Difference between revisions of "D.520 (Great Britain)"

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(Created page with "{{Specs-Card|code=d_520}} == Description == ''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well a...")
 
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{{Specs-Card|code=d_520}}
 
{{Specs-Card|code=d_520}}
 +
{{About
 +
| about = gift British fighter version '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 +
| usage = the version in the French tree
 +
| link = D.520
 +
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
+
<!--''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.''-->
 +
[[File:GarageImage_D.520.jpg|420px|thumb|left|The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' in the garage]]
 +
{{break}}
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} gift British fighter {{Battle-rating}}. This aircraft has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to [[Update 1.29]]. Unfortunately, this vehicle is currently unavailable to players who want to purchase it due to it being removed from shop.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Flight Performance ===
 
=== Flight Performance ===
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Maximum speed, maneuverability, speed and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
+
<!--''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''-->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
 +
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 5,000 m)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
 +
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 +
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)
 +
|-
 +
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
 +
|-
 +
! Stock
 +
| 529 || 515 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 21.1 || 21.9 || 7.1 || 7.1 || rowspan="2" | 300
 +
|-
 +
! Upgraded
 +
| 571 || 550 || 19.0 || 20.0 || 13.6 || 10.0
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
====Details====
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | Features
 +
|-
 +
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
 +
|-
 +
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || X    <!-- ✓ -->
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | Limits
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
 +
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 +
|-
 +
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
 +
|-
 +
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 400 || 340 || 280 || ~12 || ~8
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
 +
|-
 +
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
 +
|-
 +
| < 370 || < 400 || < 430 || > 340
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
 +
|-
 +
! Optimal altitude
 +
! 100% Engine power
 +
! WEP Engine power
 +
|-
 +
| 4,000 m || 920 hp || 976 hp
 +
|-
 +
<!--! colspan="3" | Setting 2
 +
|-
 +
! Optimal altitude
 +
! 100% Engine power
 +
! WEP Engine power
 +
|-
 +
| ?,??? m || ?,??? hp || ?,??? hp
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Setting 3
 +
|-
 +
! Optimal altitude
 +
! 100% Engine power
 +
! WEP Engine power
 +
|-
 +
| ?,??? m || ?,??? hp || ?,??? hp
 +
|- -->
 +
|}
  
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured. Describe the armour, if there is any, also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''
+
<!--''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''-->
  
== Weaponry ==
+
* 38 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the pilot.
=== Offensive weaponry ===
+
* 8 mm Steel plate behind pilot.
''Describe the offensive weaponry of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.''
+
* 3 mm Steel box behind pilot's head.
 +
* Critical components located at the front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
 +
* More fuel tanks located in wings near the fuselage
  
=== Suspended weaponry ===
+
== Armaments ==
''Describe the aircraft's suspended weapons: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.''
+
=== Offensive armament ===
 +
<!--''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.''-->
  
=== Defensive weaponry ===
+
{{main|Hispano 404 (20 mm)|MAC 1934 (7.5 mm)}}
''Defensive weaponry with turret machine guns or cannons, crewed by gunners. Examine the number of gunners and what belts or drums are better to use. If defensive weaponry is not available remove this subsection.''
 
  
== Usage in the battles ==
+
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
''Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
* 1 x 20 mm Hispano 404 cannon, nose-mounted (60 rpg)
 +
* 4 x 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun, wing-mounted (675 rpg = 2,700 total)
 +
 
 +
<!--=== Suspended armament ===
 +
''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.''-->
 +
<!--
 +
=== Defensive armament ===
 +
''Defensive armament with turret machine guns or cannons, crewed by gunners. Examine the number of gunners and what belts or drums are better to use. If defensive weaponry is not available, remove this subsection.''
 +
-->
 +
== Usage in battles ==
 +
<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''-->
 +
 
