C. 205N2
This page is about the Italian fighter C. 205N2. For other versions, see C.205 (Family). |
Contents
Description
The C.205N2, also known as "Orion" ("Orion") was the next development of the C.205V Veltro, during 1942-1943 the Regia Aeronautica requested an upgrade for the C.205, the C.205N1 prototype was created in 1942 with larger wings and a longer fuselage but only armed with 12.7mm, but it was not accepted due to its poor armament, in 1943 the second prototype of the C.205N named C.205N2 with a more powerful engine and the addition in the fuselage of a 20mm cannon inside the crankshaft, thanks to its improved armament the C.205N2 was accepted by the Regia Aeronautica but due to lack of resources and the Armistice, it was abandoned and remained at the prototype stage.
The C.205N2 is an excellent fighter for both turn-fight and energy-fight, introduced with the Italian Tech tree aircraft in the 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica" update, the fighter proves to be very manoeuvrable both at high speed and low speed, while if we talk about the armament thanks to the three 20mm and two 12.7mm you can cause in a few shots the destruction of the enemy aircraft thanks to the anti-aircraft belts that contain many incendiary shots.
General info
Flight performance
Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 6,700 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
Stock | 635 | 618 | 10360 | 21.2 | 21.9 | 13.6 | 13.6 | 250 |
Upgraded | 685 | 659 | 18.9 | 20.0 | 20.6 | 16.7 |
Details
Features | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | X |
Limits | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
845 | 300 | 535 | 450 | 260 | ~14 | ~5 |
Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
< 400 | < 270 | < 550 | > 380 |
Survivability and armour
- 8 mm Steel plating behind pilot
- 50 mm bullet-proof glass
Modifications and economy
Armaments
Offensive armament
The C. 205N2 is armed with:
- 1 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon, nose-mounted (250 rpg)
- 2 x 20 mm MG 151 cannons, wing-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)
- 2 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 800 total)
The two of the cannons are each mounted in wing. A single 20 mm cannon is mounted in the nose of the aircraft, firing through the propeller hub. The two machine guns are nose mounted, positioned between the pilot and the engine of the aircraft. If fired continuously, the wing mounted cannons will run out of ammunition before the nose-mounted cannon.
Usage in battles
The C.205N2 belongs to the select few planes who are good for Boom and Zoom as well as turnfighting, it is an extremely balanced multi-role aircraft. It should be played neither at low altitude nor at high altitude, but in-between at medium altitude. It has no problem dealing with all other fighters at its BR, due to its ability to retain energy well. It can hold its own against Bf 109s, Fw 190s and P-51s. It can fight well against Spitfires (with some skill on the pilot's part).
Manual Engine Control
MEC elements | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
Oil | Water | Type | ||||
Not controllable | Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Separate | Not controllable 1 gear |
Not controllable |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- High roll rate
- Good firepower
- Good acceleration, top speed and climb rate
- Short turn radius
- Good energy retention in BnZ
- High structural strength
- Lots of ammunition
- Aircraft cooling is very efficient even in hot maps
Cons:
- Roll rate deteriorates and control surfaces stiffen beyond 600 km/h (373 mph)
- Loses its manoeuvrability at low speed
History
The C.205N2 was a further development of the C.205V Veltro, Macchi engineers tried to perfect the C.205V design and they developed the "Orione" variant with 2 different prototypes: the new variants got increased firepower and high-altitude performance. To achieve this, the engineers made the fuselage longer and increased the wingspan of the aircraft and in the second prototype they have adapted the fuselage for a 20 mm cannon within the engine shaft.
The first prototype C.205N1 (MM.499) flew on 1 November 1942 by Guido Carestiato to be later sent to Guidonia Experimental Centre for official evaluation in a fighter competition. After it, the Macchi engineers built the second variant: the C.205N2 (MM.500) was flown 19 May 1943 by Lonate Pozzolo, later also flying to Guidonia for military acceptance testing.
The first prototype C.205N1 was not accepted because the armament was not compliance with official specifications by the Tender Committee, the Macchi C.205N1 armament was armed with one 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon mounted in the fuselage and firing through the hollow hub of the propeller, and four 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns. Meanwhile, the C.205N2 has a pair of wing-mounted 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons instead of the original 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns and a 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon within the engine block.
However, as the war in the Mediterranean was drawing to a close and resources dwindling, the project failed to influence the outcome of the war as it never left prototype stage.
Media
- Skins
- Images
- Videos
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
External links
- [Vehicle Profile] Macchi C.205N2 Orione - "Rome's Shooting Star"
- Official data sheet - more details about the performance
Macchi Aeronautics (Macchi Aeronautica) | |
---|---|
Fighters | C. 200 serie 3 · C. 200 serie 7 |
C. 202 · C. 202D · C. 202EC | |
C. 205 serie 1 · C. 205 serie 3 · C. 205N2 | |
Captured | ▀C. 200 serie 3 · ▀C. 200 serie 7 · ▀C. 202 |
Italy fighters | |
---|---|
Fiat | CR.32 · CR.32 bis · CR.32 quater · CR.42 · Marcolin's C.R.42 CN |
G.50 serie 2 · G.50 AS serie 7 | |
G.55 sottoserie 0 · G.55 serie 1 · G.55S · G.56 | |
Reggiane | Re.2000 G.A. · Re.2000 serie 1 |
Re.2001 serie 1 · Re.2001 gruppo 22 · Re.2001 CB · Re.2001 CN | |
Re.2002 Early | |
Re.2005 serie 0 | |
Macchi | C. 200 serie 3 · C. 200 serie 7 |
C. 202 · C. 202D · C. 202EC | |
C. 205 serie 1 · C. 205 serie 3 · C. 205N2 | |
IMAM | Ro.44 |
Foreign: | |
Germany | ▄Bf 109 G-14/AS |
USA | ▄P-47D-30 |
Britain | ▄Spitfire Mk Vb/trop |
Hungary | ◐Bf 109 F-4 · ◐Bf 109 G-2 · ◔Yak-9P |
Romania | He 112 B-1/U2 · IAR-81C |