Fiat CR.25
| CR.25 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Fiat CR.25 over the Alps c. 1941 | |
| Role | Fighter Bomber aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Fiat |
| First flight | 22 July 1937 |
| Primary user | Regia Aeronautica |
| Number built | 12 |
The Fiat CR.25 was an Italian twin-engine reconnaissance-bomber fighter aircraft which served in small numbers for the Regia Aeronautica during World War II.
40 CR.25s were ordered after the operative failure of the apparently more promising Breda Ba.88 bomber. Later, it was decided to use the CR.25 as a reconnaissance plane, with a total of 10 aircraft entering service. It was used during the war by the 173a Squadriglia Ricognizione Strategica Terrestre (Strategic Land Reconnaissance Squadron), operating from Sicily. Despite the positive reports from the pilots, and a proposal by Fiat to resume production, no further aircraft were produced.
It was also used for transport of senior air force officers from Rome to Berlin.
Variants
- CR.25 : Twin-engined reconnaissance bomber aircraft, two prototypes built.
- CR.25bis : Strategic reconnaissance aircraft, long-range escort fighter aircraft, ten pre-production aircraft built.
- CR.25D : The 10th pre-production aircraft, re-designated CR.25D as a transport for the Italian air attaché in Berlin.
- CR.25quater : The CR.25quater, flown in 1940, was a more heavily armed version with a slight increase in wing area .
Operators
Specifications (CR.25)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 or 3 (a third member was needed for bombing missions)
Performance
Armament
- Guns: 3 × 12.7 mm (.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns
- Bombs: Up to 300 kg (660 lb)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- Garello, GianCarlo. CR 25. Turin: La Bancarella Aeronautica, 1997.