×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Scale (2024) Special Forces

Macchi C.205 Veltro (Greyhound)


Single-Seat Monoplane Fighter


Kingdom of Italy | 1943



"Like the Reggiane Re.2005 and FIAT G.55, the Macchi C.205 made use of the German Daimler-Benz DB 605 series engine."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Macchi C.205V Veltro (Greyhound) Single-Seat Monoplane Fighter.
1 x FIAT RA.1050 RC.58 Tifone ("Typhoon") 12-cylinder engine developing 1,475 horsepower.
Propulsion
399 mph
642 kph | 347 kts
Max Speed
36,089 ft
11,000 m | 7 miles
Service Ceiling
646 miles
1,040 km | 562 nm
Operational Range
Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Macchi C.205V Veltro (Greyhound) Single-Seat Monoplane Fighter.
1
(MANNED)
Crew
29.0 ft
8.85 m
O/A Length
34.7 ft
(10.58 m)
O/A Width
10.0 ft
(3.04 m)
O/A Height
5,690 lb
(2,581 kg)
Empty Weight
7,513 lb
(3,408 kg)
MTOW
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Macchi C.205 Veltro (Greyhound) Single-Seat Monoplane Fighter .
STANDARD:
2 x 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT heavy machine guns in upper forward fuselage.
2 x 20mm MG 151 cannons in wings

OPTIONAL:
Up to 705lbs of external ordnance (2 x 350lb bombs) underwing.
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Macchi C.205 Veltro (Greyhound) family line.
C.205 - Prototype Example; fitting 2 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns and 2 x 7.7mm rifle-caliber machine guns.
C.205V - Initial Production Model Designation; some derived from existing MC.202 series fighters.
C.205S - Long-Range Escort; additional fuel tank for improved range; sans fuselage machine gun systems; 18 conversion models from MC.205V.
C.205N "Orione" - Proposed Development fitting DB 605 series engine with new wing with larger span and area; revised fuselage; 1 x 20mm MG 151 cannon in fuselage.
C.205N-1 - Proposed High-Altitude Interceptor; single prototype example constructed; fitting 4 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns in fuselage with 1 x 20mm cannon in nose.
C.205N-2 - Proposed High-Altitude Interceptor; single prototype example constructed; fitting 3 x 20mm cannons with 2 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns.
C.206 - Fitted with Daimler-Benz DB 603 series engine; 4 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns in fuselage with 1 x 20mm cannon in nose; single prototype completed.
C.207 - Proposed fighter development; fitted with Daimler-benz DB 603 series engine; 4 x 20mm cannons.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/31/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Macchi C.205 "Veltro" ("Greyhound") - also known as "MC.205" - was a further evolution of the Macchi C.202 "Folgore" of 1941. Indeed, the aircraft retained the basic design lines of its progenitor but added the powerful German Dimler-Benz DB 605 series engine to the mix, producing an excellent Italian fighter of World War 2. Through a more refined design, the C.205 proved itself a top-flight performer on par with some of the best fighter developments of the war and incorporated a machine gun/cannon mix armament with ground-strike capabilities to boot. However, line was only produced in the hundreds by war's end and never made a large imprint on the Italian war situation before the surrender of September 1943. It also served with German and Croatian forces before the end and found a post-war career Egypt. The last elements were retired in 1950 (Egypt).

The Italians formed a collection of strong fighter types under the "Series 5" name and these included the Macchi C.205, the Fiat G.55, and the Reggiane Re.2005. The common denominator across all three designs was use of the excellent German Daimler-Benz DB 605 series engine which allowed Italian industry to concentrate more on development and production of fighters than a costly, temperamental powerplant. Fiat undertook local, licensed production of the DB 605 as the RA.1050 RC58 "Tifone" ("Typhoon") which simplified matters considerably. When project head Mario Castoldi mated the engine to the existing airframe of the C.202 "Folgore", the new C.205 "Veltro" designation was born. Alternatively, the aircraft was also known as the "MC.205" for "Macchi Castoldi".

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.


First flight of the re-engined aircraft was recorded on April 19th, 1942 and its lines clearly showcased its C.202 origins for little had been changed in the new design. The aircraft continued the streamlined look established by the Folgore including its low-set monoplane wings, raised fuselage spine, and long nose assembly. The cockpit was set at midships, aft of a engine compartment at front, with the pilot under a framed canopy hinged to open to starboard. The engine drove a three-bladed propeller assembly in the usual way. The fuselage cross section was well-rounded to promote aerodynamic efficiency with the needed internal volume for avionics, fuel, and armament. The tail unit consisted of a single short, rounded vertical tail fin with low-mounted horizontal planes. All of the wing surfaces held rounded wingtips to promote an elegant shape. The tail-dragger undercarriage was wholly retractable including its little tail wheel. One of the notable external changes in the C.205 was its installation of two oil radiators along the side of the fuselage.

