Caproni Ca.355 "Tuffo", from failure to optimus.

[ImportantSimone5 17]

Caproni 355 "Tuffo" (Dive in english)

 

 

 

In 1939, the Italian Ministry dedicated to the aeronautical specialty asked companies involved in the aeronautical sector for a vehicle to be used as a dive bomber, similar to the Stuka, to be assigned to the so-called "divers" departments of the Regia Aeronautica. Exploiting an old project gone wrong by his company, Mr. Pallavicino Cesare created and proposed his Caproni Ca.335 Tuffo, a simplified version of the Caproni Ca.355 Maestrale, so to speak, and it was registered with the registration number MM.470. On March 23, 1941, shortly after its first flight, the project was abandoned and the only example of the vehicle was abandoned and probably dismantled to get back what was possible.

 

Propulsion.

The Caproni 335 mounted an Isotta Fraschini Delta engine in the fuselage, an air-cooled 12-cylinder inverted V engine, still under development at the time. Despite this, the engine was used on various vehicles among which the Reggiane 2001 and the SAI Ambrosini 403 stand out. The engine in question was capable of delivering a power equal to 850 horsepower, which allowed the vehicle to reach the horizontal speed of 490 km/h at an altitude of 7,400.

 

Armament.

The Caproni 335 could count on an armament consisting of two Breda-SAFAT 12.7 mm offensive machine guns and one Breda-SAFAT 7.7 mm dorsal defensive machine gun. Furthermore, the vehicle being a dive bomber could mount a bomb load of 400 kg.

 

General characteristics

• Crew: two
• Length: 9.93 m (32 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 12.96 m (42 ft 6 in)
• Empty weight: 1,980 kg (4,365 lb)
• Gross weight: 3,050 kg (6,724 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Isotta Fraschini Delta IV R.C.35 liquid-cooled V12 engine, 625 kW (850 hp) take-off power
• Propellers: 3-bladed bladed constant speed

Performance

• Maximum speed: 490 km/h (300 mph, 260 kn) at 7,400 m
• Cruise speed: 380 km/h (240 mph, 210 kn)
• Range: 1,025 km (637 mi, 553 nmi)

Armament

• Guns:
  • 2× 7.7 mm or 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in the wings (planned)
  • 1× 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun in the dorsal pannier (planned)
• Bombs: 400 kg (800 lb) under wings and fuselage

 

Photos

 

Spoiler

 

Projects and drawings:

Spoiler

 

 

Sources:

http://www.alatricolore.it/alatricolore/storici/c/caproni/ca335.htm

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caproni_Ca.355

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caproni_Ca.355

https://www.wikiwand.com/it/Caproni_Ca.355

https://www.stormomagazine.com/ModelArticles/Ca355/RichardMendes/Ca355_RM_1a.html

http://www.airwar.ru/enc/bww2/ca355.html

https://cpcontainer.weebly.com/gli-aerei-caproni.html

https://aviation-ancienne.forumactif.com/t8598-caproni-ca-335-maestrale-et-ca-355-tuffo

https://www.colettiscombataircraft.com/item/caproni-ca-355-tuffo/

 

 

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by ImportantSimone5

[Thatz 637]

Open for Discussion 

[ImportantSimone5 17]

9 hours ago, Thatz said:

Open for Discussion 

Thanks.

[TheS1up 1,452]

Really interesting aircraft, I didn't even know it existed +1

Also it does have a really cool and unique camo (white+green)

Edited May 15, 2023 by TheS1up
.

[mc205v 786]

The main problem of the Caproni 355 "Tuffo" is that the only specimen that has been tested did not have the main armament, even if it was foreseen by the project, it would be necessary to find the project drawings to find out in which exact point the main armament was mounted, otherwise without it it would be useless.

Edited May 16, 2023 by mc205v

[Milocat 4,857]

+1, would like to see this added to the game.

[OpusAudereSemper 80]

+1 great suggestion, i would love to play it

[kamina_sama 139]

+1