17pdr SP Achilles

Today we bring you another land vehicle, the 17pdr SP Achilles British tank destroyer.
The 17pdr SP Achilles was the British equivalent of the American M10 tank destroyer armed with the much powerful Ordnance QF 17 pounder anti-tank gun instead of the standard 3" (76.2mm) M7gun and retaining the 0,5 Browning M2 machine gun.
A total of 1100 were converted and this vehicle was the second most numerous armoured fighting vehicle armed with the 17 pounder anti-tank gun, being the first one the Sherman Firefly.
The name Achilles was, however, barely used during the World War 2 as it was traditionally called just '17pdr M10' or '17pdr SP M10' or even just 'Firefly'.
It saw service in the European Theatre of Operations, both in mainland Europe and Italy.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17pdr_SP_Achilles
2. Salamander Books - The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World's Tanks and AFV.

Macchi M.C.72

When in 1926 Macchi won the Schneider trophy with the Macchi M.39, the following airplanes they designed couldn't achieve the victory again, until this airplane came out.
It was a single-seat two floater airplane with a single fuselage partly made out of metal up to the cockpit and a wood monocoque bolted to the front tubular portion by four bolts. There was a frontal oil tank in the nose with its outside wall exposed to the airstream. It had many water radiators, two in the wings, another two in the pontoons, other one in the nose and another in the floaters that ran from cockpit to tail.
It was completed in 1931 with the idea of having it ready for the Schneider trophy, that eventually it was the last one, but because of engine problems, it couldn't compete that year, so instead of halting the project, Macchi got Benito Mussolini's attention who directed state funds to the company to finish the project.
Its engine was trobulesome for two years and two test pilots, Monti and Bellini, died when trying to achieve the world speed record, so the firm decided to re-engine it with a supercharged FIAT A.S.6 V24 that could generate from 2500 to 3100hp of power and contra-rotating propellers.
After 35 trials, the engine was ready for the world record attempt and it achieved it on 10th April 1933 when achieved a speed of 682km/h (423.5mph) with the Warrant Officer Francesco Agello at the controls (who was the last of the test pilots).
However, Macchi wasn't satisfied because Macchi's aim was to break the 700km/h (434.7mph) barrier, and it was achieved shortly after when also with Agello at the controls, on 23rd October 1934 it achieved the average speed of 709.2km/h (440.7mph). This record remains unbeaten today for the fastest speed ever achieved by a piston-engined floatplane. After that success it was never flown again.
It hold the absolute world speed record until 1939 when the German prototype for the Heinkel He.100 broke by reaching the average speed of 746km/h (463mph) and by the very first prototype of the Messerschmitt Me.209 which achieved a record of 756km/h (469mph) in August 1939. Currently, the fastest land based piston airplane is a heavily modified Grumman F8F Bearcat that in 1989 reached the speed of 850.26km/h (528.33mph).
Apparently there were some projects to turn it into a floatplane fighter but they were discarded as there were better models available back in the early-mid 1930s for that role.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_M.C.72
2. http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbird-articles/macchi-castoldi-m-c-72-worlds-fastest-piston-powered-seaplane.html

14TP

The 14TP was a Polish prototype for a medium cruiser tank that was never completed due to the start of the World War II.
It was designed in 1938 and was heavily based on the previous 10TP with the idea of improving the performance of this last one.
The armour on each side wouldn't be thicker than 35mm and it could have two type of turrets, either one with a 37mm Bofors cannon or one with a 47mm gun and it was planned to be powered by a 300hp Maybach engine to make it more powerful and fast.
The tank was 60% completed by the end of 1938 and the first tests were planned for March 1939, however it turned out that Maybach company (the builder of the engines) had sent two defective copies of the engines, so the tank couldn't be assembled. This leaded to the talks about the replacement of the defective parts with better ones and that, leaded to the halt of the project in the summer of 1939 and, shortly after, Germany invaded and the plans fell into German hands.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14TP
2. Salamander Books - The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World's Tanks and AFVs

