Undesignated (or unknown designation) CAB Projects
I have clumped all undesignated (or unknown designation) Caproni Aeronautica Bergmasca projects here. For the most part they are gathered into somewhat arbitrary groupings.
Some projects may have had no sub-type (or change of designation) applied. For example, one Ca.105 (MM.280) was employed for drone experiments but likely had no designation change. On the other hand, an export version of the Ca.134 with the
Asso XI V-12 replaced by a Wright
Cyclone would likely have received an entirely new designation had it been built. But did Caproni bother to apply such a designation at the project stage? Probably not. Perhaps arbitrarily, these 'undesignated' projects are not listed here.
A few of these are duplications from the number lists. Where planned or built sub-types are well-known but seem to have no designations, I've included them is both locations. Examples are: the built AP.1 Idro (which likely also had a now-unkown Ca.308 sub-type designation); and the unbuilt British orders for
Libeccio derivatives (which may have had export-nation suffixes added to Ca.310, Ca.311, and Ca.313 designations).
Others - eg: a
Tifone-powered development of the unbuilt Ca.331 - have also been left in both places for completeness. Doubtless as big a change as switching from
Delta to much more powerful
Tifone powerplants would have warranted a new designation. However, I've lumped this assault variant in with the Ca.331 in the Ca.3xx list until a proper type/sub-type designation is unveiled. Ditto for a range of other Caproni projects currently lacking know new- or sub-type designations.
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Undesignated CAB Velivoli Commerciali Studies
1934
Bimotore Trasporto Passeggeri studies for 8-seat (pilot, radio operator + 6 pax) light cabin monoplanes. These studies led up to the 1935 Ca.306 (Ca.308
Borea prototype).
(I) - Low-winged, retractable main undercarriage
- (I) : 2 x 140 hp Fiat A.54 7-cyl., span 16.00 m
- (I) : Alt. engine, 2 x 240 hp Alfa-Romeo D.2 9-cyl
(II) - High-winged, fixed/strutted main undercarriage
- (II): 2 x 140 hp Fiat A.54 7-cyl., span 16.00 m
- (II): Alt. engine, 2 x 240 hp Alfa-Romeo D.2 9-cyl
- (II): Fitted with flaps - concept (I) had no flaps
August-September 1936 study for a larger, trimotor passenger airliner with a crew of 3 carrying 18 passengers.
(III) - Low-winged trimotor, fixed/trousered main u/c
- (III): 3 x (various engine types),* span 25.00 m
-- * I-F K.14, Fiat A.80 RC, Piaggio P.XI RC.50
Undesignated CAB Bimotore a Grande Autonomia Project
(IV) - Twin-engined, long-range a/c, 2 x versions
- (IV): Fwd cockpit, mid-winged, retr. main u/c*
- (IV): 2 x Piaggio P.VII radials, span (below)
-- 2 x 460 hp P.VII C.16s or 470 hp P.VII C.35s
- (IV) 1st vers.: span 13.50 m, wing area 26 m2
-- Straight-tapered trapezoidal wing plan
- (IV) 2nd vers.: span 16.00 m, wing area 34 m2
-- Similar wing w/ constant-chord root extension
-- * Resemb.
Blenheim but constant dihedral
Unknown/Undesignated Caproni Ca.135 Projects
Ca.135(?) - (Project) Alt. engine to
Asso XI RC.40
-- 2 x 860 hp Isotta-Fraschini
Asso XI RC.15 V-12s
Ca.135(?) - (Project) Alt. engine to
Asso XI RC.40
-- 1937, 2 x French 910 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y-21 V-12s
Ca.135(?) - (Project) Alt. engine to
Asso XI RC.40
-- 1937, 2 x French 870 hp Gnome-Rhône 14Kirs 14-cyl.
Ca.135(?) - Alt. engine to
Asso XI RC.40, 1 x conv.
-- Sept 1938 radial conv.of Ca.135
Asso MM.20922
-- Official request conv. to 2 x 780 hp A-R 126 RC.34 radials
-- Alfa-engined Ca.135 later conv. to prototype Ca.169 (qv)
Ca.135 bis (?) - (Project) July 1939 CAB study, Piaggio P.XII
- Ca.135 bis (?): 2 x 1,300 hp Piaggio P.XII RC.35 18-cyl.
