Messerschmitt Bf 110

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The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often (erroneously) called Me 110, was a twin-engine [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]
(Zerstörer - German for "Destroyer") in the service of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] during [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] was a proponent of the Bf 110, and nicknamed it his Eisenseiten ("Ironsides").

Development work on an improved type, the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] that was to replace the Bf 110, begun before the war started, but due to teething troubles, resulted in Bf 110 soldiering on until the end of the war in various roles, alongside its replacements, the Me 210 and the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

The Bf 110 served with success in the early campaigns, the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

The Bf 110's lack of agility in the air was its primary weakness.

This flaw was exposed during the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], when some Bf 110 equipped units were withdrawn from the battle after very heavy losses and redeployed as [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], a role to which the aircraft was well suited.

The Bf 110 enjoyed a successful period following the Battle of Britain as an air superiority fighter and strike aircraft in other theatres.

During the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] it rendered valuable ground [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] to the German Army as a potent [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] (Jagdbomber-Jabo).

Later in the war, it was developed into a formidable night fighter, becoming the major night-fighting aircraft of the Luftwaffe.

Most of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] flew the Bf 110 at some point during their combat careers, and the top night fighter ace of all times, [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], flew it exclusively, and claimed 121 victories in 164 combat missions.

Design and development


Genesis and competition


Throughout the 1930s, the Air Forces of the major military powers were engaged in a transition from [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] to [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] designs.

Most concentrated on the single-engine [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

But the problem of range arose.

The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] (RLM), pushed by Hermann Göring issued a request for a new multipurpose fighter, called the Kampfzerstörer (battle destroyer) with long range and an internal bombload.

Specifically, the request called for a twin-engine, three-seat, all-metal monoplane that was armed with cannon as well as a [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Only three companies out of the original seven responded to the request.

These included Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (Messerschmitt), [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Messerschmitt had defeated competition by Focke-Wulf and Henschel and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and were given the funds to build several [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] aircraft.

The Focke-Wulf design, the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], had a wing span of some 25.6 m (84 ft) and was powered by two DB 600 engines.

It was armed with two 20 mm [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in the nose and a third was positioned in a dorsal [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

The Fw 57 V1 flew in 1936 but its performance was poor and the machine crashed.

The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] was similar in construction layout to the Fw 57.

Equipped with two Jumo 210C for the V1.

The V2 utilized the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]Dc [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] generating 870 PS compared with the 640 PS Jumo.

The armaments consisted of a single rearward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and a single forward-firing 20 mm MG FF cannon.

Messerschmitt omitted the internal bomb load requirement from the RLM directive to increase armament element of the RLM specification.

The Bf 110 was far superior to its rivals in providing the speed, range and firepower to meet its role requirements.

By the end of 1935, the Bf 110 had evolved into an all-metal, low-wing [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] monoplane of semi-[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] design featuring twin [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and powered by two DB 600A engines.


The design was also fitted with [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] wing [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Un DB 600A

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir cette image]

Early variants


By luck (and pressure by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]) RLM reconsidered the ideas of the Kampfzerstörer and began focus on Zerstörer.

Due to these changes the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke design better fitted RLM's requests.

On 12 May 1936, Rudolf Opitz took flight in the first Bf 110 out of [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

But, as many pre-war designs found, the engine technologies promised were not up to acceptable reliability standards.

Even with the temperamental DB 600 engines, the RLM found the Bf 110, while not as maneuverable as desired, was quite a bit faster than the RLM original request specified, as well as faster than the then current front line fighter the Bf 109 B-1.

Thus the order for four pre-production A-0 units was placed.

The first of these were delivered on January 1937. During this testing, both the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and Henschel
Hs 124 competitors were rejected and the Bf 110 was ordered into full production.

The initial deliveries of the Bf 110 encountered several issues with delivery of the DB 600 motors, which forced Bayerische Flugzeugwerke to install [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]B engines, which left the Bf 110 seriously underpowered and able to reach a top speed of only 431 km/h (268 mph).

The armament of the A-0 units was also limited to four nose-mounted 7.92 mm (.312 in) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Even without delivery of the DB 600 engines, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke began assembly of the Bf 110 in the summer of 1937.

