CR.42
The FIAT CR.42, commonly known as the Falco, was one of the last biplane fighters built by a great power in World War II. It was for all intents and purposes one of the best biplane fighters of the war, though it suffered from an innovation brought in when the monoplane began to dominate the skies.
IRL
The CR.42 is the last in a long and successful line of Italian biplanes. The Italian government believed that the biplane still had some amount of utility, partially due to the lessons learned in Spain, and also considering that monoplane fighters were still a relatively new innovation. It should also be noted that the CR.42 would be designed to take on both biplanes and monoplanes, while still being a good fighter.
The Falco is considered to be one of the finest biplane fighters ever made. It was well recieved by the Italian pilots, and even allied tests conceded that it was a good fighter. It even had an engine fire extinguisher system installed into it, something that P-40s didn't have, and served as an export to Belgium, Hungary, and even Germany, who mostly used them in secondary fronts against partisans and meager allied air resistance. The last of them were retired in 1948 in Spain. They even could accept bomb racks, floodlights for night fighting, and served excellently as CAS aircraft in North Africa.
That being said, the Falco had its issues. The Breda-SAFAT 12.7s were mediocre compared to the Brownings, MG131, or other comparative aircraft weapons, and were two few to do meaningful damage as the war progressed and technology improved. The cockpit was open to the elements and left the pilot vulnerable to gunfire from the sides and rear. Additionally, there was relatively little armor to protect the aircraft. While many planes could be grazed by bullet fire, the Falco really couldn't given its lighter construction.
| Italian Forces in Flames of War | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | Renault R-35 - P-26/40 - L6/40 - M14/41 |
| Transports: | |
| Infantry: | Italian Parachutist Platoon - Italian Assault Engineer Platoon - Bersaglieri Platoon - Parachutist MG Platoon - Bersaglieri MG Platoon |
| Artillery: | Parachutist Mortar Platoon - Bersaglieri Mortar Platoon - 47mm Anti-tank - 100mm Howitzer - 88mm Anti-tank |
| Tank Destroyers and Assault guns: | Semovente 90mm Assault Gun - Semovente 75mm Assault Gun - Semovente Assault Gun |
| Armored Cars: | AB41 Platoon |
| Aircraft: | CR.42 |
| Anti-Aircraft: | Lancia 90mm |