Marchetti MVT

The Marchetti MVT (Marchetti-Vickers-Terni) was an Italian fighter from the early interwar period
that was also known as SIAI S.50.
It was designed by Alessandro Marchetti and was a single seat all-metal biplane with the fuselage suspended between upper and lower wings with the after part serving as an airfoil. Its semi elliptical wings were very thin and used wing warping to allow lateral control and it had all-moving tail surfaces. It was powered by a single 220hp SPA 6a water cooled engine and was armed with two 0.303in Vickers machine guns.
It was built at Vickers-Terni factory in the Italian city of La Speziaand flew for the first time in the autumn of 1919 and in December of that same year it achieved the speed of 250km/h (155mph), which was a world speed record for the time but it wasn't declared official because there weren't any representatives of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (International Aeronautical Federation - the world governing institution for aeronautics of the time) present to certify the speed.
It was redesigned in 1920 to give it longer span wings and splayed interplane bracing struts, a new cabane structure and it was fitted with a more powerful 285hp SPA 62a engine. After that redesign it was tested in Guidonia (the Italian air force test centre) where it reached the speed of 275km/h (171mph).
Marchetti was hired by the Italian firm SIAI in 1922 as the chief engineer and it was renamed as the SIAI S.50, however, the MVT didn't match the minimum specs required by the Italian Regia Aeronautica for 1923 which specified that a fighter had to be powered by a 300hp Hispano-Suiza HS.42 but SIAI presented it for the contest anyway and it received a favourable impression from the Regia Aeronautica who adquired three airplanes for evaluation and had plans made to order 12 of them, although they were never ordered or constructed. It's also known that at least one of the three of those that were sold to the Regia Aeronautica was fitted with floats.
This airplane set the basis for the much succesful SIAI S.52 as it was based on this one.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marchetti_MVT
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of FIghters

Mann & Grimmer M.1

We start this week with one of the most strange looking airplanes of the World War I.
The Mann & Grimmer M.1 was a British two-seat fighter prototype that had a radial engine placed in the nose, but with two propellers driving behind the wings, in a pusher configuration in order to give the gunner a good field of view.
It was designed by Reginald F. Mann who wanted to design an airplane with the power of a tractor airplane with the good field of view and fire of the pusher's. To achieve those requirements, he designed a conventional deep fuselage powered by a single 125hp Anzani engine which drove two propellers mounted behind and between the wings, using a long shaft to a gearbox and chain drives to the propellers. The observer/gunner sat in the nose, behind the engine, while the pilot sat in another cockpit behind the wings.
The prototype was completed at Hendon Aerodrome in February 1915 and made its maiden flight on 19th February but its complicated chain drives created some problems and underpowered the engine. When it was expected the prototype to be tested by the Royal Flying Corps, it crashed when landing after trying to beat the British altitude record on 16th November 1915.
Mann had designed an improved version, the M.2, but the lack of funds made it impossible its creation. Unfortunately we couldn't find any blueprints about it.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mann_%26_Grimmer_M.1
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

10TP Tank

The 10TP was a Polish light cruiser tank prototype. It was designed back in 1935 by a team of engineers leaded by Major Rudolf Gundlach as "natural" development of the previous 7TP light tank.
By 1936, even if the design wasn't complete, it was approved to be included in the programme of armoured forces that was part of a bigger plan to modernize and expand the Polish Army during the period of 1936-1942. This tank was expected to be part of the tank battalions for the newly created motorised units.
The prototype was started to be built in 1937 at the State Engineering Plants, located at the outskirts of Warsaw, where every Polish tank during the period of 1931-1939 was manufactured. At the same time, two motorised cavalry brigades were raised, in order to be equipped with this tank.
It was completed on 16th August 1938 and its trials were kept in secret as the activities of the German Abwehr were becoming more intensive. In January 1939 it was further tested and it managed to travel a distance of 610km (379 milles). Before it could be massly produced, Poland was invaded by Germany in September 1939 and any further development was halted.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10TP
2. Salamander Books - The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World's Tanks and AFVs.

Mann Egerton Type H

We're back in the Great War with this British shipborne fighter prototype that was also known as the Mann Egerton H2.
It was designed by J.W. Carr to compete in the Air Ministry's N1a of 1916. It was a two bay biplane with foldable wings (which wasn't something new as the Short Folder had already introduced them back in 1913)  considering its usage as a naval fighter.
It had also flotation chambers and a float attached to the underside of the fuselage to provide it with extra buoyancy.
The landing gear could be jettisoned in case of having to land on water. It failed, nevertheless, the flotation tests so a new prototype, named Type H Mk.II featuring single bay wings was designed.
The Mk.II, which is the one depicted here, replaced the float of the Mk.I with inflatable flotation bags and featured also a conventional undercarriage and a horn-balanced rudder. It was tested in December 1917 but it wasn't considered suitable for use with the Royal Naval Air Service so any further development was discontinued.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mann_Egerton_Type_H
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

