M.F.11

The M.F.11 was a Norwegian maritime reconnaissance and patrol aircraft produced by Marinens Flyvebaatfabrikk in the late 1930s. Designed to replace the aging Hansa‑Brandenburg W.33, the M.F.11 first flew on 19 June 1938 and entered service with the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service in early 1939. Powered by a single 880‑horsepower Bristol Pegasus radial engine, the low‑wing monoplane featured an all‑metal construction, retractable landing gear, and a glazed cockpit that offered excellent visibility for both pilot and observer. Its armament included a forward‑firing 7.7 mm machine gun, a dorsal 7.7 mm gun for the rear gunner, and under‑wing racks capable of carrying up to 500 kg of bombs or depth charges. With a top speed of 430 km/h and a range of roughly 1 800 km, the M.F.11 could conduct long‑range surveillance over the Norwegian coastline and the North Sea. Although only six examples were built before the German invasion of Norway in 1940, the aircraft saw combat during the Norwegian Campaign, providing valuable reconnaissance and limited anti‑submarine capability. The M.F.11 remains a symbol of Norway’s attempt to develop an indigenous naval air force and illustrates the rapid technological progress in European military aviation on the eve of World War II.