Italy's Macchi MC.205 Veltro; Macchi C.205; Macchi M.C.205 fighter
Veltro (Greyhound)
Photos
Macchi MC.205V Veltro fighter2:  |
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Macchi MC.205 fighter: |
Design
The Macchi C.205 was an upgraded C.202.2 The M.C.205 had radiators on the sides of the engine housing, whereas the M.C.202 had a radiator underneath.3
Engine
The Fiat RA.1050 RC58 Tifone "Typhoon" engine was a license built Daimler-Benz 605A-1.2
Armament
The Macchi M.C.205 was the first to have 20 mm cannons in the wings.3
Prototype
The C.205 prototype was converted from a C.202 and first flew on April 19, 1942.2,3 The prototype was much better than the C.202 and was ordered into production.2
The C.205N Orione prototype first flew on November 1, 1942.2 The second flew in May 1943.2 Orders of 1,200 were placed but due to Italy's position in 1943 none were produced.2
Production
Air raids stopped production in May 1944.2,3
- Macchi C.205V: 2892
- Macchi C.205N Orione: 22
- Macchi M.C.2053:
- Production: October 1942 - September 1943: ~2003
- Production: September 1943 - Spring 1944: 1123
- Manufacturer: Aeronautica Macchi S.p.A.3
Variants
- Macchi C.205N Orione: High altitude version.2 Longer wing span.2 Fuselage was modified.2
Usage
Italy and Germany used the C.205.2
Delayed Use
It wasn't until mid 1943 that the C.205 was first in service due to engine supplies and industrial problems.2
66 were in use by the time of Italy's surrender in September 1943.2
First Use
In July 1943 the C.205s were first used over Sicily and southern Italy.2
German Use
Approximately 25 served with a Luftwaffe Gruppe in 1943 - 1944.2
RSIAF Use
The Republican Socialist Italian Air Force (RSIAF) used about 140 C.205s on the side of the Germans.2
Allied Use
The Allies used 34 of the M.C.205s after the armistice, primarily in Yugoslavia.3
Post World War II
In the Italian Air Force some M.C.205s were used until 1947 as fighter bombers and then as trainers until 1951.3
Egypt was supplied 42 refurbished C.205s in 1948 - 1949.2 These were used against the Israelis.2
Specifications
| Macchi C.205 Veltro2, Macchi M.C. 2053 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fighter3, Fighter bomber2 |
| Crew | 12,3 |
| Engine (Type) | Fiat RA.1050 RC58 Tifone2 Daimler Benz DB 605A3 |
| Cylinders | Inverted V 122, V 123 |
| Cooling | Liquid3 |
| HP | 1,4752,3 |
| Propeller blades | 32 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 34' 5"3, 34' 8.5"2 10.58 m2 |
| Length | 29' 0.5"2, 29' 1"3 8.85 m2 |
| Height | 9' 10.5"2, 10'3 3 m2 |
| Wing area | |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 5,690 lb2 2,581 kg2 |
| Loaded | 7,120 lb3, 7,513 lb2 3,408 kg2 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ 23,620' / 7,200 m |
399 mph2 642 kph2 |
| Speed @ 24,300' | 404 mph3 |
| Cruising speed | 310 mph2 500 kph2 |
| Climb to 9,840' / 3,000 m |
2.7 minutes2 |
| Climb to 20,000' | 4' 52"3 |
| Service ceiling | 36,090'2, 37,200'3 11,000 m2 |
| Range | 590 miles2, 646 miles3 950 km2 |
| Armament | 2: MG3 |
| Nose | 2: 12.7 mm MG2 |
| Wings | 2: 7.7 mm MG2 |
| OR | |
| Wings - under | 2: 20 mm2,3 |
| Bombs - under wing | 705 lb2 320 kg2 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
- World War II Airplanes Volume 1, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