105 leFH18B2

Yes! Now we're drawing land vehicles too!
After the fall of France, Germany captured many French vehicles that were dubbed as Beutenpanzer (meaning, literally "trohpy tanks"). More than 5000 of those vehicles were repaired or refitted to serve with the Wehrmacht.
One of those captured tanks, was the Char B1bis that, as many of them, were abandoned by their crew after running out of fuel or ammo as the French Army's supply system was very deficient back in 1940 and therefore very few of those heavy tanks were destroyed in combat.
They received the German name of Panzerkampfwagen B2 740(f) with the letter "f" meaning that it was an ex-French tank. In May 1941 sixteen of these tanks were ordered to be converted into self-propelled artillery guns to support the Flammenwerfer auf Pz.Kpfw.B2(f) flamethrower tanks in their actions of the eastern front.
Given the lack of equipment, spare parts, vehicles and guns, it took longer than expected to convert them into the SPG guns, and so it wasn't until June 1941 that these SP guns saw action for the first time.
As the Flammenwerfer auf Pz.Kpfw.B2(f) were a disappointment for the Germans, the Panzer-Abteilung (Flamm).103, where these vehicles served, was disbanded in July 1941 because they were unreliable and you couldn't trust them to assault enemy strongpoints.

Sources:
1. http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/10-5cm-lefh-183-sf-auf-geschuetzwagen-b2f/
2. Salamander Books - The Illustrated encyclopedia of the world's tanks and AFVs.

Macchi C.205N Orione

During the course of 1941, the chief engineer Mario Castaldi, who designed all Macchi C.200, C.202 and C.205, among many others, came up with a proposal for a fighter powered by the DB605A engine, in order to comply with a requirement of the Ministerio dell'Aeronautica (Air Ministry).
Castoldi's design featured a new redesigned wing with longer span ,aspect ratio and taking the centre, aft and tail sections from the C.202. This new fighter was designated as the C.205N where the N stands for nuovo (meaning "new" in Italian) and was nicknamed as Orione ("Orion).
The first prototype, the Macchi C.205N1 was flown for the first time on 1st November 1942 and was armed with four 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns mounted in the fuselage plus one 20mm cannon bulge-fitted in the side of the fuselage. One thousand two hundred of them were ordered with additional 600 of them to be license-built by Breda.
Shortly later, a second prototype, the C.205N2 flew for the first time on 19th May 1943 with modified weaponry arrangement, as it had just two 12,7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns and two 20mm cannons, this time placed in the wings. As the war progressed, it was clear that the mass production of the Orione wasn't viable and therefore the orders were cancelled.

Sources:
1. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.205

Macchi C.205 - Royal Italian Users

The Macchi C.205 is regarded as maybe the best Italian fighter of the World War 2, title disputed with the Fiat G.55 or the Reggiane Re.2005.
As it was a development of the previous Macchi C.202 Folgore, it flew for the first time in April 1942 but, due to technical reasons, it wasn't operative until February 1943, very late for Italy.
It was a single seat fighter with escort, interceptor and ground attack capabilities. It was powered by a Fiat RA 1050 RC58 Tifone engine (a copy of the German DB605), that delivered 1475hp of power, the main fuel tank was placed between the engine and the cockpit. Radiator was located beneath the cockpit and both radio equipment ,the oxygen cylinder and the reserve fuel tank with 80L were placed at the rear part of the fuselage. The wings were made out of alluminium and steel and had two extra fuel tanks. It had self-sealing fuel tanks, an armoured seat and armoured windscreen too.
It was tipically armed with two 12,7mm Breda machine guns placed in the cowling, plus other two 20mm MG 151/20 placed in the wings, making it, probably the best armed Italian fighter of the war. It had also capability to carry either two 100L fuel tanks or up to 160kg of bombs in underwing hardpoints.
It saw limited service with the Italian 6th, 17th, 18th, 20th squadrons ("Gruppo" in Italian) and the 88th Autonomous Flight, very few units because, as we said earlier, it was developed late and the armistice of 1943 finished its development.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.205
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Macchi C.205 Veltro - Italian Co-Belligerent Users

After the armistice of 8th September, there were just 50 Veltros in the south, plus other six of them flying from the centre of Italy to the south. All those 56 of them would be the backbone of the early Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force serving mainly in the 51º Stormo (51st Air Regiment).
Some of them were originally unfinished Macchi C.202 that were finished as Veltros with the available engines at the factories.
Approximately 20 of them were converted following this technique, however, it's not clear if all of them received the 20mm cannons in the wings.
During 1944 eighteen Veltros of the Serie III replaced their cowling machine guns with an additional fuel tank and received the name of Macchi C.205S.

