Main Menu
Italy's Macchi MC.200 Saetta "Lightning" fighter1,2,3
Macchi MC.200AS Saetta fighter3:
Macchi MC.200 Saetta fighter:
Macchi MC.200 Saetta fighter:
Macchi MC.200 Saetta fighter:
Design
The Macchi MC.200 was designed in 1936.3
The Macchi MC.200 was all metal except for the fabric covered control surfaces.1
Cockpit
Pilots initially disliked the enclosed cockpit so Macchi changed it to be semi-closed.1 Some pilots even removed the side panels to improve their visibility.1
Prototype
The Macchi MC.200 first flew on December 24, 1937 by Giuseppe Burei.1,2,3
The MC.200 showed good flying characteristics and manoeuverability.3 It's climbing ability was inhibited by its weak engine.3
Production
Macchi, Breda, and SAI Ambrosini produced the MC.200.2,3
- Total: 1,1533, ~1,200.2
Variants
- MC.200:
- MC.200AS: Tropicalized model for service in Africa.3
- MC.200bis: Had a Piaggio P.XIX engine (1,180 HP).3
- MC.200CB: Field modified MC.200.3 Fitted with bomb shackles.1 Carried a maximum of 705 lb / 320 kg of bombs under the wings.3
- MC.201: One prototype was constructed.1,3 It had a new engine and fuselage.1,3 The engine was a Fiat A.76 (1,000 HP).3
Usage
First entered service in October 1939.1,3 There were 150 (1563) in Italian service by June 1940.1
MC.200 Exchanged
The 4° Stormo was the first unit to receive the MC.200s.2 However, the unit did not like the MC.200 and was reverted back to the CR.42 biplane in 1940.2
Denmark
Denmark originally ordered twelve MC.200s from the Italians but the order was cancelled when the Germans invaded.1
Malta
In 1940 Macchi MC.200s escorted Luftwaffe Ju 97s in their attacks against Malta.1
Destroyer Sunk
The HMS Zulu was sunk by MC.200s off of Tobruk in September 1942.3
Eastern Front
On the Eastern Front the Macchi MC.200s flew over 6,300 sorties and shot down 88 Soviet aircraft.1
The 21° and 22° Gruppos used 51 MC.200s on the Easter Front from August 1941 to the spring of 1942.1
Italian Co-belligerent Air Force
Some Macchi MC.200s were used as trainers by the allied Italian air force.1
Units with MC.200s
- Stormi: 1°, 2°, 3°, 4°, 54°2
- Gruppi: 8°, 12°, 13°, 21°, 22°2
Post World War II
After World War II some MC.200s were used as trainers until 1947.3
| Macchi MC.200 Saetta1,3 | Macchi C.200 Saetta (Breda built Series 6)2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1,3 Fighter bomber1 |
Fighter2 Fighter bomber2 |
| Crew | 11,3 | 12 |
| Engine (Type) | Fiat A.74 RC.38 piston1,3 | Fiat A.74 RC 38 piston2 |
| Cylinders | Radial1 Radial 143 |
Radial2 |
| Cooling | ||
| HP | 8701,3 | 8702 |
| Propeller blades | 31,3 | 32 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 34' 8.5"3, 34' 9"1 10.58 m1,3 |
34' 8.5"2 10.58 m2 |
| Length | 26' 10"1, 26' 10.5"3 8.19 m1,3 |
27' 0.75"2 8.25 m2 |
| Height | 11' 6"1,3 3.5 m1,3 |
10' 1/8"2 3.05 m2 |
| Wing area | 181 ft2 1 16.8 m2 1 |
180.8 ft2 2 16.8 m2 2 |
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 4,178 lb1, 4,451 lb3 1,895 kg1, 2,019 kg3 |
4,321 lb2 1,960 kg2 |
| Loaded | 5,710 lb1,3 2,590 kg1,3 |
5,280 lb2 2,395 kg2 |
| Performance | ||
| Speed @ 14,765' / 4,500 m |
312 mph3 502 kph3 |
313 mph2 504 kph2 |
| Speed @ 14,800' / 4,500 m |
312 mph1 502 kph1 |
|
| Cruising speed | 283 mph3 455 kph3 |
|
| Climb | 3,215'/minute3 980 m/minute3 |
|
| Climb to 9,840' / 3,000 m |
3.4 minutes3 | |
| Climb to 13,125' / 4,000 m |
4.55 minutes2 | |
| Service ceiling | 29,200'1,3 8,900 m1,3 |
29,200'2 8,900 m2 |
| Range | 354 miles3 570 km3 |
354 miles2 570 km2 |
| Range with auxiliary fuel | 540 miles3, 541 miles1 870 km1,3 |
|
| Armament | ||
| Nose | 2: 12.7 mm MG3 2: 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT MG1 |
2: 12.7 mm Breda SAFAT MG2 |
| Wings | 2: 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT MG1 | |
| Wings - later production | 2: 7.7 mm MG3 | |
| Bombs under wing | 648 lb1 294 kg1 |
2: 331 lb2 2: 50 kg2 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
