Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morane-Saulnier_M.S.406

The Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 was a French fighter aircraft developed and
manufactured by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. It was France's most numerous
fighter during the Second World War and one of only two French designs to exceed
1,000 in number. At the beginning of the war, it was one of only two
French-built aircraft capable of 400 km/h (250 mph) – the other being the Potez
630.

In response to a requirement for a fighter issued by the French Air Force in
1934, Morane-Saulnier built a prototype, designated MS.405, of mixed materials.
This had the distinction of being the company's first low-wing monoplane, as
well as the first to feature an enclosed cockpit, and the first design with a
retracting undercarriage. The entry to service of the M.S.406 to the French Air
Force in early 1939 represented the first modern fighter aircraft to be adopted
by the service. Although a sturdy and highly manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, it
was considered underpowered and weakly armed when compared to its
contemporaries. Most critically, the M.S.406 was outperformed by the
Messerschmitt Bf 109E during the Battle of France.

During the early stages of the Second World War, the type was capable of holding
its own during the so-called Phoney War. However, upon the invasion of France
breaking out in earnest in May 1940, large numbers were lost, amounting to
approximately 400 aircraft being lost, in total. Out of this total, around 150
were lost to enemy fighters and ground fire, while another 100 aircraft were
destroyed on the ground during enemy air raids; the remainder were deliberately
destroyed by French military personnel to prevent the fighters from falling into
enemy hands intact. In return, French M.S.406 squadrons had achieved 191
confirmed victories, along with another 83 probable victories. Limited
production of the type continued in France for sometime after the 1940 Armistice
under German supervision.

In addition to its service with the French Air Force, the M.S.406 was also
exported to a range of customers. Out of 160 airplanes ordered by Poland, none
had reached Polish territory before the outbreak of war, with the first part of
delivery sent on 29 August 1939. Of particular note was its service in the hands
of Finnish and Swiss air forces; both operators chose to develop their own
indigenous models, such as the Finnish Mörkö-Morane). By the end of the war, the
majority of M.S.406s and its derivatives were out of service, having been
rendered obsolete in comparison to rapid advances in fighter aircraft
technology. Its final use was as an advanced trainer aircraft in Finland, prior
to the last examples of the type being scrapped during 1952.


Role
Fighter

Manufacturer
Morane-Saulnier

First flight
8 August 1935 (M.S.405)

Introduction
1938

Status
Retired

Primary users
French Air Force
Finnish Air Force
Swiss Air Force
Turkish Air Force

Number built
1,176

During the Phoney War, isolated skirmishes occurred between the M.S.406 and
fighters of the Luftwaffe, particularly early models of the Messerschmitt Bf
109. For 32 claimed 'kills' and 16 'probables' achieved by M.S.406s, including
against the Bf 109, 13 were lost in combat along with 33 more that were lost
within the border zone under vague circumstances. According to Botquin, by this
stage, the weaknesses of the M.S.406 were already apparent, such as the lack of
armouring, frequent gun-jamming, inadequate firepower, slow responsiveness of
the guns, unreliable radio units, very high rate of engine wear, corrosion of
rudder components, cabin glazing breaking under air pressure during certain
manoeuvres, loss of exterior panels due to screws deteriorating rapidly, and the
lack of rear-view mirrors.

While the aircraft was very manoeuvrable and could withstand high amounts of
battle damage, potentially giving possible advantages during combat against
Luftwaffe fighters, the M.S.406 was overall outclassed by the Bf 109. Efforts to
replace the M.S.406, such as efforts to convert existing aircraft to the
improved M.S.410 standard, with a more capable fighter failed to occur prior to
the end of the Phoney War on 10 May 1940, the month in which a massive
full-scale invasion by German forces of mainland France commenced, resulting in
high-intensity fighting in an event widely known as the Battle of France. On the
eve of the invasion, a total of 10 Groupes de Chasse were equipped with M.S.406
fighters, along with a number of defensive units which were almost exclusively
equipped with either the M.S.406 or Bloch MB.152 aircraft.