Sources:
1. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_M.C.205
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Macchi C.205 - Italian Social Republican Users

The Veltro was also used by the fascist Italian Social Republic which dominated mainly the northern part of the country.
In total twenty nine Veltros made it to the northern airfields when the armistice was declared and Macchi themselves finished the third series with 72 airplanes more before the production was cut down in May 1944 due to allied bombing as the factory was bombed.
The first action with the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana was on 3rd January 1944 when a formation of Veltros, that had still German markings, attacked a formation of Boeing B-17 with their escort of P-38 Lightining. Later, on 24th January, they were transferred to Friulia and on 28th they shot down their first American four engined B-24 Liberator bomber.
They served mainly with the 1º Gruppo (first squadron) and the 3º Gruppo (third squadron) received also some of them. They were scattered through smaller units.
Generally, they served well with the RSI as most of the units were homogeneusly equipped and were guided by German radars. Even if they weren't many, they achieved managed to inflict a respectable amount of losses to Allied bombers and fighters.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.205
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Macchi C.205 - Foreign users

The Macchi C.205 Veltro (Greyhound) was an Italian fighter of the World War 2 that it's considered as the best Italian one in that conflict. It was used by many foreign users.

• Australia: The No.3 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force captured one Macchi C.205 in Italy during the summer of 1943. It was flown by Brian Eaton, commander of the Squadron who praised the airplane for its maneouvrability and speed.
• Egypt: During the postwar, the Royal Egyptian Air Force bought 62 Veltros, being 41 of them conversions from the Macchi C.202. However due to delivery problems, only 15 of them saw brief combat during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War when some of them, equipped with underwing bomb racks, where used to attack Israeli positions. In January 1949 an Egyptian pilot claimed an Israeli P-51D Mustang in exchange of three Veltros claimed by the Israeli Air Force. 
• Germany: The German Luftwaffe equipped the II.Gruppe of the JG.77 for two months, from October until December 1943. They weren't really impressed by the Veltro and they were replaced by the Bf.109. 
• Croatia: A small number of Veltros managed to serve with the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia durin 1944 but they were quickly overwhelmed by the Allied fighters. 

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.205

2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Avro Manchester - British users

In November 1940, the Manchester entered officially in service with the reformed No.207 Squadron where at least 80 of them were in active by December 1940. Its first mission was an air raid agains the French por of Brest in February 1941but, by April all of them were grounded due to engine troubles and switched back to the obsolete Handley Page Hampden, however in August the operations were resumed even with the initial problems.
While the modifications to correct al those troubles were being conducted, an air raid against Berlin was carried out in November 1941 where of 400 bombers, only 15 of them were Manchester, and when, on 3rd March 1942 a force of 200 bomber attacked the Renault factory, close to Paris, only 25 of them were Manchester.
They took part in the raid on Cologne of 30th May 1942 when 1047 bombers were sent to bomb the city, among them 35 Manchester. In that raid the Victoria Cross was posthumously awarded to the Flying Officer Leslie Manser while piloting a Manchester during the raid.
The last raid of the Manchester was against Bremen, on 25th June 1942 and shortly after, all of them were retired from the active duty. It persisted in second line duties, mainly training and some experimental ones (with the RAF Coastal Command) until 1943 when it was completely retired.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Manchester
2. https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/forgotten-aircraft-avro-manchester/

Avro Manchester - Prototypes

The first prototype of the Avro Manchester flew for the first time on 5th July 1939 and it revealed to have some flaws and stability problems apart from being too heavy and exhausting to control.
It also required a very long runway to take-off when fully loaded even when it hasn't installed yet any armament.
It showed, however, a very good internal space arrangement, specially when compared with the smaller Handley Page Hampden.
The second prototype, featured lighter controls and wingtip extensions in order to shorten the minimum required runway. However stability problems weren't solved, specially when flying at low speeds. So Avro decided to take the prototype back to the factory in order to add a third vertical fin, which initially seemd to solve the problem, but it came back when the turrets were fitted. In fact, the frontal turret created a heavy yaw when turned, the rear one created a very heavy vibration and the ventral one was too unconfortable to raise or leave it deployed.
The engine was also a problem, as it was underpowered. It had initially a rate of 2000hp but it turned out that at its peak it could achieve only 1750hp, less than an aircraft of this type needed. It was discovered that it was because of the internal arrangement of the engine made the lubrication system too dificult, causing some engines to break down or overheat.

