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WWII Tech Pubs Briefing
Morane-Saulnier MS.405/406
Written by
Duane Godwin
May 10th 1940: Two Morane-Saulnier MS.406's
of 1ere Escadrille militaire of GC III/1 peel off to intercept
Do 17s heading for communication targets in the Fench rear. The MS.406
in the foreground is piloted by Sous Lt Wladyslaw Gnys, a Free
Polish pilot who reached ace status in mid-May 1940.
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Country of Origin:
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France
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Manufacturer:
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Morane-Saulnier; Eidgenössisches Konstructions-Werkstätte
(EFW; Switzerland; Eidgenössisches Flugzeugwerke (Switzerland; Dornier-Werke
AG (Doflug; Switzerland; SWS (Switzerland
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Major Variants:
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MS.405, MS.406, MS.406H (D-3800), MS.410, MS.412 (D-3801),
Mörkö
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Role:
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Single-seat fighter
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Operated by:
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France, Switzerland, Finland, Turkey, Croatia, Italy
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First Flight:
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Aug. 8, 1935 (MS.405)
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In Service:
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Late 1938 (MS.406) with the Armée de l’Air
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Number Built:
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MS.405 (two, plus 16); MS.406 (1,064); MS.406H (D-3800;
74, plus two converted from MS.405, plus two assembled from spares);
MS.410 (five, plus 74 converted from MS.406); MS.412 (D-3801; 207,
plus 17 assembled from spares); Mörkö (41 converted from MS.406
or MS.410)
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Overview
In 1934, the Service Technique
Aéronautique (Aeronautical Technical Service) of the Armée de l’Air (French
Air Force) issued a requirement for a modern monoplace de chasse (single-seat
fighter; called a C1 requirement). Morane-Saulnier offered the MS.405,
a low-wing monoplane of fairly ordinary design with stressed skin construction
using Plymax (plywood bonded to aluminium) on most of the aircraft except
the rear fuselage which was covered by fabric. A Hispano-Suiza (HS) 12Ygrs
engine provided 860 hp (642 kW) of power. The first prototype flew on
Aug. 8, 1935, but development appears to have proceeded slowly as the
second prototype only flew some 17 months later, on Jan. 20, 1937. This
second aircraft was fitted with a HS 12Ycrs engine of 900 hp (671 kW)
and managed a top speed of 443 km/h (275 mph). This was good enough to
attract an order for a further 16 (some sources suggest 15) MS.405s that
were to serve as pre-production aircraft for the definitive MS.406 fighter,
which featured a simplified wing and a HS 12Y31 engine of 860 hp (642
kW). Switzerland showed interest in the new fighter, and two of the MS.405
aircraft were completed as the MS.406H and shipped to Switzerland - one
in September 1938 and one in April 1939 - as pattern aircraft for licensed
production. They were known in Switzerland as the Morane-Saulnier D-3800.
In the late 1930s, war with Germany
was just a matter of time, and the Armée de l’Air had 1,000 MS.406s on
order. Three of the nationalised aircraft factories were set up to produce
the type as Morane-Saulnier did not have the capacity to fill the order.
Production began in late 1938, and the first production MS.406 flew on
Jan. 29, 1939. By April, six aircraft were being produced daily, and by
Sept. 3, 1939, when France declared war on Germany, 535 MS.406s had been
delivered and production had risen to 11 per day. During the Phony War
period, MS.406s fought in a few clashes - mainly against German reconnaissance
aircraft or Messerschmitt Bf 109Ds. The MS.406, an earlier generation
of fighter, proved under-powered and ill-matched against the fast German
machines. The Dornier reconnaissance aircraft were difficult to catch,
and the MS.406s suffered from indifferent firepower. Their 20-mm (0.79-in)
cannon had a low rate of fire and their two machine guns had an extremely
light punch. The tenacious French pilots held their own against the Bf
109Ds, but suffered badly when the 109Es arrived near the end of 1939.
During the Phony War, the French
started work on an upgrade of the MS.406, paying particular attention
to the troublesome retractable radiator and the lack of firepower. A new
version of the aircraft, with a fixed radiator and a new wing with two
belt-fed machine guns that replaced a single drum-fed gun, flew early
in 1940. The upgraded aircraft, the MS.410, was also tested with ejector
exhausts that boosted its top speed to 316 mph (509 km/h). the Armée de
l’Air ordered 500 conversion kits but only five MS.406s had been converted
by the time the Armistice was signed, June 25, 1940.
In March 1940, production ceased
after the Armée de l’Air had taken on 1,064 aircraft, of which 60 were
exported. During December 1939-January 1940, 30 MS.406s were supplied
to Finland, and 30 more went to Turkey during February-March 1940. The
Germans attacked France on May 10, 1940. The MS.406 pilots fought bravely
- while credited with 175 kills, they lost over 400 of their own aircraft.
