Fiat CR.25

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.

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

40 CR.25s were ordered (later reduced to ten, the two prototypes and other eight airplanes) 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 and as escort fighter, with a total of nine aircraft (a prototype and the eight pre-production aircraft) for this role. It was used during the war by the 173a Squadriglia Ricognizione Strategica Terrestre (Strategic Land Reconnaissance Squadron), operating from Sicily. Despite positive reports from the pilots, and a proposal by Fiat to resume production, no further aircraft were produced.

The prototype MM 332, refurbished as personnel transport, was assigned to the Italian embassy in Berlin.)

Variants
  • CR.25 : Twin-engined reconnaissance bomber aircraft, two prototypes built.
  • CR.25bis : Strategic reconnaissance aircraft, long-range escort fighter aircraft, eight preproduction aircraft built.
  • CR.25 D : The prototype MM (Matricola Militare) 332 aircraft, redesignated CR.25 D as a transport for the Italian air attaché in Berlin.
  • CR.25quater : The CR.25quater, was a more heavily armed version with a slight increase in wing area and 1175 HP engines proposed from FIAT in the spring of 1943. It remained on the drawing tables.

Operators
 Kingdom of Italy

Specifications (CR.25)

Data from

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 or 3 (a third member was needed for bombing missions)
  • Length: 13.56 m (44 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 16 m (52 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 39.2 m2 (422 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 4,475 kg (9,866 lb)
  • Gross weight: 6,625 kg (14,606 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Fiat A.74 R.C.38 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 627 kW (841 hp) each
  • Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 450 km/h (280 mph, 240 kn)
  • Range: 1,500 km (930 mi, 810 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 7,950 m (26,080 ft)

Armament

  • Guns: 3 × 12.7 mm (0.500 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns
  • Bombs: Up to 300 kg (661 lb) of bombs

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
    • Fiat CR.25
    • Garello, GianCarlo. CR 25. Turin: La Bancarella Aeronautica, 1997.
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