 +
The main purpose of the D.520 is the role of an interceptor/fighter. It has no bomb-capacity and thus stands limited to aerial combat. In this respect, there are a few things to consider, first and foremost that this is a fighter that does not do great away from a squad. It has mediocre flight characteristics as far as speed, climb and turn are concerned. It is however quite well armoured to compensate for such, meaning that it will stay air-worthy where other aircraft would crash, and instead stands a fighter which is effective in engagements where it has support to rely on. Without such support, it is a very situational plane which can engage certain enemies depending on advantage in altitude, speed, or sometimes even a turning radius. It has a respectable armament of one powerful Hispano 20 mm cannon with a very limited ammunition load (60 rounds), and four 7.5 mm guns with a good deal of ammunition which makes it competitive in realistic battles. Its strong airframe is able to withstand significant wind resistance making it potent in a longer dive. Despite its limited attributes, it handles fairly comfortably and thus can be a real asset to a pilot which employs situational awareness combined with an in-depth understanding of the enemy aircraft he will choose to either engage or avoid. It has a potent incendiary tracer round for its machine guns and the Hispano makes it pack a fairly significant punch despite its limited cannon ammunition. The D.520 is best considered a heavier single-seat fighter aircraft which can out-endure other enemy squads due to its armour, but not out-turn, out-run, out-gun many other types of aircraft on its own rank.
 +
 
 +
===Manual Engine Control===
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" |Mixer
 +
! rowspan="2" |Pitch
 +
! colspan="3" |Radiator
 +
! rowspan="2" |Supercharger
 +
! rowspan="2" |Turbocharger
 +
|-
 +
! Oil
 +
! Water
 +
! Type
 +
|-
 +
| Controllable || rowspan="2" | Controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Controllable || rowspan="2" | Combined || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===Modules===
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! colspan="1" | Tier
 +
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
 +
! colspan="1" | Survivability
 +
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
 +
|-
 +
| I
 +
| Fuselage repair
 +
| Radiator
 +
|
 +
| Offensive 7 mm
 +
|-
 +
| II
 +
|
 +
| Compressor
 +
| Airframe
 +
| New 7 mm MGs
 +
|-
 +
| III
 +
| Wings repair
 +
| Engine
 +
|
 +
| Offensive 20 mm
 +
|-
 +
| IV
 +
|
 +
| Engine injection
 +
| Cover
 +
| New 20 mm cannons
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" |This is a premium vehicle: all modifications are unlocked on purchase
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
<!--''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''-->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
*
+
 
 +
* Powerful 20mm cannon
 +
* Good fighter armament
 +
* Plenty of ammo for the machine-guns
 +
* Very incendiary ammunition for its tracer ammunition
 +
* Fairly good armour
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
*
 
  
== Historical part ==
+
* Neither very manoeuvrable nor very fast
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
* Very little ammo for the 20mm cannon (60 rounds)
 +
* Relatively poor rate of climb
 +
* Very situational aircraft
 +
* Takes a lot of machine gun rounds to shoot down an enemy plane when you run out of cannon ammo
 +
 
 +
== History ==
 +
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''-->
 +
 
 +
Production-standard armament consisted of a 20 mm HS.404, with an ammunition capacity of 60 rounds, firing through the propeller hub, and four belt-fed MAC 1934 M39 7.5 mm (.295 in) machine guns in the wings, each with 675 rounds per gun. The MAC 1934 machine guns had a high rate of fire of 1,200 rounds per minute (rpm), while the effective HS.404 fired at 600 rpm and was accurate up to 500 m (1,600 ft); the ammunition capacity meant that the machine guns could be fired for a total of 30 seconds, while the cannon had 10 seconds worth of ammunition. In combat the MS.406 had only two 7.5 mm and was, therefore, at a disadvantage when the HS.404 had used up its ammunition, while a D.520 could continue to fight effectively because it had four fast-firing machine guns (over 80 rounds/sec), with 20+ seconds of ammunition still available. The D.520 had provisions for two BE33 "illuminating bombs", useful for nocturnal interception missions, but these were seldom used because French fighters rarely flew night-time missions.
 +
 
 +
=== In-game description ===
 +
The Dewoitine D.520 was a French single-seat, all-metal, monoplane fighter which first entered service in 1940. In 1936 the French Armee de l’Air stated a requirement for a cannon armed fighter capable of speeds of 500 km/h. Emile Dewoitine began work on a design to meet this criteria and a prototype D.520-01 conducted its first test flight on October 2nd 1938. After some initial teething problems, the first production run was started in October 1939. In April 1940 the first D.520s were declared operational in Groupe de Chasse 1/3, a Groupe which already included a good number of combat experienced pilots.
 +
 
 +
The Dewoitine D.520 was powered by a liquid-cooled Hispano-Suiza HS12Y-45 engine, rated at 920 hp. Its armament comprised of one Hispano-Suiza HS404 20mm cannon with 60 rounds and four belt-fed MAC 1934 M39 7.5mm machine guns in the wings with 675 rounds each.
 +
 
