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#Post#: 12865--------------------------------------------------
Plane of the Week: Caproni 133
By: vonofterdingen Date: October 5, 2020, 7:43 pm
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HTML https://i.postimg.cc/RZvfYKhP/Screen-Hunter-428.png
This is another early war plane that I enjoy having in IL-2
missions. The Caproni Ca.133 is more common in exotic early war
theaters such as Abyssinia and East Africa. Nonetheless it is an
attractive plane, or at least an attractive target that served a
number of roles, including bomber. There are also some wonderful
skins available. It really looks like an aircraft of the 1930s.
From Wikipedia
The Caproni Ca.133 was a three-engined transport/bomber
aircraft used by the Italian Regia Aeronautica from the Second
Italo-Abyssinian War until World War II.
Originally developed as a civilian airliner and successor to
the Ca.101, the Ca.133 prototype first flew in December 1934,
and production began in 1935. The military versions of the
aircraft were used as transports and light bombers and saw
action on all fronts.
Designed by ingegnere Rodolfo Verduzio, the Caproni 133 was
aerodynamically and structurally an improved Ca.101. Like its
predecessor, the Ca.101, was a robust and inexpensive aircraft,
designed to be easily maintained in difficult conditions and
economical to operate. It had a welded steel-tube structure,
mixed construction, with metal and fabric covering, main wheel
spats, flaps and modified tail surfaces.
The wing was high-mounted, roughly elliptical, and made of
wood and steel. The undercarriage was spatted and fixed. The
aircraft was powered by three engines, one in the nose, and one
under each wing mounted in faired nacelles, with NACA cowlings,
supported by steel tubes.[citation needed]
The civil version could accommodate up to 16 passengers. It
was used by Ala Littoria. The military version was widely used
by Regia Aeronautica, mostly in Italian East Africa. As a bomber
it incorporated two small internal bomb bays where it could hold
up to 500 kg (1,100 lb). Larger ordnance could be mounted
externally. It was armed with four 7.7 mm (.303 in) Breda-SAFAT
machine guns, one dorsal, one ventral, and two lateral. Bomber
aircraft operated as military transports, redesignated Ca 133T,
had their interiors modified to accommodate 18 fully equipped
soldiers.
HTML https://i.postimg.cc/SN6CVDS2/Screen-Hunter-429.png
The Ca.133 was well-suited for colonial use, and it became
the most successful of all Italian colonial aircraft.
The more advanced Savoia-Marchetti SM.81s were too valuable
to be used in 'low level wars' and were also more costly. The
war was thus fought mainly with the Ca.101, Ca.111 and Ca.133.
Around 100 Ca.133s took part in the Abyssinian conflict, and
as well as 'normal' bombing and strafing, they were often
equipped with mustard gas and Phosgene chemical bombs. These
weapons were forbidden by the Geneva Protocol of 1925, but in
this war (and in Libya) the Italians ignored the convention.
The Ca.133s were also used as transports to support the army,
as well as reconnaissance aircraft.
Without any air opposition, and flak almost exclusively based
on small-calibre arms, air power was a decisive factor in
Italy's final victory, culminating in the capture of Addis Ababa
in early 1936. Even so, COIN (COunter INsurgency) operations
continued until the start of World War II.
In WW2 In mainland Italy, the Ca.133 was used mostly as a
light transport aircraft supporting fighter and bomber squadrons
by carrying supplies, personnel and spare parts. The Regia
Aeronautica soon realized that despite its improvements, the
type was suitable for combat in North and East Africa. At the
outbreak of war the Ca.133 equipped 14 Squadriglie da
Bombardamento in these theatres.
In East Africa, it was still used as bomber and attack
aircraft. Occasionally it even managed to shoot down enemy
aircraft. On 12 June 1940, in the south region, three Ca.133s of
66ª Squadriglia from Yavello attacked an Allied column of half a
dozen trucks and 200 men. Ca.133s of 65ª Squadriglia, from
Neghelli, attacked the Allied positions around Moyale on two
occasions, each time with three aircraft. That night, ten
Caproni Ca.133s bombed the port of Aden and Khormaksar airfield,
already attacked during daylight hours by seven SM.81s of 29°
Gruppo. Three other Capronis attacked Cassala airfield in the
Sudan. On 23 January 1941, a Ca.133 shot down an Avro Anson
flown by Lt E.A. Gebhardt of 60 SAAF Squadron, that crashed
before anyone could bale out.