Ca.135 bis (?) - (Project) Dec 1941 unarmed paratroop transp.
-- Study: Ca.135 bis conv. to carry 12 x
paracadutisti
--
Trasporto paracadutisti usually desig. suffix 'P'
Unknown/Undesignated Caproni AP.1 Projects
(??) - (Project) 1936 re-engined AP.1 deriv.
-- (??): 1 x 870 hp Gnome-Rhone K14 radial
--
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,11933.msg345580.html#msg345580
-- - (Project) 1937 re-engined AP.1 deriv.
-- (??): 1 x 910 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y V-12
-- (??): Full-canopy, Ca.308-style tail*
-- * Rounded rudder, elevator struts/wire
-- HS.12Y project matured as 1938 Ca.335
--
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,11933.msg345580.html#msg345580
(??) - (Project) 1938 refined AP.1 develop't
-- (??): CAB AP.1
ricognitore armato (armed scout)
-- Added ventral observation/gun position
-- (??): 1 x 780 hp Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34
-- 2 x 7.7 or 12.7 mm + 1 x flex 7.7 mm*
-- * Flex gun movable to belly position
-- Abate, 1975, lists all guns as Scotti
-- (??): Full-canopy, refined tailplane**
-- ** Square-cut, no elevator bracings
(??) - (Project) 1938 dual-control AP.1 deriv.
-- (??): CAB AP.1 advanced/conversion trainer
(??) - AP.1 Idro,* twin-float vers. not delivered
-- 1941: 4 x AP.1 Idro all conv. for RA training
-- Poss. desig. 'Ca.308 Idro' but no evidence
Unknown/Undesignated Caproni PL.3/Ca.302 Projects
(??) - (Project) 1935 assault/strategic recce aircraft
-- As Ca.302 except for separate pilot/gunner cockpits
(??) - (Project) 193? high-altitude (~10,000 m) a/c
- PL.3 deriv., disting. by more compact canopy
-- PL.3 (
alta quota): 1 x 550 hp Piaggio
Unknown/Undesignated Caproni PS.1/Ca.303 Projects
(??) - (Project) June 1934, shorter-fuselaged variant
-- 1 x Fiat A.70, span 11.00 m, fuselage length 6.90 m
(??) - (Project) 1934, alternative engine PS.1 variant
-- 1 x 130 hp Colombo S.63 air-cooled inverted 6-cyl.
(??) - (Project) Dec 1934, single-seat military vers.
-- 1 x Fiat A.70, 1 x synchronized mg in fuselage *
-- * Abate, 1975, says "cal. 7,6 mm", prob. 7.7 mm
(??) - (Project) Nov 1935, revised & updated 4-seater
-- 1 x 185-200 hp Walter
Major 6, span 10.67 m
Unknown/Undesignated CAB Borea Projects
Ca.308(?) - Armed version for Ministero delle Colonie**
-- ** 1 x fuselage-mounted 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun
Ca.308(?) - (Project) Radial-engined variant
-- (??): No details
Unknown/Undesignated CAB Ghibli Projects
Here are the known but undesignated Ca.309
Ghibli development projects and studies. Some of these are new entries but some of these undesignated projects have been removed from the original Ca.309 listings.
Ca.309 (?) - Experimental twin-tail & rudder installation
-- Trapezoidal endplate fins & rudders test install.
