Messerschmitt Bf 110
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| Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4 | ||
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| Description | ||
| Role | Fighter | |
| Crew | 3 | |
| First Flight | May 12, 1936 | |
| Entered Service | 1939 | |
| Manufacturer | Messerschmitt A.G. | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 12.3 m | 40 ft 6 in |
| Wingspan | 16.3 m | 53 ft 4 in |
| Height | 3.3 m | 10 ft 9 in |
| Wing area | 38.8 m² | 414 ft² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 4,500 kg | 9,900 lb |
| Loaded | 6,700 kg | 14,800 lb |
| Maximum takeoff | kg | lb |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engine | 2 x Daimler-Benz DB 601B | |
| Power (each) | 809 kW | 1,100 hp |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 590 km/h | 365 mph |
| Combat range | 2,410 km | 1,500 miles |
| Ferry range | 2,800 km | 1,750 miles |
| Service ceiling | 10,500 m | 35,000 ft |
| Rate of climb | m/min | ft/min |
| Wing loading | 173 kg/m² | 35.7 lb/ft² |
| Power/Mass | 260 W/kg | 0.155 hp/lb |
| Armament | ||
| Guns | 2 x 20 mm MG FF/M cannons 4 x 7,92 mm MG 17 machine guns | |
The Messerschmitt Bf 110 (later Me 110) was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II. Later in the war its usage changed to fighter-bomber and night fighter operations, it became the major night fighter type of the Luftwaffe.
| Contents |
History
Based around the concept of the long-range Zerstörer or "Destroyer Fighter" the Bf110 enjoyed some success in the Polish and French campaigns. However, the Battle of Britain revealed its fatal weaknesses as a daylight fighter against more maneuverable single-engine aircraft. Eventually withdrawn from daylight fighting, the Bf110 enjoyed later success as a night fighter where its range, firepower and ability to mount a radar stood it in good stead. It was also used as a ground attack aircraft starting with the C-4/B model. Later on there were dedicated ground attack versions which proved reasonably successful. All in all the Bf-110 served the Luftwaffe very well in various roles, except in its intended role as a heavy fighter.
After The Battle of Britain Bf-110 units largely moved to the Russian and Mediterranean theatres of war. The production of the Bf-110 was put on a low priority in 1941 and stepped up again in 1942 after the development of the Me-210, the Bf-110's intended successor, proved to be unsuccessful.
Armament
Early versions had four MG 17 machine guns in the upper nose and two 20 mm MG FF/M cannons fitted in the lower part of the nose. Later versions replaced the MG FF/M with the more powerful 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons and many G-series aircraft had two 30 mm MK 108 cannons fitted instead of the MG 17 (or MG 151/20). The defensive armamanet consisted of a single, flexible mounted MG 15 machine gun. Late F-series and prototype G-series got this upgraded to a 7,92 mm MG 81 machine gun with a higher rate of fire and the G-series was equipped with the twin-version MG 81Z.
The fighter-bomber versions could carry up to 2,000 kg of bombs depending on the type. Many G-series night fighters were built with the Schräge Musik off-bore gun system for shooting down bombers while passing underneath, equipped with two MG FF/M.
Variants
- Me 110 A-series - prototypes with Jumo 210 engines
- Me 110 B-series - small scal production with DB 600 engines
- Me 110 C-series - first major production series
- Me 110C-4 - Heavy fighter
- Me 110C-4/B - Fighter bomber based on C-4, 2x 250kg bombs
- Me 110C-5 - recon with 1175 hp DB 601P engines
- Me 110C-7 - Fighter-bomber, two 500kg bombs, redesignation of C-4/B equipped with DB 601P
- Me 110 D-series - heavy fighter/Fighter-bomber, extreme range versions based on C-series, often stationed in Norway
- Me 110 E-series - mostly fighter bombers, strengthenend airframe, up to 1200kg bombload
- Me 110 F-series - same as E, again strengthened airframe, better armor, 1350 hp DB 601F engines
- Me 110F-4 - first real night fighter (specially designed for this usage, 3-crew)
- Me 110 G-series - improved F-series, 1475 hp DB 605B engines, tail rudders increased in size
- Me 110 G-2 - fighter-bomber, fast bomber, destroyer, often used against allied heavy bombers (equipped with rockets)
- Me 110G-4 - 3-crew night fighter, FuG 202/212/220 Lichtenstein radar, Schräge Musik
- Me 110 H-series - proposed development of the G-series, canceled
| Related content | |
|---|---|
| Related development | |
| Similar aircraft | |
| Designation series |
Kl 107 - Bf 108 - Bf 109 - Bf 110 - He 111 - He 112 - He 113 |
| Related lists | |
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Lists of Aircraft | Aircraft manufacturers | Aircraft engines | Aircraft engine manufacturers Airports | Airlines | Air forces | Aircraft weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation |
External links
- Luftwaffe Resource Group (http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/bf110.html)
- Lemairesoft (http://users.belgacom.net/aircraft1/avion1/138.html)de:Messerschmitt Bf 110
fr:Messerschmitt BF 110 nl:Messerschmitt Bf 110 pl:Messerschmitt Bf 110 sv:Messerschmitt Bf 110