Many more were destroyed on the ground by German bombers. After Italy
attacked the French towards the end of the Battle of France, the MS.406s
fared somewhat better against the less modern Italian types.
The Germans captured a substantial
number of MS.406s during the Battle of France. Some aircraft remained
in one first-line fighter unit and some training units in Vichy France
and in other units in the French colonies. The Germans set up a modification
centre for the MS.410 upgrade, and completed a further 69 conversions
- all with the new wing, but only some with modified radiators. None had
the new exhausts. The Germans supplied captured Morane-Saulnier fighters
to other countries. Finland purchased a further 57 fighters - 11 MS.410s
and 46 MS.406s. In November 1942, Germany occupied Vichy France, and acquired
98 more MS.406s. Two of these went to Finland, 44 to Croatia, and 52 to
Italy although the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) only used 25
of these.
Finland, hard-pressed for better
aircraft in 1943, obtained captured Soviet propellers and Klimov M-105P
engines from Germany, along with new oil coolers and MG 151 20-mm cannons.
The Finns upgraded their Moranes with this equipment. The new version,
the Mörkö (Ghost), served extensively in the Continuation War against
the USSR.
The Armistice also disrupted development
of the MS.412 (with MS.406 wing, HS 12Y51 engine, and fixed radiator)
for Switzerland. The Swiss completed the work themselves and flew the
MS.412 in October 1940 as the D-3801. The D-3801 used the armament of
the D-3800, and 207 examples were delivered between 1941 and 1945. 17
More were assembled from spares in 1947-1948, and the type remained in
service as a trainer and target tug until 1959.
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Variants
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Type
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Number
Built
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Remarks
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MS.405
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Two prototypes, plus 16
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Single-seat, single-engine, low-winged monoplane with tubular metal
construction. Unusual stressed skin construction using Plymax (plywood
bonded to aluminium sheet). Rear part of fuselage was covered with
fabric.
Effectively a series of prototypes for MS.406. Each aircraft featured
improvements over preceding examples. Aircraft 13 and 15 were completed
as MS.406H prototypes and went to Switzerland as pattern aircraft
for D-3800 assembly. Aircraft 12 was assembled as a prototype MS.411.
Aircraft 16 was to MS.406 standard.
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MS.406
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1,064
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Basically, a MS.405 with a light-weight wing and a Hispano-Suiza
12Y31 engine. Featured a retractable radiator centred between the
wing roots under the fuselage.
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MS.406H (D-3800)
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Two converted from the MS.405, plus 74 D-3800s,
plus two assembled from spares
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Swiss-built MS.405/406 hybrid. Essentially a MS.405 (the original
MS.405 wing structure was used) with the HS 12Y31 engine of the
MS.406, and Swiss-specified instruments, radio, and armament. Belt-fed
7.5-mm (0.295-in) machine guns were used in the wing instead of
drum-fed weapons.
In 1943, all D-3800s were upgraded to use the same cooling and
hydraulic systems as the D-3801 (MS.412). Ejector exhausts were
also fitted.
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MS.410
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Five, plus 69 converted from the MS.406
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French upgrade for existing MS.406 aircraft. The radiator became
a fixed unit, revised wings held two belt-fed 7.5-mm (0.295-in)
machine guns in each wing instead of one drum-fed weapon, and ejector
exhausts were installed. Five were completed before Armistice. Another
69 aircraft were modified under German supervision, but not all
received fixed radiators and no more ejector exhausts were fitted.
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MS.411
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One
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Aircraft 12 of the MS.405 production run. Featured the MS.406 wing,
the HS 12Y45 engine, and a fixed radiator. Further developed as
the MS.412 in Switzerland.
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MS.412 (D-3801)
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207, plus 17 assembled from spares
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Swiss development of the MS.411 with an HS 12Y51 engine and the
armament fit of the D-3800.
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Mörkö
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41 converted from MS.406 or MS.410
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Finnish upgrade of its obsolete MS.406/410s. The Germans supplied
captured Soviet Klimov M-105P engines (derivatives of the HS 12Y),
VISh-61P propellers, and Messerschmitt Bf 109G oil coolers. One
MG 151 20-mm (0.79-in) cannon was usually mounted in the engine,
although some aircraft were instead fitted with a 12.5-mm (0.492-in)
Berezina machine gun. The Finns substituted an aerodynamically cleaner
engine cowling and added further structural strengthening.
