- Yes
- No
B 16A: “The Flying Coffin”
Summarized background history:
The B 16A, also known as Ca.313S (The “S” standing for “Svezia”/“Sweden”). Is a Italian twin-engine reconnaissance bomber. Which were manifactured by the Italian aircraft manufacturer Caproni during the late 1930’s and crewed up to three. It was also equipped with two powerful Isotta Fraschini Delta R.C.35 I-DS air-cooled inverted V12 engines. The aircraft itself was also suppsed to be exported to different countries such as France, United Kingdom, Belgium and Norway: With orders being placed and adjusted depending on the nation they were ordered from. However, we’re going to focus on the Swedish Variant of the Ca.313: The B 16A.
Entering Swedish Service:
During 1939-1940, after the Swedish: “Kungliga Flygförvaltningen” (KFF) was unable to purchase/order aircrafts from United States or United Kingdom (With United States fearing having their aircrafts confiscated by the Axis instead of going to Sweden and United Kingdom being at war). There were other attempts at buying either French or German aircrafts: Which also failed due to the outbreak of the Second world war.
Because of these factors, this left Italy as the sole and only country which Sweden could purchase/order any aircraft from. So on August 20th, 1940. The Swedish Goverment agreed to purchase at first 54 Caproni Ca.313S. That would be designated as B 16, S 16, T 16 and Tp 16 respectively. However the total order was increased to 84 aircrafts. Many of the Ca.313’s which were sent to Sweden, were originally supposed to be delivered to France: As they ordered around 200 CA.313’s around 1939. Before the order was followed through: Italy declared war on France, halting all remaining deliveries (France only got 5 of the intended 200 Ca.313’s). At the same time period (When Sweden increased the total order of the Ca.313S’s), orders were also placed for the Fiat CR.42 (J11) and the Reggiane Re.2000 (J20).
The Ca.313’s were then ferried to Sweden between 1940 and 1941 and was incorperated to F3 (Östgöta flygflottilj), F7 (Skaraborgs flygflottilj) and F11 (Södermanlands flygflottilj) respectively. It was during this time at it’s introduction and service time, the bomber aircraft was given the Nickname of “The Flying Coffin” by it’s pilots and crew members.
“The Flying Coffin” / “Den flygande likkistan”:
During it’s service time in the Swedish air force, the B 16 were constantly prone to technical problems: Due to poor quality in the production of the aircraft and lack of proper inspections before being delivered to Sweden. Many of the aircrafts had faulty or unstable materials which led to many accidents. Which went as far as to accuse Italy and Caproni of intentionally sabotaging the aircraft which was sent to Sweden: Because many of them were originally intended to be delivered to France.
The engines were also easily prone to catch fire from overheating, which didn’t help when Sweden used a special fuel called: “Bentol”, which contained Alcohol. This special fuel were used, because Sweden had a constant fuel shortage throughout the Second World War. The fuel would often dissolve the coating of the floats: Which were made of cork and corroded the fuel tanks: Causing the “Bentol” fuel to leak and inevitably spill onto the already overheated engines: Which would lead to the aircraft catching itself on fire.
However, some of the accidents that did occur. Was because of the Swedish Air Force, which opted to use the aircraft as a unconventional divebomber: Something the B 16’s were not designed to be used as. In total, 23 fatal accidents occured throughout it’s service life: With 41 pilots/crewmen died from said accidents. The B 16 and it’s other variants were removed from Swedish service almost directly after the Second World War ended.
Specifications:
| B 16A: Caproni Ca.313S | |
|---|---|
| Weight (Gross weight): | ~3400 Kilograms |
| Weight (Max Weight): | ~4000 Kilograms |
| Length: | 11.80 meters |
| Width: | 16.65 meters |
| Height: | 3.70 meters |
| Wing area: | 38.9 m² |
| Crew: | 3 crew members |
| Climb rate: | 4000 meters / 11~12 minutes |
| Max Speed: | 420 km/h at ~3500 meters |
| Service ceiling: | ~8500 meters |
| Engine: | 2 x Isotta Fraschini Delta R.C.35 I-DS air-cooled inverted V12 engine: 750 hp (on each engine) |
| Max Range: | 1700 km |
| Armament (Offensive): | 2 x 8mm ksp m/22 Fh OR 2 x 13.2mm AKAN m/39A |
| Armament (Defensive): | 1 x 8mm ksp m/22-37R (Ventral step), 1 x 8mm ksp m/22 Fh (Dorsal turret) |
| Armament (Bombs): | Internal bomb bay: 32 x 12kg, 8 x 50 kg. External Bomb racks: 1 x 500kg, 2 x 250kg, 1x 250kg & 1 x 500kg |
| Max Bomb load: | B 16A: 750 ~ 900 kg |
| Ammunition Capacity: | Offensive Armament: 550 rounds per gun (1100 Rounds). Defensive Armament: 600 rounds in the Ventral step and 800 rouns in the Dorsal turret (1400 Rounds) |
| Number in Service: | B 16A: 30, Total of 84 aircrafts were in Swedish Service in other variants |
Sources:
B 16 - CAPRONI Ca 313 (List of B 16 accidents in Swedish)
B 16 / S 16 / T 16 / TP 16 – Caproni Ca 313 – Svensk Militär Flygplanshistorik