Caproni Ca.314

{{Infobox aircraft

|name = Ca.314

|image = Caproni Ca.314.jpg

|caption =

|type = Attack aircraft/light bomber/torpedo bomber

|manufacturer = Caproni

|designer =

|first_flight =

|introduction =

|retired =

|produced =

|number_built =

|status =

|unit cost =

|primary_user = Italian Air Force

|more_users = Hungarian Air Force

|developed_from = Caproni Ca.310

|variants =

}}

The Caproni Ca.314 was an Italian twin-engine attack/torpedo bomber aircraft, used in World War II.

Derived from the similar Ca.310, the Ca.314 was used mainly for ground attack and torpedo bomber missions. It was the most extensively-built Ca.310 derivative, and included variants dedicated to light bomber, convoy escort/maritime patrol, torpedo bomber, and ground-attack.

Design and development

Caproni Ca.314 was developed in parallel with the Ghibli, the Ca.310 Libeccio. It was structurally similar to the earlier machine powered by two 350kW Piaggio P.VII C.35 radial engines. The prototype of Ca.310bis served as the development aircraft for Ca.311. It was similar to Ca.310bis, but most were later modified by the introduction of windshields, then redesigned Ca.311Mis.

Operational history

Variants

File:Caproni Ca.314 on ground.jpg

;Ca 314A

:Light bomber.

;Ca 314-SC (Scorta)

:The Ca.314Sc ("Scorta" - escort) was a machine for convoy escort and maritime patrol duties. This version was made in 1942, due to the factory's difficulties, deliveries were sparse and irregular.

;Ca 314B

:Ca.314B or Ca.314-RA - was a torpedo bomber carrying one torpedo weighing up to 900 kg, a 500 kg bomb or two 250 kg bombs.80 built.

;Ca 314C

:It provided close support to ground forces, for this purpose it was equipped with two 12.7 mm machine guns mounted under the wings. At the expense of fuel supplies, the bomb load capacity was also increased. Most machines of this version had Delta RC.35I-DS engines. series III with a power of 780 Horse power.254 built.

Ca.314G

It was the most heavily armed, but excessive weight reduced its performance.

Operators

; {{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}

Regia Aeronautica

;{{ITA}}

Italian Air Force[http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/italy/af/ital-af2-all-time.htm aeroflight]

; {{flag|Hungary|1920}}

Hungarian Air Force

Specifications (Ca.314A)

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Italian Civil and Military aircraft 1930–1945{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Jonathan W. |title=Italian Civil and Military aircraft 1930–1945 |publisher=Aero Publishers Inc. |location=USA |year=1963 |isbn=978-0-8168-6500-0 |lccn=63-17621}}

|prime units?=met

|genhide=

|crew=three

|capacity=

|length m=11.8

|length ft=

|length in=

|span m=16.65

|span ft=

|span in=

|swept m=

|swept ft=

|swept in=

|height m=3.7

|height ft=

|height in=

|wing area sqm=39.2

|wing area sqft=

|wing area note=

|swept area sqm=

|swept area sqft=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=

|empty weight kg=4560

|empty weight lb=

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=6620

|gross weight lb=

|gross weight note=

|fuel capacity=

|more general=

|eng1 number=2

|eng1 name= Isotta-Fraschini Delta R.C.25 (I-DS)

|eng1 type=inverted air-cooled V-12 piston engine

|eng1 kw=

|eng1 hp=724

|eng1 shp=

|eng1 kn=

|eng1 lbf=

|power original=

|thrust original=

|eng1 kn-ab=

|eng1 lbf-ab=

|more power=

|prop blade number=

|prop name=

|prop dia m=

|prop dia ft=

|prop dia in=

|prop note=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=395

|max speed mph=

|max speed kts=

|max speed mach=

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed mph=

|cruise speed kts=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed mph=

|never exceed speed kts=

|range km=1690

|range miles=

|range nmi=

|combat range km=

|combat range miles=

|combat range nmi=

|endurance=

|ceiling m=6400

|ceiling ft=

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate ftmin=

|lift to drag=

|wing loading kg/m2=

|wing loading lb/sqft=

|wing loading note=

|more performance=

|armament=

Guns:
:2 × {{convert|12.7|mm|in|abbr=on|3}} fixed forward-firing Breda SAFAT machine-guns in the wing roots
:1 × {{convert|7.7|mm|in|abbr=on|3}} Breda SAFAT machine gun in a dorsal turret
Bombs: Up to {{convert|500|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

}}