 +
The outbreak of war had made any further refinement of the aircraft impossible, and as a result production commenced with minimal delays, leaving no time for proposed improvements to be implemented. Instead, upgrades would be made during production, as time allowed. The production model had a redesigned carburettor air intake and a modified cooling system for the engine. Later D.520s featured jet exhaust pipes. The production model was sometimes referred to as the D.520S (""serial"") or the D.520C1 (""chausser 1"" - single-seat fighter).
 +
 
 +
The Dewoitine D.520 flew its first operational sorties in May 1940 and the majority of its victories (18 confirmed kills) were achieved by one of the leading French aces, Adjudant-Chief (then Sous-Lieutenant) Pierre Le Gloan from GC III/6. Production of the D.520 was halted when France surrendered in the summer of 1940 and then restarted under German occupation in April of 1941.
 +
 
 +
From September 1942, the D.520 was the main fighter of Vichy France; the puppet French government who now collaborated with Nazi Germany. From April 1941 onward D.520s took part in clashes with British forces in Lebanon and Syria. In November of 1942, some D.520s joined la France Libre and fought for the Allies in North Africa. The D.520 also served with the Luftwaffe, and the Germans supplied the fighters to their allies in Italy, Bulgaria, and Romania.
 +
 
 +
The Dewoitine D.520 is considered by many to be the best French fighter of World War II. Its initial competition included the Spitfire and the Messerschmitt 109, although its handling characteristics and performance were inferior to both. One senior British test pilot described it as underpowered, ‘a nasty little brute’ to fly and markedly inferior to both the Spitfire and Hurricane.
 +
 
 +
D.520 fighters were mass manufactured intermittently until June 1944 and in all 610 were produced. The last D.520s, used as trainers, were retired by the Armee de l’Air in September 1953.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''Прекрасным дополнением к статье станут видеогайды, а также скриншоты из игры и фотографии.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|EzuojV4HqHg|'''Pages of History: D.520'''  - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}
  
== Read also ==
+
== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
''ETC.''
 
  
== Sources ==
+
;Related development
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
* [[D.520]]
 +
* [[D.521 (Great Britain)]]
 +
 
 +
== External links ==
 +
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''page on the Wikipedia;''
+
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''page on aircraft encyclopedia;''
+
* ''other literature.'' -->
* ''other literature.''
+
 
 +
* [[wt:en/news/876--en|[Special] First Flight of Dewoitine D.520]]
 +
 
 +
{{AirManufacturer Dewoitine}}
 +
{{Britain fighters}}
 +
{{Britain premium aircraft}}

Revision as of 12:50, 19 October 2020

Rank VI USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Su-25K Pack
▄D.520
d_520.png
▄D.520
AB RB SB
3.0 3.0 2.3
Show in game
This page is about the gift British fighter version D.520 (Great Britain). For the version in the French tree, see D.520.

Description

The D.520 (Great Britain) in the garage


The ▄D.520 is a rank II gift British fighter with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB/RB) and 2.3 (SB). This aircraft has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.29. Unfortunately, this vehicle is currently unavailable to players who want to purchase it due to it being removed from shop.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 5,000 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 529 515 11200 21.1 21.9 7.1 7.1 300
Upgraded 571 550 19.0 20.0 13.6 10.0

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 + -
0 320 400 340 280 ~12 ~8
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 370 < 400 < 430 > 340
Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
4,000 m 920 hp 976 hp

Survivability and armour

  • 38 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the pilot.
  • 8 mm Steel plate behind pilot.
  • 3 mm Steel box behind pilot's head.
  • Critical components located at the front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
  • More fuel tanks located in wings near the fuselage

Armaments

Offensive armament

The D.520 (Great Britain) is armed with:

  • 1 x 20 mm Hispano 404 cannon, nose-mounted (60 rpg)
  • 4 x 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun, wing-mounted (675 rpg = 2,700 total)