Sources:
1. https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/forgotten-aircraft-avro-manchester/
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Manchester

Avro Manchester - Canadian Users

The Avro 679 Manchester was a British heavy bomber developed during the early stages of the World War II. It was a failure due to its engines but, it was the forerunner of the Avro Lancaster, most probably the best British strategic bomber of the World War II.

The Royal Canadian Air Force was the only foreign user of this bomber, where it served in two squadrons, the No. 408 and the No.420.
With the No.408 "Goose" Squadron it served initially together with the already aging Handley Page Hampden, operating from Lindholm, in Yorkshire from 1941, when it was activated, until 1942 both types were replaced by the Handley Page Halifax.
In the No.420 "City of London" Squadron, it served briefly when this squadron was activated on 19th December 1941 but, due to the bad reputation of the Manchester, it was quickly replaced by the Handley Page Hampden, also in December 1941.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Manchester
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/408_Tactical_Helicopter_Squadron
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._420_Squadron_RCAF

Macchi C.202 - Italian users, part two

In this second and last installment of the Macchi C.202 dedicated to the Italian users, we are going to focus on the different subvariants of this excellent Italian fighter.

• Prototype: The prototype of the Macchi C.202 was loosely based on the previous C.200, in fact, it retained its wings, landing gear, both vertical tails and tailplanes plus its armament of two 12,7mm machine guns. But it featured a new all-metal flush riveted semi-monocoque fuselage. It was powered by a single 1175hp German DB-601A-1 and, when it was tested at Guidonias Centro Sperimentale (Guidonias Experimental Centre) it confirmed its soundness with a top speed of 595km 
• Serie I: The first production version was made by Breda from July 1941 until March 1942. They were different from the prototype in having a modified cockpit with the rear glazing removed, a long air intake for the superchargerm but without any dust filters. The retractable tailwheel was replaced by a fixed one and the engine mount was replaced by a forged one
• Serie II: Just like Serie I, but produced by Macchi, from April until May 1941.
• Serie III: One hundred and forty machines made by Macchi from May 1941 until April 1942. They were adapted to the North African Theatre by including dust filters to the supercharger air intake as well as a large oil cooler, cooling vents in the machine guns covers and a cockpit air intake. They were also known as Macchi C.202AS (AS stands for Africa Settentrionale which means literally North Africa)
• Serie IV: Fifty machines built by SIAI-Ambrosini which were similar to the Serie III ones.
• Serie V: Another 50 machines built also by SIAI-Ambrosini between May 1941 and July 1942. The first batch of them were similar to the Series IV while the late batches were modified to the Series VII standards. They featured a more modern San Giorgio C reflector gunsight.
• Serie VI:  Fifty machines manufactured by Breda during the spring of 1942.
• Serie VII: One hundred airplanes built by Macchi between April and June 1942. The featured a new 7,7mm Breda-SAFAT in each wing in order to increase its firepower and fix that way its main flaw. The inclusion of those extra machine guns, increased the weight of the airplane making it more difficult to handle, so the pilots often got those wing machine guns removed. They were also fitted with two underwing bomb racks and plumbing for drop tanks. A new armoured central glass panel was included in order to give more protection for the pilot. The late batches featured a new "D" tailwheel and it was powered by the Alfa Romeo RA 1000RC41 which reached levels enough for the C.202 to be fitted with this new engine instead of having to rely on imported German DB-601Aa engines. They were also known as Macchi C.202CB (where CB stands for "Caccia Bombardiero" which means "Fighter-Bomber")
• Serie VIII: Fifty machines built by Breda between March and July 1942.
• Serie IX: One hundred of them built by Macchi, they were rolling out from the factory between September 1941 until February 1942.
• Serie X: One hundred machines built by Breda between July 1942 until September 1942.
• Serie XI: One hundred and fifty airplanes manufactured by Breda from November 1942 until April 1943. They featured some minor improvements like a new horizontal tail and the relocation of the venturi from the underside to the starboard side just under the cockpit.
• Serie XII:  One hundred and fifty machines that were identical to the Serie XI and manufactured under German control in the Breda factory between May and August 1943. 
• Serie XIII: The last production serie. It was a batch of fifty machines built by Macchi from April to August 1943 with the modifications made to the late Serie XI's airplanes inserted.
• Macchi C.202D: A Serie VII with a modified radiator placed under the nose, copying the Curtiss P-40's.

