C. 205 serie 1

This page is about the Italian fighter C. 205 serie 1. For other versions, see C.205 (Family).

C. 205 serie 1

C. 202

C. 202EC

C. 205 serie 1

C. 202

C. 202EC

Italy

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.3	3.7	3.7

Class:

Fighter

Research:5 600

Purchase:22 000

Show in game

Description

After the entry of the C.202 into service in 1941, the Regia Aeronautica was already beginning to look for new possibilities for a new generation of fighters requiring better engine power and high performance so that they could change armament. With the Germans' permission to build the DB605A engine in Italy, two development paths were created, one leading to the C.205N 'Orione' programme and the other to the C.202Bis. On 16 December 1941, the first aircraft of the former type, which would later be renamed C.205 V, were built by Macchi with 100 units of the 1st series armed with two 12.7 mm and two 7.7 mm, later by FIAT with 300 units of the 2nd series. The aircraft would fly for the first time on April 19, 1942, then be put into service in February 1943, after which it would participate in several battles, for the most part to defend Italian airspace from enemy aircraft. Even after the armistice, it would still be used by both the Italy Co-belligerent forces and that of the RSI.

The C.205 serie 1 was introduced in Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica" along with the initial Italian aviation tree. It is a fighter with a great balance of manoeuvrability and speed, it can fight both in turn fights and energy fights, using combat flaps to turn a little tighter while in combat. However, it has relatively poor armament consisting of two 12.7 mm and two 7.7 mm machine guns for which you will have to shoot many shots at the enemy aircraft. The aircraft's survivability is also rather poor, as many opponents at the battle rating will have hard-hitting cannons that can easily send you back to the hangar.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 7 000 m683 km/h

Turn time18 s

Max altitude10 360 m

EngineDaimler-Benz DB-605A

TypeInline

Cooling systemWater

Take-off weight3 t

The C.205 is an excellent climbing aircraft, with a fairly good top speed and roll rate. It does not rip easily or compress, and remains fairly responsive at all speeds.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 7,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	659	641	10360	19.0	19.7	16.8	16.8	250
Upgraded	710	683		17.0	18.0	25.0	20.4

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

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear300 km/h

Protection

• 8 mm Steel - Armoured plate behind the pilot
• 50 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
• Self-sealing fuel tanks x 4

Vulnerabilities

• Critical components located at the front of aircraft (pilot, engine, control systems)

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB634 → 802

RB1 383 → 1 750

SB2 038 → 2 580

Total cost of modifications10 320

13 830

Talisman cost750

Crew training6 300

Experts22 000

Aces250

Research Aces220 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

40 / 90 / 200 %

124 / 124 / 124 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 690 Cost: 910 95 Radiator Research: 690 Cost: 910 95 Compressor Research: 780 Cost: 1 000 110 Wings repair Research: 870 Cost: 1 200 120 Engine Research: 870 Cost: 1 200 120 Engine injection Research: 1 100 Cost: 1 500 155	Airframe Research: 780 Cost: 1 000 110 Cover Research: 1 100 Cost: 1 500 155	safat7_belt_pack Research: 690 Cost: 910 95 safat7_new_gun Research: 780 Cost: 1 000 110 safat12_belt_pack Research: 870 Cost: 1 200 120 safat12_new_gun Research: 1 100 Cost: 1 500 155

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 12 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun

Ammunition800 rounds

Fire rate700 shots/min

Weapon 22 x 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun

Ammunition1 000 rounds

Fire rate900 shots/min

The C. 205 serie 1 is armed with:

• 2 x 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 800 total)
• 2 x 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, wing-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Usage in battles

The C.205 Serie 1 is perhaps the most underrated rank III Italian fighter, most likely due to the underpowered armament which consists of 2 x 12.7 mm and 2 x 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns. This can be a serious problem since this fighter is Boom & Zoom fighter, meaning even a successful pass will badly cripple the target instead destroying it. Therefore, stick with teammates in order to support them. The C.205 Serie 1 works well when escorting bombers.

This fighter can climb fast for its rank and battle rating, thanks to DB 605-A which was installed in Bf 109 G-2, even in stock. The C. 205 serie 1 could climb up to 5,000 m in to seek enemy planes, but higher than 6,000-7,000 m is recommended for safest altitude. Use this advantage when retaining energy, to outrun enemies or gain altitude if the first pass failed and make up the second pass. Although the engine provides considerable manoeuvrability, one should not do excess dogfighting toward the target, as it will burn up energy faster. Never attempt to make contact with manoeuvrable fighters, like Spitfires and Yaks, especially at low altitude. Call teammates, then gain some altitude until the enemy cannot pursue. Use this chance to make a counter-attack and destroy the enemy. One thing to note, this plane's propeller pitch can be tweaked to the maximum value without blowing the engine, unlike all Bf 109s with the same engine when using manual engine control.

When in stock, the armament leaves much to be desired: low velocity and ball ammunition limit the effectiveness of the weapon. Never attempt to head-on by any means; chances are the opponent's bullets will reach the C.205 before its own. One thing should be noted: while the C.205 has a powerful engine at its battle rating, never intercept bombers without teammates, especially when down-tiered. However, these machine guns prove quite effective against dive-bombers or low-flying bombers. Try to aim for the wings or the engine(s) for a desirable hit. Adjust the machine gun convergence to 250-300 m for the most effectiveness. It is recommended to load Air Targets or Universal belts for the 12.7 mm machine guns, along with Stealth belts for the 7.7 mm machine guns.

Overall, C. 205 serie 1 is a support Boom & Zoom fighter with good climb rate, reasonably fast for its battle rating. While being overshadowed by underperformed armament among all the fighters, in the hands of a skilled player this fighter became a bane among all the enemy fighters and even to bombers.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Arguably fast and nimble against any opponents at its battle rating, thanks to the engine from Bf 109 G-2
• Tweaking the propeller pitch in MEC will not blow the engine, unlike the Bf series with the same engine
• Excellent energy retention and roll rate
• Reasonable climb rate
• Excellent high altitude performance
• Good straight-line acceleration

Cons:

• Inadequate armament at its tier, shots tend to only cripple your enemies instead destroy it
• Hard to control during low speed and altitude
• Any damage severely degrades aircraft functionality
• Terrible stall characteristics, effectively incapable of performing a loop and will enter an immediate unrecoverable flatspin

History

The last Italian fighters of the war (the Serie 5, or "third-generation") all used the new German Daimler Benz 605 engine, putting them on a par with the best mid-war aircraft. The M.C. 205 was the only one of the Serie 5's to see much service with the Italian air force. The prototype, based on the M.C. 202, first flew in April 1942. The added power allowed it to become the first Italian aircraft with cannon armament in the wings. It was considered extremely manoeuvrable at middle and low altitudes. About 200 were built and delivered starting in October 1942, seeing combat service in the Mediterranean and Sicily the next year. Another 112 were built after the armistice and delivered to Fascist Italian forces, who used the plane until summer, 1944. Others continued on in Allied use and after the war remained in service as combat fighters until 1947.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the C. 205 serie 1 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #49 - Pages of History section at 07:02 discusses the C.205.

See also

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;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance