Fiat CR.42 - Variants

Variants

CR.42

Early CR.42s were armed with one 12.7 mm (.5 in) machine gun and one 7.7 mm (.303 in) machine gun. The CR.42bis replaced the 7.7 mm with a second 12.7 mm.

CR.42 Egeo

Equipped, for Aegean theater, with a extra 80 L (20 US gal) fuel tank in the fuselage.

CR.42AS

A close air-support version. The two standard 12.7 mm machine guns could be supplemented with two more. There were underwing racks for two 220 lb (100 kg) bombs. AS stands for 'Africa Settentrionale.' There was an additional engine filter to prevent damage from sand which caused a loss in power, a common occurrence in North Africa, since filter-less engines could be damaged after only a few hours use.

CR.42B

One aircraft equipped with the Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine, estimated maximum speed 518 km/h (323 mph). Also known as the CR.42DB.

CR.42bis

Standard armament of two 12.7 mm machine guns mounted.

CR.42CN

Night fighter version with spotlights in gondolas under the wings and prolonged engine exhausts.

CR.42ter

2 × 12.7 mm (.5 in) machine guns with two additional guns mounted in blisters under the wings.

ICR.42

Experimental floatplane version designed by CMASA, top speed decreased by only 8 km/h (5 mph) in spite of the 124 kg (273 lb) increase in weight.

CR.42LW

Night harassment, anti-partisan aircraft for the German Luftwaffe.

CR.42 "Bombe Alari"

( unofficial but widely used name) Modification carried out at SRAMs (repair centers), to allow outdated fighters to be used in ground attack roles. Underwing pylons for 2 × 50 kg (110 lb) bombs were added; often these pylons were loaded with 100 kg (220 lb) bombs. The same modification was carried out on Fiat G.50s and Macchi C.200s.

CR.42 two-seaters

Several Italian CR.42s were converted into two-seat communications aircraft.

CR.42DB

One CR.42 was fitted with an early 895 kW (1,200 hp) DB 601A inline engine. A speed of 525 km/h (326 mph) was attained.