The armament of just 2 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns ultimately proved a limiting factor by the end of the C.200's story - though this arrangement was in keeping with traditional armament installations for many fighters of the period. The machine guns were fitted to the upper nose area over the engine and were further synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades.
In 1938, Regia Aeronautica authorities reviewed the competitors and decided on the C.200 prototype for serial production. This then began in June of 1939 - just months before the outbreak of World War 2 in September - and ran into July of 1942 with a total of 1,153 aircraft being built. Of these, Macchi factories only produced about 345 as Breda and SAI Ambrosini facilities covered the needed rest of the Regia Aeronautica order. First examples were delivered during July 1939 and factories outputted some 144 by September 1st - the date of the German invasion of Poland to mark the official start of the war. Between the end of the year and the fall of the next, the aircraft was revised, losing its sliding canopy assembly - at the behest of Italian pilots - and being given modified wings for improved control. The original canopy had proven dangerous to a bailing pilot so a new glazed version was introduced that incorporated an open-air top panel. The new wing corrected an autorotation problem seen in early aircraft of the series. These delays meant that operational-level numbers were not achieved until late 1940.
The C.200 soldiered along for the Italian Air Force across all major fronts in World War 2. Its first actions were against the British at Malta and they then supported the Italian invasion of Greece. Units also covered Axis operations across North Africa and flew operationally over Yugoslavia before participating along the East Front against the Soviet Union. It remained in frontline use until 1942 before given up in favor of higher-performance alternatives - namely the Macchi C.202.
With a reduced-role status, the fighter was minimally converted for duty as a fighter-bomber, carrying bomb loads between 250lbs and 660lbs under the wings. The standardized 2 x 12.7mm machine gun armament remained consistent despite its limited punch. Outperformed in the dogfighting role by the new speedier mounts being fielded by the Allies, the C.200 could still serve as a capable bombing platform. Other roles pressed onto the series then included interception over Italian airspace and bomber escort for as long as the Air Force continued its bombing campaign.
Italy's participation as an Axis power came to an end in September of 1943 with its surrender to the Allies. This spawned the Ally-aligned co-belligerent forces as well as the Axis-aligned Rupibblica Sociale Italiana. By this time, only 52 C.200 aircraft remained in service and 23 were claimed by co-belligerent forces while some eight examples served with the Axis. When their combat usefulness had expired, C.200s saw final service as trainers for new generations of Italian airmen. Some were also taken on - though in limited numbers - by the German Luftwaffe though their contribution was minimal.
Attrition and limited production figures eventually left few Saettas by the end of the war and these did not exist long into the post-war years - the last airframe retired in 1947. A whole example is on display at the United States Air Force Museum of Dayton, Ohio, USA for appreciation.
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