Macchi C.205 Veltro

Ron, e-mail, 05.07.2015 17:33 The manhours to produce the MC.205V in Italy was said to be 16,000. This seems to be quite an improvement over the MC.202 @ 25,000, but still edged out by the G.55 @ 15,000. reply

Paul Scott, e-mail, 17.01.2015 19:29 With the right pilot, easily an adversary to the best allied fighters, with the Daimler-Benz licence-built engine especially. reply

Ron, e-mail, 26.11.2012 22:28 Despite its poor stall, the Macchi could turn to the point before stalling and out turn the Spitfire!! The Re 2005 and G55 were even better. They had good stall performannce besides. reply

Ron, e-mail, 12.09.2011 07:30 Bombardier, Do you have more info on that? I hope you didn't get that from me before I was corrected. reply

bombardier, e-mail, 24.05.2011 11:12 The Breda 12,7mm HMG was a copy of the M2 Browning but it fired Vickers ammunition [12,7 x 81mm] reply

Ron, e-mail, 23.03.2011 21:29 When the Germans were invited to evaluate the series 5 fighters in mock dogfights with the Fw 190A-5 and the Bf 109G, the MC 205V was first to fall, judged as average. It tended to lose control in tight turns and was not as competitive above 26,000' as the G 55 and Re 2005. They were judged excellent. Since the Reggiane was more complex to produce and the Fiat more stout, the G 55 was picked overall. With boost it could do 417 mph. reply

Ron, e-mail, 29.04.2010 22:25 Laurentchik, Which one was unreliable? Please explain. I heard that the Breda 12.7mm was reliable but the IJAAF 12.7mm was not so much. reply

laurentchik, e-mail, 01.04.2010 12:48 Indeed the MG131 was far more advanced a design than the Breda(fixed) or Scotti(mobile)HCMGs, and so were German shells. Btw, I was wrong when I stated the German 13mm and Italian 12,7mm rounds to be physically identical : Ballistics being equal, the 13x64mm is obviously far more efficient than the 12,7x81mm ! Outclassed by the ultra compact MG131, Italian HCMGs could not more compete with the powerful Browning M2 (12,7x99mm or IJN 13,2x99), and to make matter worse, they lacked reliability. reply

Ron, e-mail, 30.03.2010 21:14 You're right, the Breda 12.7 was not from the Browning. I miss-spoke. However I doubt it was as good as the MG131. I'm interested to learn more. Whatever you can share I would welcome. reply

laurentchik, e-mail, 19.03.2010 16:26 Just a precision Ronald, except for diameter, the MG131's and Breda's rounds are virtually similar, and so are their balistics. Purely designed for aviation use, both the MG131 and Breda HCMGs, are lighter and more compact than the Browning 50 (or 13,2 mm Hotchkiss 1932), but consequently their muzzle velocity is lower. reply

Ronald, e-mail, 05.09.2008 08:34 This was the solution to the underpowered and under-gunned Macchi C 202. Now it had the power of maneuver it lacked before. Macchis were always sturdy and could dive in the 500 mph class. Now it had the firepower as well as survivability. Allied pilots who flew it liked it's handling and considered it a good match for the best Allied fighters at medium altitudes. Foes that mistook it for the earlier Folgore were in for an unpleasant surprise! The only apparent difference was the twin chin scoops instead of one. Oh, and those long 20mm Mausers in the wings of course. Why it omitted a 3rd cannon in the nose like it's rivals had - I can only guess - was to save weight when 2 were adequate. Who knows? Maybe Macchis were aimed more at dogfighting agility than stopping bombers. More Breda 12.7mm MG ammo 370-400 rpg in the cowl? Only the Fw 190 had more Hvy MG ammo in the cowl. With the Breda's synchronized rate of fire at 575 rpm each, firing time lasted longer. Though looked down upon because of it's light hitting power, it was at least reliable and for a browning dirived gun it was fast (compare 300 rpm for each of the P-39's synchronized .50 caliber cowl guns). The Japanese Tony was likely so named in referrence to this Italian Macchi fighter since only it has the same gun arrangement (but just about half the ammo). reply

Brian, e-mail, 17.04.2008 10:07 I am in need of a accurate 3 view drawing of the Macchi 205 with sectionals of the fuse. Brian reply

edik154, 18.07.2007 19:29 You can see it in "Museo Storico dell'Aeronautica Militare", Vigna di Valle - Rome). reply