Macchi C.200

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.200

The Macchi C.200 Saetta (Italian: Lightning), or MC.200, was a fighter aircraft
developed and manufactured by Aeronautica Macchi in Italy. It was operated in
various forms by the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) who used the type
throughout the Second World War.

The C.200 was designed by Mario Castoldi, Macchi's lead designer, to serve as a
modern monoplane fighter aircraft, furnished with retractable landing gear and
powered by a radial engine. It possessed excellent maneuverability and the
C.200's general flying characteristics left little to be desired. Stability in a
high-speed dive was exceptional, but it was underpowered and underarmed in
comparison to its contemporaries. Early on, there were a number of crashes
caused by stability problems, nearly resulting in the grounding of the type,
which was ultimately addressed via aerodynamic modifications to the wing.

From the time Italy entered the Second World War on 10 June 1940, until the
signing of the armistice of 8 September 1943, the C. 200 flew more operational
sorties than any other Italian aircraft. The Saetta saw operational service in
Greece, North Africa, Yugoslavia, across the Mediterranean and the Soviet Union
(where it obtained an excellent kill to loss ratio of 88 to 15). Its very strong
all-metal construction and air-cooled engine made the aircraft ideal for
conducting ground attack missions; several units flew it as a fighter-bomber.
Over 1,000 aircraft had been constructed by the end of the war.

The Macchi C.200 was a modern all-metal cantilever low-wing monoplane, which was
equipped with retractable landing gear and an enclosed cockpit. The fuselage was
of semi-monocoque construction, with self-sealing fuel tanks under the pilot's
seat, and in the centre section of the wing. The distinctive "hump" elevated the
cockpit to provide the pilot with an unobstructed view over the engine. The wing
had an advanced system whereby the hydraulically actuated flaps were
interconnected with the ailerons, so that when the flaps were lowered the
ailerons drooped as well. The Macchi provided an outstanding field of view,
since the cockpit was partially open and placed on the hump of the fuselage. As
a result of its ultimate load factor of 15.1, it could reach speeds as fast as
500 m.p.h (True Air Speed) during dives. According to aviation author Jeffrey
L. Ethell, upon its entry into service, the Supermarine Spitfire was the only
Allied fighter that was capable of out-climbing the Saetta; however, this
viewpoint was erroneous.

Power was provided by the 650 kW (870 hp) Fiat A.74 radial engine, although
Castoldi preferred inline engines, and had used them to power all of his
previous designs. With "direttiva" (Air Ministry Specification) of 1932, Italian
industrial leaders had been instructed to concentrate solely on radial engines
for fighters, due to their superior reliability. The A.74 was a re-design of the
American Pratt & Whitney R-1830 SC-4 Twin Wasp, performed by engineers
Tranquillo Zerbi and Antonio Fessia, and held the distinction of being the only
Italian-built engine that could provide a level of reliability comparable to
Allied designs. The licence-built A.74 engine could be problematic. In late
spring 1941, 4° Stormo's Macchi C.200s then based in Sicily, had all the A.74s
produced by the Reggiane factory replaced because they were defective units. The
elite unit had to abort many missions against Malta due to engine problems.
While some figures considered the Macchi C.200 to have been underpowered, the
air-cooled radial engine provided some pilot protection during strafing
missions. Consequently, the C.200 was often used as a cacciabombardiere
(fighter-bomber). Moreover, it was maneuverable and had a sturdy all-metal
construction.

Role
Fighter

Manufacturer
Aeronautica Macchi

Designer
Mario Castoldi

First flight
24 December 1937

Introduction
1939

Retired
1947

Primary user
Regia Aeronautica

Number built
1,151 + 2 Prototypes

Developed into
Macchi C.202

The C.200 played no role in Italy's brief action during the Battle of France.
The first C.200s to make their combat debut were those of the 6° Gruppo Autonomo
C.T. led by Tenente Colonnello (Wing Commander) Armando Francois. This squadron
was based at the Sicilian airport of Catania Fontanarossa. A Saetta from this
unit was the first C.200 to be lost in combat when, on 23 June 1940, 14 C.200s
(eight from 88a Squadriglia, five from 79a Squadriglia and one from 81a
Squadriglia) that were escorting 10 Savoia-Marchetti SM.79s from 11° Stormo were
intercepted by two Gloster Gladiators. Gladiator No.5519, piloted by Flt Lt
George Burges, jumped the bombers but was in turn attacked by a C.200 flown by
Sergente Maggiore Lamberto Molinelli of 71a Squadriglia over the sea off Sliema.
The Macchi overshot four or five times the more agile Gladiator which eventually
shot down the Saetta.

