Italy's Macchi MC.200, Macchi M.C.200 fighter
Nickname: Saetta "Lightning"
Photos
Macchi MC.200AS Saetta fighter3:  |
Macchi MC.200 Saetta fighter:  |
Macchi MC.200 Saetta fighter:  |
Macchi MC.200 Saetta fighter:  |
Macchi MC.200 Saetta fighter:  |
Macchi MC.200 Saetta fighter in Russia:  |
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Macchi MC.200AS Saetta fighter and MC.202 fighter: |
Design
The Macchi MC.200 was designed in 1936 / 19374 by Mario Castoldi.3,4 This was Mario Castoldi's first fighter plane design as he had been a designer of racing aircraft up until then.
The Macchi MC.200 was all metal except for the fabric covered control surfaces.1,4 The M.C.200 was very aerodynamic for its time.4
Cockpit
Pilots initially disliked the enclosed cockpit so Macchi changed it to be semi-closed.1 Some pilots even removed the side panels to improve their visibility.1
Armament
The two 12.7 mm machine guns were synchronized to fire through the propellar.4
Prototype
The Macchi MC.200 first flew on December 24, 1937 by Giuseppe Burei.1,2,3,4,5
The MC.200 showed good flying characteristics and manoeuverability.3 It's climbing ability was inhibited by its weak engine.3
Production
- Total: 1,1514, 1,1533, ~1,2002,5
- Manufacturer: Aeronautica Macchi S.p.A4, Macchi2,3,5, Breda2,3,5, SAI Ambrosini2,3,5
- Production: June 1939 - July 19424
Variants
- Macchi MC.200:
- Macchi MC.200AS: Tropicalized model for service in Africa.3
- Macchi MC.200bis: Had a Piaggio P.XIX engine (1,180 HP).3
- Macchi MC.200CB: Field modified MC.200.3 Fitted with bomb shackles.1 Carried a maximum of 705 lb / 320 kg of bombs under the wings.3
- Macchi MC.201: One prototype was constructed.1,3 It had a new engine and fuselage.1,3 The engine was a Fiat A.76 (1,000 HP).3
Usage
First entered service in October 1939 / 19395.1,3 There were 1444 / 150 / 1563 in Italian service by June 1940.1
MC.200 Exchanged
The 4° Stormo was the first unit to receive the MC.200s.2,5 However, the unit did not like the MC.200 and was reverted back to the CR.42 biplane in 1940.2,5
First Units
The 1°, 2°, 3°, 4°, and 54° Stormi and the 8°, 12°, 13°, 21°, and 22°, Gruppi were equipped with the MC.200.2,5
Denmark
Denmark originally ordered twelve MC.200s from the Italians but the order was cancelled when the Germans invaded.1
Malta
In September 1940 two of the Italian based Stormi participated in raids on Malta.5
In 1940 Macchi MC.200s escorted Luftwaffe Ju 97s in their attacks against Malta.1
Destroyer Sunk
The HMS Zulu was sunk by MC.200s off of Tobruk in September 1942.3
Eastern Front
On the Eastern Front the Macchi MC.200s flew over 6,300 sorties and shot down 88 Soviet aircraft.1
The 21° and 22° Gruppos used 51 MC.200s on the Easter Front from August 1941 to the spring of 1942.1
Fifty one MC.200s were used by the 22° Gruppo near Odessa starting in August 1941.5
Surrender
When the Italians surrendered in September 1943 there were only 33 operational MC.200s left.5
Italian Co-belligerent Air Force
Some Macchi MC.200s were used as trainers by the allied Italian air force.1
With the Allies
In September 1943 around 52 M.C.200s joined the Allies.4
Post World War II
After World War II some MC.200s were used as trainers until 1947.3
Specifications
| Macchi MC.200 Saetta1,3, Macchi M.C.2004 | Macchi C.200 Saetta (Breda built Series 6)2,5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1,3, Fighter bomber1 | Fighter2,5, Fighter bomber2,5 |
| Crew | 11,3,4 | 12,5 |
| Engine (Type) | Fiat A.74 RC.38 piston1,3,4 | Fiat A.74 RC 38 piston2,5 |
| Cylinders | Radial1, Radial 143,4 | Radial2,5 |
| Cooling | Air4 | Air |
| HP | 8404, 8701,3 | 8702,5 |
| Propeller blades | 31,3, 3 variable pitch metal4 | 32 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 34' 8.5"3, 34' 9"1, 35' 1"4 10.58 m1,3 |
34' 8.5"2,5 10.58 m2,5 |
| Length | 26' 10"1, 26' 10.5"3, 26' 11"4 8.19 m1,3 |
27' 0.75"2, 27' 0.8"5 8.25 m2,5 |
| Height | 11' 6"1,3,4 3.5 m1,3 |
10' 0.1"5, 10' 1/8"2 3.05 m2,5 |
| Wing area | 181 ft2 1 16.8 m2 1 |
180.8 ft2 2,5 16.8 m2 2,5 |
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 4,178 lb1, 4,451 lb3 1,895 kg1, 2,019 kg3 |
4,321 lb2,5 1,960 kg2,5 |
| Loaded | 4,874 lb4, 5,710 lb1,3 2,590 kg1,3 |
5,280 lb2,5 2,395 kg2,5 |
| Performance | ||
| Speed @ 14,764' / 4,500 m |
313 mph5 504 kph5 |
|
| Speed @ 14,765' / 4,500 m |
312 mph3 502 kph3 |
313 mph2 504 kph2 |
| Speed @ 14,800' / 4,500 m |
312 mph1 502 kph1 |
|
| Speed @ 16,400' | 316 mph4 | |
| Cruising speed | 283 mph3 455 kph3 |
|
| Climb | 3,215'/minute3 980 m/minute3 |
|
| Climb to 9,840' / 3,000 m |
3.4 minutes3 | |
| Climb to 13,123' / 4,000 m |
4.55 minutes5 | |
| Climb to 13,125' / 4,000 m |
4.55 minutes2 | |
| Service ceiling | 28,700'4, 29,200'1,3 8,900 m1,3 |
29,199'5, 29,200'2 8,900 m2,5 |
| Range | 354 miles3, 540 miles4 570 km3 |
354 miles2,5 570 km2,5 |
| Range with auxiliary fuel | 540 miles3, 541 miles1 870 km1,3 |
|
| Armament | ||
| Nose | 2: 12.7 mm MG3,4 2: 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT MG1 |
2: 12.7 mm Breda SAFAT MG2,5 |
| Wings | 2: 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT MG1 | |
| Wings - later production | 2: 7.7 mm MG3 | |
| Bombs under wing | 648 lb1 294 kg1 |
2: 331 lb2,5 2: 150 kg2,5 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
- World War II Airplanes Volume 1, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
