Arsenal VG.30, light fighter for the remote area

Suggestions Aircraft
1
[Would you like to see this in-game?]
  • Yes
  • No
0 voters

caid’s suggestion #148

I will make a suggestion here for the Arsenal VG.30

The concept of a light fighter was very popular in France during the interwar. The government spared no money for the development of such machines, although the results obtained did not justify the hopes. In turn, the Air Force Headquarters believed that such fighters could be used as high-speed interceptors. The calculation was also based on the fact that these aircraft will be cheaper in production, will require less time to fabricate, and in operation, they will not require special maintenance. In the end, everything turned out quite the contrary, although several firms managed to achieve very good results.

Arsenal Aeronautique, led by Michel Verniss, and the chief engineer was Jacques Gautier - hence the designation VG. The new company took one of the old factories in Villacoublay, formerly owned by Breguet. The design of the aircraft with the designation VG-30 began at the end of 1936 and proceeded proactively without any government order. The design team intended to create a light single-seat fighter, which in its parameters was at least as good as the one adopted in the same year by the MS.405C.1, but with higher speed. The model of the plane was exhibited at the Paris Aviation Salon, where he made a favorable impression on the specialists. A few months later, the French Air Force issued a specification A.23 for the development of a lightweight fighter in the C1 category, in which VG.30 was very well fitted. Several more companies took part in the competition, and Arsenal’s competitors were strong enough. So, the firm Caudron, which was the trendsetter in this direction, presented project C.713 - the development of successful airplanes of the racing series, adapted for military needs. The lightweight Bloch MB.700 fighter was also built based on the existing design and was a reduced copy of the MV.151. A little later they were joined by Roussel R-30 and CAO.200, which also had good indicators.

The revised project was ready by mid-1937, and the construction of the first VG-30.01 model was completed the next year. Although the aircraft had a wooden structure, the high manufacturing culture and technological skill of Jacques Gautier left no doubt that the VG-30 would be quite a worthy competition to the recognized giants of aircraft construction. The prototype immediately planned to install a Potez 12Dc (610 hp) motor, but during the construction, it was selected Hispano-Suiza 12Xcrs (690 hp) featured the best performance data. Armament was not installed, but in the project, the fighter was equipped with a 20 mm motor cannon and four wing 7.5 mm machine guns.

For several months the plane stayed in the hangar, waiting for permission to proceed to the test program. The delay was because in 1937-1938. the company Caudron tried in vain to deploy the serial production of the C.714 fighter (the development of C.713 with machine guns), as if previously recognized as the winner of the contest, but possessed so many shortcomings that it took many years to eliminate them. When it was found out that C.714 would arrive in the army not earlier than 1939, the Air Force ordered to quickly carry out the test program VG-30.01. The first flight he made on October 1, 1938, followed by a short break, during which several changes were made to the design of the aircraft. The full cycle of testing fighters was held from March 24 to July 17, 1939, showing excellent for its class TTX. In one of the flights in July 1939, the VG-30.01 developed a speed of 805 km / h on a dive!.

The Minister of Aviation of France Pierre Cat was very pleased with the aircraft, but so far there was no question of mass production. By that time the company had prepared a new VG-31 fighter. The VG.30 became a simple prototype that ended into the first of a whole family of light fighters in France.

Firepower
the armament of the VG.30 is perfectly adapted for his role, at least for the french standard. as a pure fighter, it is simply armed with machine-gun and autocannon. 4x 7.5mm MAC31 machinegun with 840 rounds each are placed in the wings. those already give some capacity to fight the other aircraft. which some chance, 2-3 targets. for more accuracy there is a 20mm HS404 in the propeller. this auto-cannon is much more powerful and accurate but have a limited ammunition load of 60 rounds with make quick to run our of ammo. if used well, this plane can prove efficient against the other planes, even if the 20mm run out of ammo, the 7.5mm remain capable enough.

  • 1x 20mm HS404 (60 rounds), in the propeller
  • 4x 7.5mm MAC 31 (840 rounds each) 2x in each wings

Performence
the plane is build light and was intended to offer a larger range of operation than the medium fighter such as the D.520. acting like a interceptor, it was to cover the air-space outside the important targets. the result is the plane have higher speed and more maneuverability than the medium counterpart. the plane have a HS.12Xcrs providing 690 hp. this give the plane rather low performance compared to the later model, notably the VG.33 but this is only due to the weaker engine. the plane have a speed of 407 km/h at sea-level and 458 km/h at 4500 m. the plane was capable to reach 805 km/h in a dive. saddly we have little information about the other part of the flight performance. but the plane is maneuverable and light which allow us to this the performance would be similar but slightly inferior to the VG.33

Survivability
the plane is made of a mix of wood, aluminum, and steel. there is no actual protection on the plane, favoring the lightness over the survivability. the plane is sturdy enough to take some damage but will easily burn and break when a larger caliber hits it. the structure can hold to the speed of 805 km/h without breaking which allows the limit for the wings to be around 900 km/h. there is probably the 3mm steel plate between the engine and the cooling system. The pilot it without real protection and would be rather easy to knock out.

Sources

2 Likes
2

More french fighters pls +1

1 Like
3

Have my +1, would be neat to see