Seems there is a need to settle a number of confusions about Fiat Cr32 variants:
The first Fiats sent to Spain in 1936 were the
Cr32 version equipped with 2 x 12.7mm cowling MGs.
Of this same version, 76 were sold to Hungary and 16 to China.
At the end of 1936, appeared the
Cr32bis, adding two extra 7.7mm machine guns, in blisters on top of the lower wing, to the 2x12.7mm cowling MGs, and provision for 220 lbs of bombs -the result was a total failure! as the addition of the wing MG drastically reduced the aircraft performances. (a common field modification was to discard the 7.7 mm armament)
238 were built for the Regia Aeronautica (quite a large but unknown precisely number serving in the ranks of Aviazione Legionaria), 45 for Austria (some sources add a further 45-52 to Hungary - dubious - seems there is a confusion with Hispano produced Cr32 quater that were exported to Hungary during wwII)
The
Cr32 ter was a version exclusively used in Spain (103 aircraft built), with
suppression of the wing MGs introduced on the Cr32bis, an improved engine, gunsight and upgraded instrumentation and strengthened and revised undercarriage.
The
Cr32quater was a
revised Cr32ter with reduced weight and radio added. 105 took part to teh Spanish Civil war in the ranks of the Aviazione Legionaria and a 27 with the Aviacion Nacional. It was the definitive model produced for the Italian air force. 10 were also sold to Venezuela and 4 to Paraguay (these last served in war with Bolivia). Maximum speed of 221 mph at 9,845 ft.
Starting form the end of the SCW and till 1944, Hispano aviation in Sevilla continued to produce Cr32 quater (100 plane sinlucing 31 transformed in two-seaters for training)
And all this means that.... the mod "cr32 quater" is not a Cr32quater but a "Cr32bis"
and has to include a very deteriorated FM
.......
Author
Topic: CR-32 (Read 104196 times)