The Fiat RA.1050 RC58 Tifone was an inverted V12, liquid-cooled, supercharged form that outputted at 1,475 horsepower. Performance included a maximum speed of 400 miles per hour with a range out to 590 miles and the aircraft's service ceiling reached 37,730 feet. Compared to the older C.202, the C.205 was both faster and with a much improved rate-of-climb and agility was further refined in the new mount. The C.202 managed a top speed of 372 miles per hour with a range out to 475 miles with only its service ceiling matching that of the C.205.

Standard armament became 2 x 20mm MG 151 cannons and 2 x 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, all in the wings. 250 x 20mm projectiles were afforded the twin cannon arrangement and 400 x 12.7mm ammunition was given to each machine gun. The air force also requested support for ordnance-carrying which was granted through provision for 2 x 350lb bombs for the ground attack/fighter-bomber role. Of note is that the C.205 became the first Italian fighter to incorporate 2 x 20mm cannons into its armament suite - a very modern quality of the period.

The C.205 was pushed through flight testing and production was called for immediately - such was the importance of the new fighter. The Italian government ordered 250 and the first of these was available for September 1942. However, the aircraft was a complicated design which led to slow production and, coupled with Italian strategic materials shortages and available industry, limited per-month production totals. As such, only ten were available by the end of the year and less than twenty still by the following February. The C.205 was formally in service during April of 1943 and these primarily served in support of Italian forces in the Mediterranean Theater. The initial production batch of 100 aircraft was finally completed for June.

In practice, the aircraft is said to have been comparable to the best of the Allied fighters of the period in terms of both agility and speed. Its contemporaries were the German Messerschmitt Bf 109G, the British Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX, the Japanese Kawasaki Ki-61 "Hein", and the Soviet Yakovlev Yak-9D which was good company for the Veltro. Undoubtedly much of its success was made possible by the availability of the German engine but the proven design of the C.202 Folgore certainly added to what could have been Italy's most successful fighter of the war had it not been for circumstances dictating its overall reach. It certainly held the key qualities that made for a classic fighter of the period. Its armament was also considerable, particularly for an Italian aircraft.

Through 1943, the war situation in and around Italy was favoring the Allied advances which eventually forced the Italian armistice on September 3rd, 1943 (formally announced on September 8th). While this ended Italy's official participation as an Axis power in the war, the country was now split between Nazi-supported loyalists and those siding with the Allies. As such, the existing stock of C.205 fighters was divided along these lines with co-belligerent forces operating about 37 of the type and 28 serving with the Nazi-supported Republica Sociale Italiana. Additional production into May of 1944 brought up enemy-serving C.205 totals by 112 more aircraft and some also served through the Luftwaffe with squadron II/KG 77 and four served with the Independent State of Croatia, a Nazi-puppet state.

The C.205 continued in service for both sides of the war until its end in May of 1945. The rebuilding Italian Air Force made use of a small stock in the years following until the line was given up for good in May of 1947, replaced by surplus British Supermarine Spitfires.

In all, 262 C.205 Veltros were produced from September 1942 to May of 1944 and used by Italy, Germany, Egypt, and Croatia. It saw its last combat service during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Only three survive as museum showpieces today.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Macchi C.205 Veltro (Greyhound). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 262 Units

Contractor(s): Aeronautica Macchi - Italy
National flag of Croatia National flag of Egypt National flag of modern Germany National flag of Nazi Germany National flag of Italy National flag of the Kingdom of Italy

[ Croatia; Egypt; Nazi Germany; Kingdom of Italy ]
1 / 1
Image of the Macchi C.205 Veltro (Greyhound)
Left side view of the Macchi MC.205 Veltro at rest

Going Further...
The Macchi C.205 Veltro (Greyhound) Single-Seat Monoplane Fighter appears in the following collections:
HOME
AVIATION INDEX
AIRCRAFT BY COUNTRY
AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE AIRCRAFT
AIRCRAFT BY CONFLICT
AIRCRAFT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT BY DECADE
1948 ARAB-ISRAELI WAR AIRCRAFT
COLD WAR AIRCRAFT
WWII AIRCRAFT
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)