-- Twin-tail
Ghibli was photographed unmarked*
-- * Matricoli Militari number seems to be unrecorded
Ca.(?) - (Project)
Ghibli military development
-- Metal fuselage, long raised canopy, twin tails
-- Rearward-retr. main u/c, spinners on props
-- Bomb bays for 400 kg vertically-stacked load
-- Def. armament: 3 x 7.7 mm (nose/dorsal/belly)
- 1st: Dec 1935, radials in NACA cowls, span 16.20 m
-- 2 x 400 hp Piaggio
Stella 7-cyl radials
- 2nd: Jan/Feb 1936, inline engines variants
-- Jan 1936: 2 x 185 hp de Havilland
Gipsy 6s
-- Feb 1936: 2 x 240 hp Renault 6Q
Bengalis
Ca.(?) - (Project) 1936 single-engined
Ghibli
- Several Ca.309-based single-engined projects
--
Ghibli-type wing with inward-retr. u/c
- 1st: '
Stella singula[/i', 'Piaggio S7' radial
-- Raised canopy, low fuselage deck, span 16.20 m
-- 2 x 400 hp Piaggio Stella (P.VII) 7-cyl
- 2nd: 'doppia Stella' ('Double Stella') [1]
-- Faster single-engined a/c for the recce role
-- Ghibli-style fuselage, dorsal gun turret*
-- * + flex. ventral gun fit mounted in belly hatch
Ca.309 - (Project) Military devel. w/ Piaggio radials
- 1st: Military devel.: Slimmer fuselage w/ ext. glazing*
- 2 x ?? hp Alfa-Romeo 115 inverted-6, trousered u/c
-- * Nose; tandem, stepped cockpit, mid-fuselage
- 2nd: Offset (portside) tandem cockpits, retr. u/c
Ca.(?) - (Project) 1939 'Ghibli meteorologico' (I)
- Single-engined 'Ghibli meteorologico' project
-- 1 x 500 hp Isotta-Fraschini Gamma V-12, span 16.40 m
-- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8743.msg345158.html#msg345158
Ca.(?) - (Project) 1939 'Ghibli meteorologico' (II)
- Twin-engined 'Ghibli meteorologico' project
-- 2 x I-F Gamma V-12 engines,* Ca.316-style nose
-- * In drawings, look more like IV-8s (Hirth HM 508s?)
-- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8743.msg345192.html#msg345192
Ca.(?) - (Project) 'Super Ghibli' 1940 devel.
-- 2 x 280 hp I-F Beta R.C.10, span 16.40 m
-- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8743.msg345158.html#msg345158
Ca.309 (?) - Experimental 20 mm cannon under-nose inst.
-- Swivelling gun-mount trialled on Ghibli MM.12366
Ca.(?) - (Project) Alt. engines military Ghibli
- 'Ghibli con Alfa 115 mod.' variant
- 1st: Military devel.: Slimmer fuselage w/ ext. glazing*
-- 2 x 200 hp Alfa-Romeo 115 inverted-6, trousered u/c
-- * Nose; tandem, stepped cockpit, mid-fuselage
- 2nd: Offset (portside) tandem cockpits, retr. u/c
Ca.(?) - (Project) Alternative engines Ghibli
- 'Ghibli con Piaggio S7' radial engines
-- 2 x 400 hp Piaggio Stella (P.VII) 7-cyl
-- To have rearward-retracting main u/c units
- Military vers.: Slimmer fuselage w/ gun positions*
-- * Under-nose, stepped cockpit, retr. belly pos.
Ca.(?) - (Project) Alternative engines Ghibli
-- 2 x 460 hp* Argus As 410A-1 air-cooled IV-12s
-- Standard Ca.309 other than engines, spatted u/c
-- * Abate, 1978, mislists As 410A-1 as '270 hp'
Ca.(?) - (Project) 1943 'aeroproiettile' pick-a-back
- Ca.309 carrying dorsal strut-mounted light a/c*
-- * Drawing show Nardi FN.305 with FN.315 mentioned
-- Meant to test 'Mistel'-style weapon potential
-- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,3157.msg288589.html#msg288589
Ca.(?) - (Project) Postwar Ghibli variants
- 1946 Ca.309-based 6-passenger feederliner variant
- 1946 Noctural variant, 2 x A-R 115 6-cyl. engines
- 1946 Ca.309-based 8-passenger feederliner variant
- 1946 Ca.309, 2 x 445 hp Hirth HM.512B IV-12s
Unknown/Undesignated Caproni Ca.31x Projects
There was a wide range of Libeccio sub-types and descendants. Most of those designations are known. And obvious case where this is not the case is the shifting sub-types ordered (or planned to be ordered) by Britain before Italy's entry into WW2 on the Axis side.