Usage in battles

The main purpose of the D.520 is the role of an interceptor/fighter. It has no bomb-capacity and thus stands limited to aerial combat. In this respect, there are a few things to consider, first and foremost that this is a fighter that does not do great away from a squad. It has mediocre flight characteristics as far as speed, climb and turn are concerned. It is however quite well armoured to compensate for such, meaning that it will stay air-worthy where other aircraft would crash, and instead stands a fighter which is effective in engagements where it has support to rely on. Without such support, it is a very situational plane which can engage certain enemies depending on advantage in altitude, speed, or sometimes even a turning radius. It has a respectable armament of one powerful Hispano 20 mm cannon with a very limited ammunition load (60 rounds), and four 7.5 mm guns with a good deal of ammunition which makes it competitive in realistic battles. Its strong airframe is able to withstand significant wind resistance making it potent in a longer dive. Despite its limited attributes, it handles fairly comfortably and thus can be a real asset to a pilot which employs situational awareness combined with an in-depth understanding of the enemy aircraft he will choose to either engage or avoid. It has a potent incendiary tracer round for its machine guns and the Hispano makes it pack a fairly significant punch despite its limited cannon ammunition. The D.520 is best considered a heavier single-seat fighter aircraft which can out-endure other enemy squads due to its armour, but not out-turn, out-run, out-gun many other types of aircraft on its own rank.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer Pitch Radiator Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type
Controllable Controllable Not controllable Controllable Combined Not controllable Not controllable

Modules

Tier Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
I Fuselage repair Radiator Offensive 7 mm
II Compressor Airframe New 7 mm MGs
III Wings repair Engine Offensive 20 mm
IV Engine injection Cover New 20 mm cannons
This is a premium vehicle: all modifications are unlocked on purchase

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Powerful 20mm cannon
  • Good fighter armament
  • Plenty of ammo for the machine-guns
  • Very incendiary ammunition for its tracer ammunition
  • Fairly good armour

Cons:

  • Neither very manoeuvrable nor very fast
  • Very little ammo for the 20mm cannon (60 rounds)
  • Relatively poor rate of climb
  • Very situational aircraft
  • Takes a lot of machine gun rounds to shoot down an enemy plane when you run out of cannon ammo

History

Production-standard armament consisted of a 20 mm HS.404, with an ammunition capacity of 60 rounds, firing through the propeller hub, and four belt-fed MAC 1934 M39 7.5 mm (.295 in) machine guns in the wings, each with 675 rounds per gun. The MAC 1934 machine guns had a high rate of fire of 1,200 rounds per minute (rpm), while the effective HS.404 fired at 600 rpm and was accurate up to 500 m (1,600 ft); the ammunition capacity meant that the machine guns could be fired for a total of 30 seconds, while the cannon had 10 seconds worth of ammunition. In combat the MS.406 had only two 7.5 mm and was, therefore, at a disadvantage when the HS.404 had used up its ammunition, while a D.520 could continue to fight effectively because it had four fast-firing machine guns (over 80 rounds/sec), with 20+ seconds of ammunition still available. The D.520 had provisions for two BE33 "illuminating bombs", useful for nocturnal interception missions, but these were seldom used because French fighters rarely flew night-time missions.

In-game description

The Dewoitine D.520 was a French single-seat, all-metal, monoplane fighter which first entered service in 1940. In 1936 the French Armee de l’Air stated a requirement for a cannon armed fighter capable of speeds of 500 km/h. Emile Dewoitine began work on a design to meet this criteria and a prototype D.520-01 conducted its first test flight on October 2nd 1938. After some initial teething problems, the first production run was started in October 1939. In April 1940 the first D.520s were declared operational in Groupe de Chasse 1/3, a Groupe which already included a good number of combat experienced pilots.

The Dewoitine D.520 was powered by a liquid-cooled Hispano-Suiza HS12Y-45 engine, rated at 920 hp. Its armament comprised of one Hispano-Suiza HS404 20mm cannon with 60 rounds and four belt-fed MAC 1934 M39 7.5mm machine guns in the wings with 675 rounds each.

The outbreak of war had made any further refinement of the aircraft impossible, and as a result production commenced with minimal delays, leaving no time for proposed improvements to be implemented. Instead, upgrades would be made during production, as time allowed. The production model had a redesigned carburettor air intake and a modified cooling system for the engine. Later D.520s featured jet exhaust pipes. The production model was sometimes referred to as the D.520S (""serial"") or the D.520C1 (""chausser 1"" - single-seat fighter).

The Dewoitine D.520 flew its first operational sorties in May 1940 and the majority of its victories (18 confirmed kills) were achieved by one of the leading French aces, Adjudant-Chief (then Sous-Lieutenant) Pierre Le Gloan from GC III/6. Production of the D.520 was halted when France surrendered in the summer of 1940 and then restarted under German occupation in April of 1941.

