Messerschmitt Bf 110

1936


HEAVY FIGHTER, FIGHTER-BOMBER	Virtual Aircraft Museum / Germany / Messerschmitt

Second of the important fighters designed by Willy Messerschmitt, the Bf 110 originated from a Reichsluftfahrtministerium requirement of 1934 for a long-range escort fighter or heavily armed Zerstorer (destroyer). Of cantilever low-wing monoplane configuration, this two-seat fighter had an oval-section fuselage, long glazed canopy, high-mounted tailplane with endplate fins and rudders, retractable landing gear, and power plant comprising two Daimler-Benz DB 600 in-line engines. When the prototype flew for the first time on 12 May 1936, it was able to demonstrate a most satisfactory turn of speed. However further testing showed that the Bf 110 might face problems in combat, for despite its high speed, its manoeuvrability left much to be desired.

Pre-production Bf 110A-0 were powered by two 454.5kW Junkers Jumo 210B engines, bringing a deterioration in performance. Early production Bf 110B had similar engines of increased power. Only a small number of this version were built before 820kW DB 601A engines became available and these powered a much-improved Bf 110C. Unfortunately for the Luftwaffe, it had not been possible to evaluate the Bf 110 in the Spanish Civil War, with the result that when Bf 110C escorted the bomber units that devastated Poland at the beginning of World War II, it was believed that they had acquired a valuable new weapon. Perhaps this belief was strengthened when, just before Christmas 1939, Bf 109 and 110 destroyed 12 of a force of 22 Wellingtons which were making a reconnaissance of Heligoland Bight.

Bf 110C and longer-range Bf 110D were, therefore, launched confidently against Britain in the summer of 1940. But even before the Battle of Britain had reached a peak, it was clear that the Bf 110 was no match for the RAF's highly manoeuvrable single-seat fighters. Indeed it was so vulnerable that this 'escort' fighter was unable to operate in British airspace by daylight unless it was itself escorted.

Despite its failure in this role, the Bf 110 was to prove a most valuable and successful night fighter until more advanced aircraft entered the scene in the latter stages of the war. Bf 110E with DB 601N engines and Bf 110F with DB 601E engines formed the nucleus of such operations. Considerable success was gained by these aircraft in conjunction with Wiirzburg radar, the pilots being directed by ground controllers into an interception position.

The three-seat night-fighter Bf 110F was followed into production by a series of Bf 110G with DB 605B engines, the early versions serving as fighter bombers. However the four-seat Bf 110G-4a, -4b, -4c, and -4d variants were provided with differing airborne radar installations for operation as night fighters. Final production version was the Bf 110H, generally similar to the Bf 110G but equipped with heavier armament. It is worth recording a significant factor in favour of the Bf 110, so often dismissed as a complete failure. During early 1944 almost 60% of the entire German night-fighter force was composed of variants of the Bf 110. A total of about 6,000 of these aircraft was built before production ended.

Specification

MODEL	Bf 110G-2
CREW	2
ENGINE	2 x DB-605, 1065kW
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight	7100 kg	15653 lb
Empty weight	5600 kg	12346 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan	16.2 m	53 ft 2 in
Length	12.3 m	40 ft 4 in
Height	4.1 m	13 ft 5 in
Wing area	38.5 m²	414.41 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed	595 km/h	370 mph
Cruise speed	450 km/h	280 mph
Ceiling	10000 m	32800 ft
Range	1200 km	746 miles
ARMAMENT	4 machine-guns, 5 cannons

3-View

A three-view drawing (1650 x 1170)

Comments

Klaatu83, e-mail, 24.02.2015 01:48

A lot of nations believed that this 2 or 3 seat, multi-role, twin-engine fighter formula was a good idea during the late 1930s. The French tried it with the Potez 63 series. The U.S. tried it with the Bell FM-1 "Airacuda". The Soviets tried it with the Yak-4. Japan tried it with the Kawasaki Ki-45 ("Nick"). None of those proved very effective in the daylight long-range escort fighter role, for which most of them were originally intended. The Me-110 did prove successful, but mainly as a night-fighter. The Beaufighter and Mosquito, which came a little later, also proved successful in the light-bombing and maritime strike roles. The Lockheed P-38, which was a single-seater, differed in that it was designed strictly as a day fighter, not as a multi-role aircraft, although it was later successfully modified for the photo-reconnaissance role.

Mark, e-mail, 20.09.2012 17:17

Messerschmitt Bf 110
�� Messerschmitt Bf 110 �� (�Zerstörer� : ��), �� (Luftwaffe) �� ´ �.�.. �� , � �� –�� (�JagdBomber� � �Jabo�) �� , �� Luftwaffe.
��

�� Bf 110C ��. � �� .

�� Bf 110 �Zerstörerwaffe� (�� ) �� . �� Zerstörergeschwader� (�� ), � 1� �� 76�, �� 64 ��. �� 9 ��, �� , �� 25 �� . �� Fokker D.XXI �� , �� .

�� , �� Bf 110 �� , �� Junkers Ju 52 �� . �� Gloster Gladiators �� .

�� Messerchmitt �� . �� , �� . �� Bf 110 �� . � �� -��. �� Luftwaffe, � Helmut Lent, �� 5� �� 6� �� Bf 110 �� .

� �� Bf 110D �Langstrecken Zerstörer� (�� ). �� 1.050 lit, �� Bf 110D. � �� Dackelbauch, �� , �� , �� . �� , �� . �� . �� Bf 110 �� .

�� Zerstörerwaffe, �� . �� 13 �� 1940, �� Skua �� . �� 20 ��.

� �� 1940 �� Bf 110 �� . �� , �� , �� , �� Hurricanes �� Spitfires �� . �� Zerstörerwaffe �� 60 �� .
� ��

� �� Bf 110 �� . �� . �� , �� . ��, �� Hurricanes �� RAF, �� , �� . ��, �� , �� Bf 109E. �� , �� , �� , �� .

�� , �� 10 �� 1941, � Rudolf Hess, �� Hitler �� , �� Bf 110, �� , �� .

joe, e-mail, 01.12.2011 03:25

Hey: That guy who keep saying The ME 110 has too many engines should look The lighting P-38. Then take a wire brush to get the egg off his face. The lufwaffa said the same dumb kaff clap trap back in 1939 about the P-38.

joe, e-mail, 01.12.2011 03:24

joe, e-mail, 01.12.2011 03:23

good, 20.06.2011 13:15

It is bizzare how this plane is a fighter, yet it has more than one engine, which is a common characteristic on bombers. Just saying.

MAVERICK, e-mail, 27.01.2011 05:34

BF-110 KICKS ASS!

wlkriessmann, e-mail, 24.09.2010 00:57

I had quite a few turns with different Me 110`s at the airfield in Hildesheim. May & June 1944. Hard on the dtick like most MEE`s , not much of a glide angle and poor maneuverability but a very succcessful nightfighter wlk

carl wollaston, e-mail, 17.06.2010 14:51

It is bizzare how this plane is a fighter, yet it has more than one engine, which is a common characteristic on bombers. Just saying.

Gaute, e-mail, 25.04.2010 19:13

what was the color on the pilot dress

Les Wilson, e-mail, 14.04.2010 03:36

Be nice if they got the the armament right

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