British preferences shifted as Caproni offered or developed new sub-types. It may be that, in the resulting confusion, no dedicated sub-type designations were applied ... although sub-type suffixes seemed to have been applied to all other export customers for these types. For completeness, the shifting British orders were:
Ca.310(?) - 200 ordered by Britain for the RAF
-- The RAF intended to use Ca.310s as trainers
Ca.311(?) - 100* ordered by Britain for the RAF
-- * This was a replacement order for 200 x Ca.310s
Ca.313(?) - 300 ordered by Britain for the RAF
-- As with other Capronis for the RAF, none delivered
An export sub-type which almost certainly did receive a sub-type designation was the Ca.312 for Belgium. This potential order remained at the level of an expression of interest before Belgium fell. However, Caproni must have put design work into this specific sub-type since it was to have been a hybrid Ca.312bis airframe with a Ca.311M fuselage.
Ca.312(?) - Belgian interested in 24 x modified examples
Undesignated Ostro fighter studies
Ostro - (Project) 1935-1937 fighter studies
- Ostro: 4 x diff. single-seat fighters
- Ostro (I): Sept 1935 single-bay biplane
-- (I) : 1 x 820 hp I-F Asso XI RC, span 12.20 m
-- (I) : Eliptical wings, fixed and spatted u/c
-- (I) : Shoulder-mount upper wing, open cockpit
- Ostro (II): Aug 1936 low-winged monoplane
-- (II) : 1 x 835 hp I-F Asso XI RC, span 12.00 m
-- (II) : Rearwar, rotating retr. u/c, 2 x 12.7 mm
- Ostro (III): Dec 1936 low-winged monoplane
-- (III) : As II except for engine type/armament
-- (III) : 1 x 835 hp HS.12Ycdrs V-12, span 12.00 m
-- (III) : 20mm moteur canon (+ 2 x 12.7 mm ?)
- Ostro (IV): June 1937 low-winged monoplane
-- (II) : 1 x 835 hp I-F Asso XI RC, span 11.10 m
-- (II) : Double-taper wing form, squared tailplane
Other Undesignated/Unknown Designation Caproni Projects
Ca.164 - Several variants of 1938 2-seat biplane trainer
- Ca.164 ala ridotta: Reduced span version
-- * ala ridotta is more descriptive than desig.
- Ca.164 (?): 100 order for French Armée de l'Air**
-- Should reasonably be 'Ca.164F' but no evidence
Raffica - (Project) 19?? twin-engined bomber
- Raffica: 2 x Alfa-Romeo 135 radials
-- Presum. derived from 1938 Ca.320 trimotor bomber
(??) - (Project) Higher-powered Ca.331 assault deriv.
-- 2 x Fiat R.A.1050 RC.58-I Tifone, 1 x 37 mm gun
Ca.193 - Several variants of 1948-49 light transport
- (??): (Project) turboprop fighter-trainer
- (??): (Project) radar-equipped maritime patrol aircraft
- (??): (Project) 'Coloniale' style multi-purpose a/c
Ca.204 - Several variants of 4-engined long-range bomber
- Ca.204: 1938-39 for Bombardiere a Grande Raggio (BGR)
- Ca.204: Several versions w/ different engines/arrangements
-- Ca.204: (Project) 4 x 1,500 hp I-F Asso L.180 IRCC
-- Ca.204: (Project) 4 x 1,250 hp I-F Zeta R.C.42
Ca.211 - (Project) 1939 trimotor long-range bomber variant
- Ca.211(?) : (Project) Higher-speed (575 km/h top) variant
-- Re-submission for Bombardiere a Grande Raggio (BGR)
Ca.401 - Several variants of twin-engined recce-fighter
- (??): (Project) Mid-winged, wing-mounted radial engines
- (??): (Project) Vers. with engines buried in fuselage
- (??): (Project) Single fin/rudder vers., buried engine
-- Probably remained as undesignated Ca.401 studies
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[1] That 'doppia Stella' presumably refers to the Piaggio P.XI. That 2-row, 14-cylinder radial was derived from the French Gnome-Rhône 14K. Likewise, the single-row, 7-cylinder Stella was derived from the Gnome-Rhône 7K.