In September 1940, the C.200s of 6° Gruppo conducted their first offensive
operations in support of wider Axis efforts against the Mediterranean island of
Malta, escorting Junkers Ju 87 dive-bombers. Only on 1 November 1940 were the
C.200s credited with their first kill. A British Sunderland on a reconnaissance
mission was sighted and attacked just outside Augusta by a flight of Saettas on
patrol. With the arrival towards the end of December 1940 of X Fliegerkorps in
Sicily, the C.200s were assigned escort duty for I/StG.1 and II/StG.2 Ju 87
bombers attacking Malta, as the Stukas did not have adequate fighter cover until
the arrival of 7./JG26's Bf 109s.

British air power in the theatre also intensified, chief amongst these being the
Hawker Hurricane fighter, which forced a redeployment of Italian forces in
response. Although considered to be inferior to the Hurricane in terms of speed,
the C.200 had the advantage in terms of manoeuvrability, turn radius, and climb
rate. According to aviation author Bill Gunston, the C.200 proved effective
against the Hurricane, delivering outstanding dogfight performance without any
vices.

While the Hurricane was faster at sea level (450 km/h/280 mph vs the C.200's 430
km/h/270 mph), the Saetta could reach more than 500 km/h (310 mph) at 4,500 m
(14,800 ft), although speed dropped off at altitude: 490 km/h (300 mph) at 6,000
m (19,700 ft) and 350 km/h (220 mph) at 7,000 m (23,000 ft) with a maximum
ceiling of 8,800 m (29,000 ft). Comparative speeds of the Hurricane Mk I was 505
km/h (314 mph) at 5,000 m (16,400 ft) and 528 km/h (328 mph) at 6,000 m (19,700
ft). Over 5,000 m (16,400 ft) and at very low levels, only the huge Vokes
(anti-sand) air filter fitted to the "tropical" variants slowed the Hurricane Mk
II to Macchi levels. Although the Macchi C.200 was more agile than the
Hurricane, it carried a lighter armament than its British adversary.

North Africa

Fitted with dust filters and designated C.200AS, the Saetta saw extensive use in
North Africa, greater than any other theatre of action. The Macchi's
introduction was not initially well received by pilots when in 1940, the first
C.200 unit, 4° Stormo replaced the type with the C.R.42. The first combat
missions were flown as escorts for Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bombers attacking
Malta in June 1940, where one C.200 was claimed by a Gladiator. On 11 June 1940,
second day of war for Italy, the C.200s of 79a Squadriglia encountered one of
the Sea Gladiators which had been scrambled from Hal Far, Malta. Officer W.J.
Wood claimed Tenente Giuseppe Pesola had been shot down, but the Italian pilot
came back unscathed to his base.

Specifications (Macchi C.200 early series)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 10.58 m (34 ft 9 in)
Height: 3.05 m (10 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 16.82 m2 (181.0 sq ft)
Airfoil: root: NACA 23018 (modified); tip: NACA 23009 (modified)
Empty weight: 1,964 kg (4,330 lb)
Gross weight: 2,200 kg (4,850 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 2,395 kg (5,280 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Fiat A.74 R.C.38 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 650 kW
(870 hp) at 2,520 rpm for takeoff
Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch propeller

Performance
Maximum speed: 504 km/h (313 mph; 272 kn)
Stall speed: 128 km/h (80 mph; 69 kn)
Range: 570 km (354 mi; 308 nmi)
Service ceiling: 8,900 m (29,200 ft)
Rate of climb: 15.3 m/s (3,010 ft/min)
Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in 5 minutes 52 seconds
Wing loading: 131.7 kg/m2 (27.0 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 0.286 kW/kg (0.174 hp/lb)

Take-off run: 260 m (850 ft)
Landing run: 300 m (980 ft)

Armament

2× 12.7 mm (0.500 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns, 370 rpg
Some aircraft were field-modified to carry up to 8× 15 kg (33 lb), 2× 50 kg (110
lb), 2× 100 kg (220 lb), or 2× 150 kg (330 lb) bombs under the wings




*