Sources: 

1. Osprey Publishing - Duel 60 - Spitfire V vs C.202 Folgore - Malta 1942

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.202

3. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Macchi C.202 - Italian users, part one

The Macchi C.202 Folgore (Italian word for "Thunderbolt") was a World War II fighter made by Macchi as a development of the previous C.200 Saetta (Arrow).
It entered service with the Regia Aeronautica in July 1941 after some extensive prototype testing and it proved to be a very decent dogfighter and, as stated by the Australian ace Clive Caldwell it was "one of the best and most undervalued of fighters" . It had it defects though. As its predecessor, it could enter in a dangerous and uncontrollable spin and it was seriously underarmed with just two 12,7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns placed in the cowling that tended to jam very often, the radio equipment was very faulty tending to fail and forcing pilots to communicate via waggling wings and the oxygen system caused 50 to 60% of the faults, some of them fatal ones.
Due to the many defects, the prototypes and pre-production versions didn't saw real combat service until 1941 even if the first prototype was ready in summer 1940.
They served in every front of the war where Italy was involved, from the home defence to the eastern front and the north African one.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.202
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Macchi C.202 - Co-Belligerent users

On 3rd September 1943, the armistice of Cassibile was signed and Italy was divided in two sides, the pro-German fascist ones, in the Italian Social Republic and the pro-Allied one in the so called "Regno del Sud" (Southern Kingdom) also known as Co-Belligerents.
The Co-Belligerents had their own air force too which eventually flew allied airplanes too, like the Bell P-39 Airacobra or the Supermarine Spitfire, among others.
The Macchi C.202 also served with the Co-Belligerent Air Force and some others were converted into the better C.205 by fitting its engine into the C.202 fuselage.
Their main operation base was at Lecce, in the Italian region of Puglia with Brindisi, also in Puglia, as a secondary one. They served with the 9th, 10th and 21st Gruppi (meaning literally groups, but it's the closest equivalence to a Squadron) in September 1943 and, by the summer 1944 they were still active in the 9th, 10th, 12th, 21st and 155th Gruppi serving together with the improved Macchi C.205.
When the war ended, those that were still in flying conditions and that weren't converted into C.205s to be sold abroad, were used as advanced trainers by the newly created Aeronautica Militare until 1948 in the Lecce Flying School.

Sources:
1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.202
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of FIghters

Macchi C.202 - Foreign users

This nice Italian fighter was used by many foreign users.

• Croatia had around 20 or 22 in service during 1944 and used them to intercept allied bombers. They were assigned to the Kroat JGr.1 and, while serving with them they retained their Luftwaffe markings. They scrambled for the first time in March 1944 against an American raid west of Zagreb, however there wasn't any combat as they were instructed to attack only damaged airplanes and stragglers from the main formation. When the Croatian Air Force Legion was replaced by the Croatian Air Force Group, they received new markings and they served in the combat role until September 1944 when they were relegated to training duties mainly because of their weak armament.
• Many of them were captured during the Allied campaign in Italy and therefore saw limited service with the Royal Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Army Air Force, mainly under testing purposes.
• They also served with the Air Force of the Italian Social Republic, the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana but only in the trainer role.
• The German Luftwaffe also used some of them, mainly as trainers too in the Orange fighter school.
• Apparently, the Schweizer Flugwaffe (Swiss Air Force) ordered 20 Macchi C.202 on 12th May 1943 but none of them were delivered as Italy had no export capabilities as they were concentrating in defending their own national air-space.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.202

2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Arado Ar.196 - German users, part two

As the change between versions mis-numbered the A-3 variant, which was a more advanced version with a reinforced airframe that replaced the A-4.
The final variant was the A-5 version that replaced radios and cockpit instruments with more modern ones, and replaced the MG.15 of the observer with a more modern MG81Z one.
In total 541 Ar.196 were manufactured until August 1944 when the production ended. Among those, around 100 of them were made in the French SNCA and the Dutch Fokker plants.
There was an Ar.196C variant planned that would've been more aerodynamically refined, with MG.151 in the wings instead of the MG FF ones, however we couldn't find any blueprints or profile drawings whatsoever.
Apparently there was a study carried out in 1942 by Arado in order to increase the armour of the airplane, apply even more advanced weaponry (we guess it would've been the same as the Ar.196C) and replace the engine by an Argus As.411, just like the late versions of the Arado Ar.96. It was dubbed as the Arado E.380 and it was expected to achieved a minimum speed of 383km/h. However it wasn't completed because of Allied bombings.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arado_Ar_196
2. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arado_Ar_196 (translated)