The Caproni Ca 316 was a naval reconnaissance aircraft, developed from the Ca.310 Idro floatplane. It was designed for deployment on battleships, specifically the "Littorio," and launched via catapult from the deck. This low-wing floatplane was powered by two Piaggio P.VII C.16 engines, each producing 430 hp.
It could carry up to 400 kg of light bombs and was armed with a 7.7mm machine gun on a flexible dorsal turret and a 12.7mm machine gun mounted in the wing.
Development and Initial Trials
The first prototype, Ca.316 (MM 27193), conducted its maiden flight on August 14, 1940, piloted by Mario di Bernardi. On September 8, the aircraft was transferred to the Research Center in Guidonia, where military pilots evaluated its suitability as a combat machine. Although the Ca.316 did not demonstrate outstanding characteristics, the Regia Marina approved the construction of a small batch.
A total of seven aircraft were produced (serial numbers MM 27194 – MM 27200) and delivered to naval aviation for familiarization in 1941. The prototype itself was assigned to the 148th Squadron for training purposes.
Operational Challenges and Cancellation
The fate of the serial production Ca.316s was different. Engineers discovered several dimensional miscalculations, rendering the aircraft unusable on ships without extensive structural modifications, leading to their rejection. A further negative factor was the crash of the third production aircraft on May 15, 1941.
The Yugoslavian Navy also expressed interest, ordering six units. However, due to very slow production rates – with primary capacities allocated to Ca-313 and Ca-314 bomber manufacturing – these aircraft could not be delivered before the German occupation of Yugoslavia. Consequently, the completed machines (MM.27201 – MM.27206) were transferred to the Regia Aeronautica, with the last delivery occurring in late December 1942.
The aircraft initially delivered to the Regia Marina in early 1941 underwent operational trials on fleet battleships until the accident on May 15, 1941. Following this, by 1942, all Ca.316 aircraft were transferred to the 3rd Squadron of the Osservazione Marittima flight school, where they remained until 1943. One Ca.316 (MM.27202) was notably used by the military governor of Dalmatia (present-day Croatia).
Technical Specifications
| Modification | Ca.316 |
| Wingspan, m | 15.87 |
| Length, m | 12.89 |
| Height, m | 5.11 |
| Wing area, m2 | 38.00 |
| Empty weight | 4000 |
| Normal takeoff weight | 4804 |
| Engine type | 2 Piston engine Piaggio P.VII C.16 |
| Power, hp | 2 x 430 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 328 |
| Cruising speed, km/h | 300 |
| Practical range, km | 2110 |
| Range with max payload, km | 1600 |
| Service ceiling, m | 6000 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Armament | one 7.7-mm and one 12.7-mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun; bomb load – 400 kg |
Image gallery of the Caproni Ca 316
