants of 400 horsepower output (each). The undercarriage, fixed during flight by a network of struts and cables, were multi-wheeled to help support the aircraft when on the ground. The crew numbered four and consisted of two pilots, a forward machine gunner and a rear machine gunner, the latter also doubling as an in-flight mechanic. Standard armament centered on four 6.5mm FIAT-Revelli machine guns while up to 3,200lb of conventional drop stores could be carried.

Unlike previous Caproni bombers, the Ca.4 was given a triple wing arrangement for improved lift and control.©MilitaryFactory.com
The initial prototype was known under the company designation of Ca.40 and this was followed by the production-quality Ca.41 which numbered 41 total aircraft - these powered by FIAT A.12 inline engines of 280 horsepower (each). The Italian air service tested the platform during 1917 before formal operational service was granted in 1918. The heavy bombers were used along the Italian-Austro-Hungarian Front where it proved itself a relatively fast, robust and reliable product that held a considerable bomb load.

With its sound design and triple-engine layout, the aircraft could reach a maximum speed of 87 miles per hour and range out to 435 miles while flying at altitudes up to 9,845 feet. Rate-of-climb was listed at 410 feet-per-minute.

Then came twelve of the Ca.42 model which introduced the 400 horsepower Liberty engines mentioned above. The Ca.43 served as a "one-off" flying boat derivative and the Ca.48 marked post-war passenger airliners converted from wartime bombers. The Ca.51 became another one-off form powered by FIAT A.14 series engines of 700 horsepower (each) and featured a new tail assembly. Ca.52 marked British Ca.42s and numbered six aircraft. The Ca.58 sported either Fiat A.14 or Isotta Fraschini V.6 series engines and the Ca.59 became its export designator.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications



Caproni - Italy
Manufacturer(s)
Kingdom of Italy; United Kingdom; United States (evaluation only)
Operators National flag of Italy National flag of the Kingdom of Italy National flag of the United Kingdom National flag of the United States
1918
Service Year
Kingdom of Italy
National Origin
4
Crew
50
Units


GROUND ATTACK
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
MARITIME / NAVY
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.


42.7 ft
(13.00 meters)
Length
98.1 ft
(29.90 meters)
Width/Span
20.7 ft
(6.30 meters)
Height
14,793 lb
(6,710 kilograms)
Empty Weight
16,535 lb
(7,500 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight
+1,742 lb
(+790 kg)
Weight Difference


3 x Liberty L-12 V12 water-cooled inline engines developing 400 horsepower each.
Propulsion
87 mph
(140 kph | 76 knots)
Max Speed
9,843 ft
(3,000 m | 2 miles)
Ceiling
435 miles
(700 km | 378 nm)
Range
410 ft/min
(125 m/min)
Rate-of-Climb


MACH Regime (Sonic)
Sub
Trans
Super
Hyper
HiHyper
ReEntry
RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030


STANDARD:
4 x 6.5mm FIAT-Revelli machine guns

OPTIONAL:
Up to 3,200lb of conventional drop ordnance.


0
Hardpoints


Ca.40
Ca.4 - Base Italian Military Designation
Ca.40 - Prototype model
Ca.41 (Caproni 750hp) - Definitive production form; fitted with 3 x Fiat A.12 engines of 280 horsepower; 41 examples.
Ca.42 (Caproni 1200hp) - Fitted with 3 x Liberty engines of 400 horsepower; 12 examples.
Ca.43 - One-off flying boat model
Ca.48 - Airliner form converted from wartime Ca.42 bombers.
Ca.51 - One-off example with new tail and 3 x Fiat A.14 engines of 700 horsepower.
Ca.52 - British Ca.42 models; six examples.
Ca.58 - Ca.48 bombers completed with Fiat A.14 or Isotta Fraschini V.6 engines.
Ca.59 - Export designation of Ca.48 aircraft.


Military lapel ribbon for Operation Allied Force
Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Britain
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Midway
Military lapel ribbon for the Berlin Airlift
Military lapel ribbon for the Chaco War
Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War
Military lapel ribbon for the Cuban Missile Crisis
Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War
Military lapel ribbon for the French-Indochina War
Military lapel ribbon for the Golden Age of Flight
Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War
Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars
Military lapel ribbon for the Iran-Iraq War
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon for the 1982 Lebanon War
Military lapel ribbon for the Malayan Emergency
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the attack on Pearl Harbor
Military lapel ribbon for the Six Day War
Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War
Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for Special Forces
Military lapel ribbon for the Suez Crisis
Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War
Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War
Military lapel ribbon for Warsaw Pact of the Cold War-era
Military lapel ribbon for the WASP (WW2)
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2
Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur War
Military lapel ribbon for experimental x-plane aircraft

Images



1 / 1
Image of the Caproni Ca.4
Image from the Public Domain.

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)