[WWII] Caproni Ca 133 colonial bomber/transport (Italy)

[copeab]

Caproni Ca 133 colonial bomber/transport
Copyright 2010 by Brandon Cope

The Ca 133 grew out of a civil transport in 1934 with a crew of two and carrying 16 passengers for use in Africa. The Ca 133 saw combat in Abyssinia (where it faced no fighter opposition and very light antiaircraft guns) and the Spanish Civil War (where it proved to be extremely vulnerable to fighters and flak). By WWII it had mostly been pulled from its bomber role but was still used as an air ambulance and transport. About 250 were still operational in September 1939.

While the Ca 133 played only a limited role in WWII, adventurers in Africa or Spain in the 1930's might run into one.

Crew consists of a pilot, copilot/radio operator, bombardier/navigator/ventral gunner, dorsal gunner and waist gunner. The Ca 133 uses 46 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage.
Subassemblies: Heavy Fighter-Bomber chassis +3, Heavy Fighter-Bomber Wings with STOL option +3, three Large Weapon pods +2, three fixed wheels +1.
Powertrain: 3x343-kW aerial HP gasoline engine with 3x343-kW prop and 540-gallon self-sealing fuel tanks [Wings and Body].
Occupancy: 5 CS Cargo: 46 Body, 5 Pods
Armor
All: 2/2

Weaponry
4xAircraft LMG/7.7mm Breda-SAFAT [Body:L,R,T,B] (500 each).
2x550-lb bombs [Body:U]

Equipment
Body: Medium radio receiver and transmitter, backup driver controls, navigation instruments, autopilot, two 550-lb bomb bays.

Statistics
Size: 60'x70'x13'
Payload: 2.87 tons
Lwt: 7.24 tons
Volume: 640
Maint.: 39 hours
Price: $26,600

HT: 9.
HP: 260 [body], 150 [each wing], 120 [each pod], 25 [each wheel]

aSpeed: 174
aAccel: 4
aDecel: 15
AMR: 3.5
aSR: 2
Stall: 63

Design Notes
Design speed was 186 mph. The historical speed has been used, as well as the actual wing area (700 square feet). The cost, weight and HPs of the wings were quartered and the body halved. Loaded weight was decreased by 10%. Treat the Ca 133 as wooden for fire purposes.

Variants
The Ca 133T was the transport version with revised interior, carrying a crew of two and 18 passengers. Only 300 gallons of fuel could be carried with a full passenger load. The Ca 133S was the ambulance model.

[adm]

I just want to say Thank You for all the aircraft designs you keep posting.

[Phaelen Bleux]

The cost, weight and HPs of the wings were quartered and the wings halved.

Non capisco.

The Ca 133T was the transport version with revised interior, carrying a crew of two and 18 passengers.

In the bio it says 16 passengers. Different variant?

[copeab]

Originally Posted by Phaelen Bleux

Non capisco.

Wings quartered, body halved.

In the bio it says 16 passengers. Different variant?

My sources list 16 passengers civil, 18 military.

[Michele]

Well into WWII, a group of Allied crewmen running from a POW camp in Italy (or having just been downed with their bomber) could still also stumble upon one of these... and commandeer it. They were in use with bomber training units and with the paratrooper training school, and also used for liaison/transport.
Not a common occurrence, of course; downed Allied airmen tended to be simply shepherded by the locals to a neutral border. But our adventurers are enterprising and bold, and after all, the same reasoning went with the Ju 52 in GURPS WWII: IRON CROSS. What's good for the Tante...