Fiat CR.25

Fiat Aviazione · Italy · first flew 1937 · bomber

The Fiat CR.25 was an Italian twin-engine long-range escort and reconnaissance-bomber designed by Celestino Rosatelli, intended to provide fighter-like performance while carrying bombs and cameras over strategic distances. It was an advanced design for the mid-1930s but produced in limited numbers.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	14.14 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Twin inline engines on a clean mid-wing monoplane
Twin oval tailfins giving a distinctive double-fin silhouette
Glazed nose section for the observer/gunner

The twin tailfins and mid-wing configuration distinguish it from other Italian types. The glazed nose and clean twin-engine nacelles resemble contemporary German designs more than typical Italian biplane-era types.

Specifications

The Fiat CR.25 has a length of 14.14 m (46 ft).
It has a wingspan of 21 m (69 ft).
Its maximum speed is 435 km/h (270 mph).
Typical crew: 3-4.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The CR.25 prototype flew in 1937 and demonstrated good performance, prompting an initial production order. Around 10 aircraft were built, serving with the Regia Aeronautica in the escort and maritime reconnaissance roles. The type saw action in the opening phase of the Italian war in East Africa and during the early Mediterranean campaign.

Variants

Only a single production version was manufactured; a torpedo-carrier adaptation was studied but not built.

Where you'll see it

Small numbers flew with the Regia Aeronautica through the early war years; the fleet was never large enough to influence operations significantly. The type was retired by 1942.

Related aircraft

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