From September 1942, the D.520 was the main fighter of Vichy France; the puppet French government who now collaborated with Nazi Germany. From April 1941 onward D.520s took part in clashes with British forces in Lebanon and Syria. In November of 1942, some D.520s joined la France Libre and fought for the Allies in North Africa. The D.520 also served with the Luftwaffe, and the Germans supplied the fighters to their allies in Italy, Bulgaria, and Romania.

The Dewoitine D.520 is considered by many to be the best French fighter of World War II. Its initial competition included the Spitfire and the Messerschmitt 109, although its handling characteristics and performance were inferior to both. One senior British test pilot described it as underpowered, ‘a nasty little brute’ to fly and markedly inferior to both the Spitfire and Hurricane.

D.520 fighters were mass manufactured intermittently until June 1944 and in all 610 were produced. The last D.520s, used as trainers, were retired by the Armee de l’Air in September 1953.

Media

See also

Related development

External links


Dewoitine (SNCAM/SNCASE)
Fighters 
D.37  D.371 · D.371 H.S.9 · D.373
D.500  D.500 · D.501 · Pallier's D.510
D.520  D.520 · ▄D.520 · ▄D.521
Export  ␗D.510C

Britain fighters
Fury  Fury Mk I · Fury Mk II
Nimrod  Nimrod Mk I · Nimrod Mk II
Gladiator  Gladiator Mk II · Tuck's Gladiator Mk II · Gladiator Mk IIF · Gladiator Mk IIS
Sea Gladiator  Sea Gladiator Mk I
Hurricane  Hurricane Mk I/L · Hurricane Mk.I/L FAA M · Hurricane Mk IIB/Trop
Sea Hurricane  Sea Hurricane Mk IB · Sea Hurricane Mk IC
Martin-Baker  MB.5
Spitfire (early-Merlin)  Spitfire Mk Ia · Spitfire Mk IIa · Spitfire Mk.IIa Venture I · Spitfire Mk IIb · Spitfire Mk Vb/trop · Spitfire Mk Vb · Spitfire Mk Vc/trop · Spitfire Mk Vc
Spitfire (late-Merlin)  Spitfire F Mk IX · Spitfire LF Mk IX · Spitfire F Mk IXc · Plagis' Spitfire LF Mk IXc · Spitfire F Mk XVI
Spitfire (Griffon)  Spitfire F Mk XIVc · Spitfire F Mk XIVe · Prendergast's Spitfire FR Mk XIVe · Spitfire F Mk XVIIIe · Spitfire F Mk 22 · Spitfire F Mk 24
Seafire  Seafire LF Mk.III · Seafire F Mk XVII · Seafire FR 47
Typhoon  Typhoon Mk Ia · Typhoon Mk Ib · Typhoon Mk Ib/L
Tempest  Tempest Mk II · Tempest Mk V
Sea Fury  Sea Fury FB 11
Twin-engine fighters  Hornet Mk.I · Hornet Mk.III · Whirlwind Mk I · Whirlwind P.9
  Foreign:
Australia  ▄Boomerang Mk I · ▄Boomerang Mk II
France  ▄D.520 · ▄D.521
USA  ▄Martlet Mk IV · ▄Corsair F Mk II · ▄Hellcat Mk II · ▄Thunderbolt Mk.1 · ▄Mustang Mk IA

Britain premium aircraft
Fighters  Tuck's Gladiator Mk II · ▄Boomerang Mk I · ▄Boomerang Mk II · ▄D.520
  ▄Martlet Mk IV · ▄Corsair F Mk II · ▄Hellcat Mk II · ▄Thunderbolt Mk.1 · ▄Mustang Mk IA
  Hurricane Mk.I/L FAA M · Spitfire Mk.IIa Venture I · Spitfire F Mk IXc · Plagis' Spitfire LF Mk IXc · Spitfire F Mk XIVc · Prendergast's Spitfire FR Mk XIVe
  Typhoon Mk Ib · MB.5
Twin-engine fighters  Hornet Mk.I · Whirlwind P.9
Jet fighters  Attacker FB.2 · Hunter FGA.9 · Lightning F.53 · Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper · Sea Vixen F.A.W. Mk.2 · F-4J(UK) Phantom II
Strike aircraft  ▄Wirraway · Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm) · Wyvern S4
  Harrier GR.1 · Strikemaster Mk.88
Bombers  ▄Avenger Mk II · ▄Boston Mk I · ▄Catalina Mk IIIa · ▄DB-7 · ▄Havoc Mk I · ▄Hudson Mk V · Swordfish Mk II