View source for Caproni Ca.2

{{More citations needed|date=June 2009}}
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{{Infobox aircraft
 | name=Ca.2 (1915)
 | image=Caproni biplane, 300 horse power Biplan Caproni, 300 HP (33189872732).jpg
 | caption=
 | type=Heavy day bomber
 | national_origin=[[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Italy]]
 | manufacturer=[[Caproni]]
 | designer=
 | first_flight=Late 1915<ref name="BTS">{{cite book |last= Sharpe |first= Michael |title=Biplanes, Triplanes, and Seaplanes |year=2000 |publisher=Friedman/Fairfax Books |location=London|isbn=1-58663-300-7 |page= 112}}</ref>
 | introduction=
 | retired=
 | status=
 | primary_user=
 | number_built=9
 | developed_from= [[Caproni Ca.1 (1914)|Caproni Ca.1]]
 | variants=
}}

The '''Caproni Ca.2''' was an Italian [[heavy bomber]] of the [[World War I]] era.

==Development==
The Ca.2 was a minor development of the [[Caproni Ca.1 (1914)|Caproni Ca.1]] twin-boom bomber of 1914. It had become evident early in the Ca.1's service life that the design could benefit from more power. Caproni therefore replaced the central, [[Pusher configuration|pusher]] engine of the aircraft with a more powerful one. Caproni referred to this as the '''Caproni 350&nbsp;hp''' at the time, and the Italian Army dubbed it the Ca.2. No separate number seems to have been allocated to it in Caproni's postwar redesignation scheme.

Only nine aircraft were built, supplied to the Italian Army alongside deliveries of Ca.1s between August [[1915 in aviation|1915]] and December [[1916 in aviation|1916]].

The benefits of increased power encouraged Caproni to continue in this direction, leading to the definitive [[Caproni Ca.3]].

==Description==
The Caproni Ca.2 was a trimotor [[biplane]] with an engine mounted on the rear of the central nacelle, and two others mounted on the front of twin booms, which held the tail. It was largely of wooden construction, covered with fabric. The crew of four were in an open central nacelle (front gunner, two pilots and rear gunner-mechanic). The rear gunner manned upper [[machine gun]]s, standing over the central engine in a protective "cage," just in front of its propeller. It was fitted with [[Tricycle gear|tricycle landing gear]].

Armament consisted of two to four Revelli 6.5&nbsp;mm or 7.7&nbsp;mm [[machine gun]]s, one on a front ring mount and one, two or sometimes even three on an upper ring mount. Bombs were suspended under the central nacelle.

==Operators==
;{{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}
*[[Corpo Aeronautico Militare]]

==Specifications (Ca.2)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref={{citation needed|date=April 2012}}
|prime units?=met
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=four (pilot, co-pilot, front gunner, and rear gunner/mechanic)
|length m=11.05
|span m=22.74
|height m=3.7
|wing area sqm=95.6
|empty weight kg=3,302
|max takeoff weight kg=4,000
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Fiat A.10]]
|eng1 type=six-cylinder, water-cooled, in-line piston aero engine
|eng1 kw=75<!-- prop engines -->

|eng2 number=1
|eng2 name=[[Isotta-Fraschini V.4B]]
|eng2 type=six-cylinder, water-cooled, in-line piston aero engine
|eng2 kw=112<!-- prop engines -->
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kmh=133
<!--
        Armament
-->
|armament=
*2 × 6.5 mm [[Fiat-Revelli Modello 1914|FIAT-Revelli machine guns]]
* Bombs mounted under the hull
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent|
|related=
*[[Caproni Ca.1 (1914)]]
*[[Caproni Ca.3]]
*[[Caproni Ca.5]]
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
* [[List of bomber aircraft]]
* [[List of World War I Entente aircraft]]
|see also=
* [[Push-pull configuration]]
}}

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{reflist}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040629164625/http://www.aerei-italiani.net/SchedeT/aereoca2.htm Aerei Italiani] (Italian)

{{Caproni aircraft}}
{{Portal bar|Italy|Companies|Aviation}}

[[Category:Caproni aircraft|Ca.002]]
[[Category:1910s Italian bomber aircraft]]
[[Category:Three-engined push-pull aircraft]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1915]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear]]
[[Category:Three-engined piston aircraft]]

[[pl:Caproni Ca.3]]