During the relentless fighting that followed, Allied forces suffered a high rate
of attrition and were unable to keep up with the level of damage being
sustained. Of the M.S.406s that saw action against the Germans, heavy losses
were incurred; reportedly, 150 aircraft were lost in action while a further
250–300 fighters were recorded as having been lost through other causes. The
rapid advance of German forces led to repeated retreats and abandonment of
bases, rendering most repair and replacement efforts disorganised, along with
ground crews often having to destroy large numbers of their own fighter aircraft
on the ground to prevent their capture. The decision to employ small groups of
French fighters against larger German formations was mostly ineffective against
bombers and often costly.

In combat against enemy fighters, the M.S.406 often experienced mixed results.
While there were isolated incidents of favourable results being achieved with
the type even against the capable Bf 109, the M.S.406 holds the unfortunate
distinction of being the least effective French fighter in service during the
Battle of France, which Botquin attributes as having likely been due to its
relatively low firepower. On 24 June 1940, a M.S.406 flown by Sous Lieutenant
Marchelidon of G.C.1/2 scored the French Air Force's last kill in the conflict.
Botquin stated of the aircraft: "it would be pointless to pretend, as was often
done during the war for propaganda purposes, that the M.S.406 was the finest
fighter in the world...but it was certainly a pleasant machine to fly with no
vices and great manoeuvrability".

Specifications (M.S.406 C1)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 8.17 m (26 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 10.61 m (34 ft 10 in)
Height: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 16 m2 (170 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,895 kg (4,178 lb)
Gross weight: 2,540 kg (5,600 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine

830 kW (1,110 hp) for take-off at 2,520 rpm at sea level760 kW (1,020 hp) rated
power at 2,400 rpm at sea level860 kW (1,150 hp) rated power at 2,400 rpm at
3,150 m (10,330 ft) Specific fuel consumption: 0.265 kg/kW/h (0.436 lb/hp/h)
Specific oil consumption: 0.008 kg/kW/h (0.013 lb/hp/h)
Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch propeller, 3 m (9 ft 10 in) diameter

Chauviere 351M (MS 406 C1)Ratier 1607 3.1 m (10 ft) diameter (MS 406
C1)Hispano-Suiza 270 3.1 m (10 ft) diameter (D 3801)Smiglo WiSz 61P 3 m (9.8 ft)
diameter (MSv Mörkö Morane)
Performance
Maximum speed: 452 km/h (281 mph, 244 kn) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft)
483 km/h (300 mph; 261 kn) at 4,000 m (13,000 ft)490 km/h (300 mph; 260 kn) at
4,500 m (14,800 ft)476 km/h (296 mph; 257 kn) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)440 km/h
(270 mph; 240 kn) at 8,000 m (26,000 ft)Stall speed: 160 km/h (99 mph, 86 kn)
without flaps
135 km/h (84 mph; 73 kn) with flapsRange: 1,100 km (680 mi, 590 nmi) at 66%
power
Combat range: 720 km (450 mi, 390 nmi)
Endurance: 2 hours 20 minutes 30 seconds (average combat mission)
Service ceiling: 9,400 m (30,800 ft)
Time to altitude:

2,000 m (6,600 ft) in 2 minutes 32 seconds4,000 m (13,000 ft) in 5 minutes 16
seconds4,500 m (14,800 ft) in 6 minutes 16 seconds6,000 m (20,000 ft) in 9
minutes 3 seconds8,000 m (26,000 ft) in 14 minutes 52 seconds9,000 m (30,000 ft)
in 21 minutes 37 secondsWing loading: 154 kg/m2 (32 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 2.95 kg/kW (4.85 lb/hp)

Take-off run to 8 m (26 ft): 270 m (890 ft)
Landing run from 8 m (26 ft): 340 m (1,120 ft)

Armament

Guns:

1× 20 mm (0.787 in) Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon
2× 7.5 mm (0.295 in) MAC 1934 machine guns




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