France's Dewoitine D.520 fighter1
Dewoitine D.520:
Dewoitine D.520:
Dewoitine D.520:
Design
The design of the Dewoitine D.520 was first started in November 1936.2
The cockpit was located well back and caused problems with landing and taxiing.1
Prototype
The prototype was flown by Marcel Doret on October 2, 1938.1,2 He forgot to lower the undercarriage during a landing and wrecked the prototype in 1938.1
Production
There were 200 ordered by May 1939.1 This was later increased to 710.1 The Vichy increased it to 740.1
The first production model was flown on November 2, 1939.2
Variants
Usage
Used in combat by Bulgaria, France, Italy, and Romania.1
First Use
Only 36 Dewoitine D.520s were delivered to one groupe de chasse, the GC 1/3, by May 1940.2 This groupe shot down three Hs 126s and one He 111 on May 13, 1940.2
43 Dewoitine D.520s were then delivered to the GC II/3, GC II/7, GC III/3, and GC III/6.2
52 were then delivered to the Aéronavale escadrilles AC 1, 2, 3, and 4 before France surrendered.2
Germany
After the surrender of France, D.520s were used by the Germans as trainers.1
In 1942 the Germans seized 411 (2462) D.520s and passed them onto Axis countries.1
Vichy France
Were used as combat aircraft.1 235 D.520s were used by the Vichy air force in France and 202 were used in Africa.2
Ace
Adjutant Pierre Le Gloan of GC III/6 shot down 18 aircraft.2 He shot an additional 4 in other aircraft.2
| Dewoitine D.5201 | Dewoitine D.520S (first 558 aircraft)2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1 | Fighter2 |
| Crew | 11 | 12 |
| Engine (Type) | Hispano-Suiza 12Y 45 piston1 | Hispano-Suiza 12Y45 piston2 |
| Cylinders | Inline1 | Inline2 |
| Cooling | ||
| Net HP | 9351 | 9302 |
| Supercharger | Szydlowski1 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 34'1 10.2 m1 |
33' 5.5"2 10.2 m2 |
| Length | 28'1 8.6 m1 |
28' 8.75"2 8.76 m2 |
| Height | 8'1 2.57 m1 |
8' 5 1/8"2 2.57 m2 |
| Wing area | 172 ft2 1 15.97 m2 1 |
171.7 ft2 2 15.95 m2 2 |
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 4,479 lb1 2,036 kg1 |
4,685 lb2 2,125 kg2 |
| Loaded | 5,889 lb1 2,677 kg1 |
5,897 lb2 2,6752 |
| Performance | ||
| Speed | 332 mph1 535 kph1 |
|
| Speed @ 18,045' / 5,500 m |
332 mph2 535 kph2 |
|
| Climb to 13,120' / 4,000 m |
5' 48"1 | |
| Climb to 13,125' / 4,000 m |
5.82 minutes2 | |
| Service ceiling | 39,440'1 10,500 m1 |
33,630'2 10,250 m2 |
| Range | 950 miles1 890 km1 |
553 miles2 890 km2 |
| Armament | ||
| Thru propeller / Hub | 1: 20 mm HS 404 rapid fire cannon1 | 1: 20 mm HS4042 |
| Ammunition | 60 rounds1 | |
| Wings | 4: 7.5 mm MAC 34 M39 MG1 | 4: 7.5 mm MAC 1934 M39 MG2 |
| Ammunition | 675 rounds each1 | |
| Production |
Sources:
- Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
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