Macchi C.205V Veltro

Country of Origin: it Italy | Type: Single seat fighter-bomber

Introduction

The third development of the family of Macchi fighters which began with the MC.200 Saetta in 1937, the C.205V Veltro (Greyhound) was fundamentally a simple upgrading of the previous C.202 Folgore with the DB 601A engine replaced with the larger capacity and more powerful DB 605A, built under licence by Fiat as the Tifone (Typhoon). The prototype - converted from a C.202 - first flew on 19th April 1942.

Production

Testing revealed a further and useful improvement in performance (the aircraft was regarded by many as the best Italian fighter of the Second World War) and the Veltro was ordered into production. Engine supply and other industrial problems delayed service entry until mid-1943. By the time of Italy's surrender in September 1943 only 177 had been delivered (of which just 66 were on strength) and a further 112 were subsequently added to the total before production was halted by air raids in May 1944.

Combat Debut

The Veltro's combat debut occured in July 1943 and the fighter appeared in limited numbers during the defence of Sicily and southern Italy. Only a handful flew with the pro Allies Co-Belligerent Air Force after the Armistice while about 140 served the pro German Republican Socialiast Italian Air Force (RSIAF). Some 25 equipped a Luftwaffe Gruppe in 1943-44. Postwar, the Veltro remained in Italian service for a few years and 42 refurbished examples (most of them converted from C.202s) were supplied to Egypt in 1948-49. Some of these saw combat against Israeli forces.

Further Development

A further development of the type was the C.205N Orione, a high altitude fighter incorporating some redesign including heavier armament, new longer span high aspect ratio wings and revised forward fuselage housing the DB 605A/Tifone engine. Only two prototypes were built with the first of them flying on 1st November 1942. The second flew in May 1943, the two aircraft differing in their gun armament. Despite orders being placed for 1,200 Oriones, Italy's precarious position in 1943 meant that production was not possible and this highly promising fighter progressed no further.

Specification

Dimensions

Powerplant

Weights

Armament

Performance

Production

Production of the aircraft totalled 291, including:

Operators

Three-view Schematic

To view the schematic, click on the image below:

Specification view of a C.205