It was also used as an air ambulance with the Ca.133S
(Sanitary) variant. Over 250 Ca.133s were in service in
September 1939, when the war broke out. Some survived until the
Armistice in 1943.
[img width=1024
height=737]
HTML https://i.postimg.cc/P5KZnJ8d/Screen-Hunter-430.png[/img]
In game…
I first encountered this plane when building a DCG East
Africa campaign. As noted in the Wikipedia article, the Caproni
133 played a significant role in that conflict. I have not to
this day ever flown the plane in game; I have only pursued it in
a Hawker Hurricane. That combination is a blast to play,
particularly when the Caproni has CR32 and/or CR 42 escorts.
#Post#: 12867--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Wee: Caproni 133
By: ben_wh Date: October 5, 2020, 11:15 pm
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Thank you, von, for another great write-up.
The Caproni Ca.133 had very beautiful lines, with an elegant
1930's aesthetic to it - the type of design that recalled the
golden age of aviation.
HTML https://s18.postimg.cc/5f1ljjfmx/CSe8_Wel.jpg
In-game: the Ca.133 (along with 133S, 133T and Ca 148) was
brought to us by gio963tto. A truly great modder, Gio is a
prolific modder who brought to us many great aircraft mods
(including other Italian beauties like Caproni Ca. 309, 310,
311, CANT Z 501, Savoia Marchetti S-55, plus many other
important and/ or rare planes), as well as ship and vehicle
mods. (Thank you very much, Gio)
As von mentioned, it works well in an East Africa campaign (for
which you may want the skin pack here
HTML https://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads3&file=details&id=2037).<br
/>
Cheers,
#Post#: 12873--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Caproni 133
By: cafs Date: October 6, 2020, 9:55 am
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Great article, Von. She's a great target for me too, beautiful
plane, but better target. 😯😜😜
#Post#: 12883--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Caproni 133
By: vonofterdingen Date: October 7, 2020, 12:08 am
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Ben, is that your model? It is a beauty.
I like to fly East Africa/British Somaliland campaigns. There
are a number of interesting aircraft in that early war theater.
#Post#: 12899--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Caproni 133
By: ben_wh Date: October 7, 2020, 11:06 am
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von,
Not my model, unfortunately, but you're right that it is a
beautiful one.
East Africa campaign - perfect campaign to showcase early war
Italian airplanes. Also, found your East Africa DCG here
HTML https://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads3&file=details&id=2195<br
/>- will give it a try some time.
Cheers,
#Post#: 12900--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Caproni 133
By: DHumphrey Date: October 7, 2020, 11:32 am
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Great article Von, I was unaware of this aircraft. She looks
very nice. :) Another great write-up, thanks for sharing !!! :)
#Post#: 12902--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Caproni 133
By: vonofterdingen Date: October 7, 2020, 3:49 pm
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Ben (and others perhaps), I have a more up to date version of
many of my DCG campaigns that will work with newer BAT versions
that I have not posted yet. I have gotten away from DCG for a
while and have been doing static campaigns, but if anyone is
interested in any DCG campaigns for BAT let me know and I will
post them.
#Post#: 12942--------------------------------------------------
Re: Plane of the Week: Caproni 133
By: Beowolff Date: October 9, 2020, 2:44 pm
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[quote author=vonofterdingen link=topic=1820.msg12902#msg12902
date=1602103744]
Ben (and others perhaps), I have a more up to date version of
many of my DCG campaigns that will work with newer BAT versions
that I have not posted yet. I have gotten away from DCG for a
while and have been doing static campaigns, but if anyone is
interested in any DCG campaigns for BAT let me know and I will
post them.
[/quote]
Good to know about the update... and, as usual, an EXCELLENT
review of this bird! Thank you!
Beo
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