The MD.450B model series featured some modifications but - greatest of these - was the inclusion of the Hispano-Suiza Nene 104B series turbojet engines, license-produced versions of their British counterparts. These new powerplants proved lighter in overall weight and offered up better thrust output, both key qualities benefitting the Ouragan design. Of note with this mark was also the revision of the forward landing gear door covering the nose leg. The original four-piece system was replaced by a simpler two-piece unit after it was shown that the firing of the cannons could regularly damage the more complicated offering.
The rest of the Ouragan marks were generally contained to a few production examples or prototype/modified "one-offs". This included the MD.450R dedicated reconnaissance variant of which only one was ever produced. Similarly, only a single prototype existed of the MD.450-30L which attempted to field the Ouragan with a SNECMA Atar 101B-series engine. The intakes were also relocated to the sides of the fuselage and original armament was replaced by a pair of 30mm DEFA cannons. In 1954, four Ouragans were also converted to "rough-field" operations (to be used in Algeria) by the addition of a brake parachute, low pressure tires and undercarriage fairings. Two of these Ouragans were reverted back to their original forms after the project was cancelled in 1958.
Ouragan Walk-Around
Design of the Ouragan was fairly straight-forward. She fitted low-mounted, slightly swept wings along a cylindrical fuselage. The engine, buried within the fuselage, was aspirated by a split, single-opening, circular nose-mounted intake. The cockpit was held just aft of the intake under a blister-style canopy with light framing and a raised rear section. Wings were fitted amidships and sported greater sweep along the leading edges with lesser sweep along the trailing edges. There was slightly noticeable dihedral across both wing assemblies. WIngtip fuel tanks helped to increase range from the thirsty turbojet engine - a common fixture among 1950s-era fighter aircraft. The empennage tapered off smoothly and mounted a vertical tail fin with mid-mounted stabilizers. The engine exhausted at the extreme rear through a circular ring just under the vertical tail fin. Airbrakes were located along the lower sides of the empennage. The undercarriage was of a powered tricycle variety, featuring two main single-wheeled landing gear legs and a single-wheeled nose landing gear leg. All were gully retractable with the nose leg retracting forwards ahead of the cockpit floor and the main legs retracting inwards under each wing towards the fuselage centerline.
Propulsion
Power (for the MD.450B model) was derived from a single Hispano-Suiza "Nene" 104B series turbojet engine (a license-built Rolls-Royce powerplant) delivering upwards of 5,070lbs of thrust. Performance specifications included a maximum speed of 584 miles per hour with a service ceiling of about 49,210 feet and a rate-of-climb equal to 7,480 feet per minute. Range was limited to 620 miles.
Armament
Standard armament centered around 4 x 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 series cannons. The battery was held underneath the forward fuselage and each gun managed approximately 125 rounds each. The four-gun assembly was arranged in a staggered formation with the internal set of cannons held slightly forward of the out pair.
Key to the success of the Ouragan lay in its multi-role capability - predominantly as that of a fighter-bomber. As such, the type could field rockets and conventional drop bombs (including napalm) as needed. Standard fixtures included individually-mounted 16 x 105mm (4.1-inch) Brandt T-10 air-to-surface unguided rockets. These could be replaced by 2 x Matra rocket-launching pods, each fielding 18 x SNEB 68mm explosive rockets. Conventional drop bombs ran the gamut of 500lb to 1,000lb bombs (the latter mounted one to a wing) and deadly napalm types - up to 5,000lb of external stores could be managed across four hardpoints. Additionally, ordnance could be replaced by external drop tanks for increased range, suitable for combat air patrols or reconnaissance sorties where bombs were of little use and cannons reigned.
It is of note that French pilots regarded the Ouragan as a stable platform for both cannon and rockets, owing well to her strong history of use as a fighter-bomber.
Combat History
India flew their Ouragans as the Toofani ("Hurricane") and used them in anger in a variety of limited actions. In 1961, Toofanis were used in the fighter-bomber role against Diu, a Portuguese-held colony, until ultimately occupied by the Indian military in December of that year. Similarly, Toofanis were used in the ground strike role against anti-government forces within her national borders. The type proved useful in the reconnaissance role and was sued as such during the Sino-Indian War with China in 1962. Toofanis operated with the burgeoning Indian Air Force as front-line systems until being replaced by the newer French Dassault Mystere IVA beginning in 1957. All active Toofanis were then retired by 1965.
El Salvador obtained Ouragans from Israel from 1973 to 1978 in an attempt to modernize its outdated air force. These Ouragans featured heavily in the Salvadorian Civil War spanning from 1980 to 1992, primarily as fighter-bombers against communist forces (known as FMLN). Ouragans were eventually dropped from heavy use by the end of the conflict, replaced by the excellent Cessna A-37 "Dragonfly" from America.
The Israelis perhaps got the most from their Ouragans in terms of combat action and success. Beginning in 1956, IAF Ouragans were engaged against Egyptian forces and claimed several Egyptian De Havilland Vampire to their name. While Egypt also fielded the excellent Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 "Fagot" jet-powered fighters, Egyptian pilots rarely understood the power inherent in their Soviet systems. Performance of MiG-15s generally outclassed that of the French rival but Israeli pilot prowess enabled their Ouragans to outshine their adversaries in most respects. Israel was also keen in the fighter-bomber qualities of the Ouragan and did not shy away from bombing strikes or rocket attacks - the latter leading to the capture of the Egyptian destroyer, Ibrahim-el-Awal. More combat followed in the 1967 Six Day War until the type was relagted to advanced jet training for future generation of Israeli fighter pilots.
Patrouille de France
The Ouragan became the standard mount of the "Patrouille de France" - France's aerobatic team - from 1954 to 1957. This made her the first French-made equipment in such service.
Closure
The Ouragan was replaced in French Air Force service by the Dassault Mystere IV by 1961.
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