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France's Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighter1,2
Morane-Saulnier MS 406 fighter3
Morane-Saulnier M.S.406:
Morane-Saulnier M.S.406:
Design
In 1937 the Morane-Saulnier M.S. 406 was ordered into production.2 The MS 406 was descended from the MS 405.3
Wings
The wing mounted 7.7 mm MGs were placed outside the propeller disc.1
Tail Wheel
Early models had a tailskid.1,3 This was replaced in later models with a retractable tailwheel.1
Fuselage
The rear fuselage was mostly covered in fabric.1 The front fuselage was covered in Plymax, a plywood skinning bonded to the alloy frame.3
Engine
The radiator for the engine was retractable.3
Prototype
The MS 405's prototype first flew on August 8, 1935.3
The prototype of the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 was first flown on May 20, 19382 / January 24, 1939.1,2
Production
By April 1938 there were orders for 955 M.S. 406 to be built by September 1939.2
By March 1938 there were orders for 1,000 MS 406s.3
There was to be 1,000 M.S. 406s constructed but only 572 were completed.1,2 These were built in three factories.1
- MS 405: 173
- MS 406: 1,0773
- D-3800: 843
- License built by Switzerland.3
- D-3801: 2243
- Built by Switzerland from 1941 to 1948.3
Variants
- MS 405: Had a Hispano-Suiza 12Y engine.3
- M.S. 406:
- MS 410: 79 modified MS 406s.3 Had stronger wings.3 Carried four MGs in the wings.3
- MS 412 / D-3801: Built by Switzerland.3 Had Hispano-Suiza 12Y-51 engine.3
- D-3800: License built by EKW.3
Usage
The MS 406 was used by Croatia (44), Finland (87), France, Germany, Italy (52), Switzerland (2), and Turkey (30).3
Invasion of France
37 M.S.406s were lost on the first day of the invasion of France at Cambrai, Damblain, Vitry, and Le Quesnoy.1,2
M.S.406 pilots claimed to have shot down 175 enemy aircraft, but they lost over 400 of their own.1,3
There were 14 groupes de chasse equipped with the M.S. 406.2
Finland
Finland replaced the Hispano-Suiza engine in the M.S. 406s that they received with a Morko Moraani and the performance of the fighter was much improved.1
Switzerland
289 EFW D-3800 fighters were produced by the Swiss based on the M.S. 406.1
Vichy France
One unit used the M.S. 406s with the Vichy France air force.1
Croatia
Croatia received some of the surrendered M.S.406s.1
| Morane-Saulnier M.S.4061,2 Morane-Saulnier MS 4063 |
|
|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1,2,3 |
| Crew | 11,2,3 |
| Engine (Type) | Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 piston1,3 Hispano-Suiza HS 12Y 31 piston2 |
| Cylinders | Inline2 V 121,3 |
| Cooling | |
| Net HP | 8601,2,3 |
| Propeller blades | 31,3 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 23' 9"1, 34' 9.5"2, 34' 9.75"3 10.6 m1, 10.61 m3, 10.62 m2 |
| Length | 26' 9"1, 26' 9.25"3, 26' 9.5"2 8.15 m1, 8.16 m3, 8.17 m2 |
| Height | 9' 3"1, 9' 3.75"3, 10' 8.5"2 2.8 m1, 2.84 m3, 3.25 m2 |
| Wing area | 172 ft2 1, 172.2 ft2 2 16 m2 1,2 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 4,178 lb2, 4,180 lb1, 4,189 lb3 1,895 kg2, 1,900 kg1,3 |
| Loaded | 5,364 lb3, 5,434 lb1, 5,600 lb2 2,433 kg3, 2,470 kg1, 2,540 kg2 |
| Maximum load | 6,000 lb3 2,722 kg3 |
| Performance | |
| Speed @ sea level | 248 mph3 399 kph3 |
| Speed @ 14,765' / 4,500 m |
304 mph2 490 kph2 |
| Speed @ 16,405' / 5,000 m |
302 mph3 486 kph3 |
| Speed @ 16,500' / 5,000 m |
300 mph1 485 kph1 |
| Cruising speed | 248 mph3 399 kph3 |
| Climb | 2,559'/minute3 780 m/minute3 |
| Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m |
6.5 minutes3 |
| Climb to 19,685' / 6,000 m |
9 minutes2 |
| Service ceiling | 30,840'3, 31,000'1, 32,810'2 9,400 m1,3, 10,000 m2 |
| Range | 680 miles1, 684 miles2, 932 miles3 1,100 km1,2, 1,500 km3 |
| Armament | |
| Thru propeller | 20 mm3 20 mm Hispano1 20 mm HS 4042 |
| Wings | 2: 7.5 mm MG1,3 2: 7.5 mm MAC 1934 MG2 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
