Cr.42 Falco

[Wargames]

I understand the Cr.42 fighter was originally armed with two 7.7mm MG's. Then it was up gunned to one 7.7mm MG and one Breda 12.7mm MG; then to two 12.7mm Bredas. Does anybody know when these weapon upgrades occurred? Were all previous aircraft retrofitted with the new installation or keep their original armament?

 

[jbroshot]

Fiat CR.42 never had 2x 7.7mm, although the second source below says some of the later fighter bomber version, CR.42AS had 7.7mm guns fitted in place of the original 12.7mm guns to reduce weight

First Series only (200? aircraft) produced February-December 1939 had mixed armament
Later series had 2x 12.7mm, production started in December 1939
Don't know if there was a retrofit

Profile Publications No. 16 The Fiat CR.42
Ali d'Italia 1 Fiat CR42

 

[Wargames]

Thanks. It's getting much harder to find info these days.

 

[Dili]

At squadriglia/Gruppo/Stormo level a 12.7 could be changed to a 7.7, i think both could. I don't know at what authority level that could be approved, pilots with great pull and veterans probably could.

 

[jbroshot]

Thanks. It's getting much harder to find info these days.

I have acquired a lot of books over the years, probably way too many. Aircraft in Profile No. 16 is in Volume 1 of Aircraft in Profile, a volume I acquired when I was in high school.