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Specifications
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Model
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MS.405
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MS.406
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MS.406H
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Dimensions
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Span
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10.62 m (34.84 ft)
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10.62 m (34.84 ft)
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10.62 m (34.84 ft)
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Length
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8.17 m (26.80 ft)
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8.17 m (26.80 ft)
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8.17 m (26.80 ft)
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Height
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2.71 m (8.89 ft)
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2.71 m (8.89 ft)
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2.71 m (8.89 ft)
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Wing Area
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17.10 sq m (184.06 sq ft)
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17.10 sq m (184.06 sq ft)
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17.10 sq m (184.06 sq ft)
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Powerplant
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Type
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Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs
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Hispano-Suiza 12Y31
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Hispano-Suiza 12Y31
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Cubic Capacity
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36 L (2,197 cu in)
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36 L (2,197 cu in)
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36 L (2,197 cu in)
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Cylinders
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12-cylinder V
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12-cylinder V
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12-cylinder V
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Horsepower
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860 hp (642 kW)
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860 hp (642 kW)
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860 hp (642 kW)
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Weights and Loads
(note - these figures vary for individual aircraft,
and are often not directly comparable)
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Weight (Maximum Take-off)
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Unknown
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Unknown
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2,480 kg (5,467 lb)
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Weight (Normal Loaded)
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2,440 kg (5,379 lb)
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2,426 kg (5,348 lb)
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Unknown
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Weight (Empty)
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Unknown
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1,893 kg (4,173 lb)
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1,800 kg (3,968 lb)
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Performance
(note - these figures vary for individual aircraft,
and are often not directly comparable)
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Maximum Speed
at Altitude
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443 km/h at 4,000 m
(275 mph at 13,120 ft)
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486 km/h at 5,000 m
(302 mph at 16,400 ft)
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475 km/h (295 mph)
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Stalling Speed
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Climb to Altitude
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6.78 min to 4,000m (13,120 ft)
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13.0 m/sec (2,560 ft/min) initial climb rate
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13.4 m/sec (2,640 ft/min) initial climb rate
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Service Ceiling
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Range
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1,000 km (620 mi)
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1,000 km (620 mi)
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1.75-hr endurance
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Armament
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Armament
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One 20-mm (0.79-in) cannon firing through spinner.
Two 7.5-mm (0.295-in) drum-fed machine guns in wings.
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One 20-mm (0.79-in) cannon firing through spinner.
Two 7.5-mm (0.295-in) drum-fed machine guns in wings.
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One 20-mm (0.79-in) cannon firing through spinner.
Two 7.5-mm (0.295-in) belt-fed machine guns in wings.
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Model
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MS.410
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MS.412
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Mörkö
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Dimensions
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Span
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10.62 m (34.84 ft)
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10.62 m (34.84 ft)
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10.62 m (34.84 ft)
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Length
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8.17 m (26.80 ft)
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8.17 m (26.80 ft)
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8.17 m (26.80 ft)
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Height
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2.71 m (8.89 ft)
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2.71 m (8.89 ft)
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2.71 m (8.89 ft)
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Wing Area
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17.10 sq m (184.06 sq ft)
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17.10 sq m (184.06 sq ft)
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17.10 sq m (184.06 sq ft)
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Powerplant
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Type
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Hispano-Suiza 12Y31
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Hispano-Suiza 12Y51
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Klimov M-105P
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Cubic Capacity
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36 L (2,197 cu in)
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36 L (2,197 cu in)
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35.8 L (2,185 cu in)
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Cylinders
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12-cylinder V
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12-cylinder V
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12-cylinder V
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Horsepower
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860 hp (642 kW)
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1,050 hp (783 kW)
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1,100 hp (821 kW)
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Weights
and Loads (note - these figures vary
for individual aircraft, and are often not directly comparable)
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Weight (Maximum Take-off)
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Weight (Normal Loaded)
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2,581 kg (5,690 lb)
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2,720 kg (5,996 lb)
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2,849 kg (6,280 lb)
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Weight (Empty)
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1,923 kg (4,239 lb)
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2,124 kg (4,682 lb)
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2,106 kg (4,643 lb)
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Performance
(note - these figures vary for individual aircraft,
and are often not directly comparable)
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Maximum Speed
at Altitude
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470 km/h (292 mph)
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535 km/h at 4,200 m
(332 mph at 13,780 ft)
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525 km/h at 4,000 m (326 mph at 13,120 ft)
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Stalling Speed
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Climb to Altitude
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Unknown
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16.7 m/sec (3,290 ft/min) initial climb rate
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25.0 m/sec (4,920 ft/min) initial climb rate
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Service Ceiling
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Range
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Unknown
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1,200 km (750 mi)
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Unknown
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Armament
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Armament
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One 20-mm (0.79-in) cannon firing through spinner.
Four 7.5-mm (0.295-in) belt-fed machine guns in wings.
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One 20-mm (0.79-in) cannon firing through spinner.
Two 7.5-mm (0.295-in) belt-fed machine guns in wings.
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One MG 151 20-mm (0.79-in) cannon or 12.5-mm (0.492-in)
Berezina machine gun firing through spinner.
Two or four 7.5-mm (0.295-in) belt-fed machine guns
in wings.
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