As the DB 600 engines continued to have issues, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke was forced to keep on using Jumo motors, the 210G, which supplied 515 kW (700 PS) each (versus the 471 kW/640 PS supplied by the 210B).

Three distinct versions of the Bf 110B were built, the B-1, which featured a total of four 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 machine guns and two 20 mm MG FF cannons.

The B-2 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] version, which installed a camera in place of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], and the B-3 which was utilized as
a [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], with the cannons replaced by extra[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] equipment.

Only 45 Bf 110Bs were built before the Jumo 210G engine production line ended.

The major identifier of the A and B 110s was the very large "mouth" bath [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] located under the engine.

In late 1938, the DB 601 B-1 engines finally became available.

With the new engine, the design teams removed the radiators under the engine and replaced them with water/glycol
radiators, placing them under the wing to the outside of the engines.

With the DB 601 engine, the Bf 110's maximum speed increased to a respectable 541 km/h (336 mph) with a range
of approximately 1,094 km (680 mi).

Later production variants


The production of the Bf 110 was put on a low priority in 1941 in expectation of its replacement by the Me 210.

During this time, two versions of the Bf 110 were developed, the E and F models.

The E was designed as a fighter bomber (Zerstörer Jabo), able to carry four 50 kg (110 lb) ETC-50 racks under the wing, along with the centerline [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

The first E, the Bf 110 E-1 was originally powered by the DB 601B engine, but shifted to the DB 601P as they became
available in quantity.

A total of 856 Bf 110E models were built between August 1940 and January 1942.

The E models also had upgraded [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and some [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] upgrades to support the added weight.

Most pilots of the Bf 110E considered the aircraft slow and unresponsive, one former Bf 110 pilot commenting the E was "rigged and a total dog."

The Bf 110F featured the new DB 601F engines which produced 993 kW/1,350 PS (almost double the power the original Jumo engines provided), which allowed for upgraded armour, strengthening, and increased weight with no loss in performance.

Three common versions of the F model existed.

Pilots typically felt the Bf 110F to be the best of the 110 line, being fully aerobatic and in some respects smoother to fly than the Bf 109, though not as fast.

Eventually 512 Bf 110F models were completed between December 1941 and December 1942, when production gave way to the Bf 110G.

Although the Me 210 entered service in mid-1941, it was eventually withdrawn for further development.

There were insufficient aircraft to fully replace the Bf 110, so it fought until the end of the war.

In the wake of the failure of the Me 210, the Bf 110G was designed.

Fitted with the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]B engines, producing 1,085 kW (1,475 PS) in "War Emergency" setting, and 997 kW (1,355 PS) at 5.8 km (19,000 ft) altitude, the Bf 110G also underwent some changes which improved the aerodynamics of the aircraft, as well as improved nose armament.

No Bf 110 G-1 existed, as the Bf 110 G-2 became the baseline Bf 110G and was fitted with a large number of [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], making the G the most versatile of the Bf 110.

The initial batch of six pre-series production G-0 aircraft built in June 1942 followed by 797 G-2, 172 G-3 and 2,293 G-4 models, built between December 1942 and April 1945.

Pilots reported the Bf 110G to be a "mixed bag" in the air, in part due to all changes between the G and F series.

However the Bf 110G was considered a superior gun platform with excellent all-around visibility, and considered, until the advent of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], the best of the Luftwaffe night fighters.

Armament


The Bf 110's main strength was its ability to accept some extreme weaponry.

Early versions had four 7.92 mm (.312 in) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in the upper nose and two 20 mm [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] fitted in the lower part of the nose.

Later versions replaced the MG FF/M with the more powerful 20 mm [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and many G-series aircraft, especially those who served in the bomber-destroyer role, had two 30 mm (1.18 in) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] fitted instead of the MG 17.

The defensive armament consisted of a single, flexibly-mounted 7.92 mm (.312 in) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Late F-series and prototype G-series were upgraded to a 7.92 mm (.312 in) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] with a higher rate of fire and the G-series was equipped with the twin-barrelled [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Many G-series night fighters were retrofitted or factory-built with the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] (Jazz Music) off-bore gun system, firing upward at an oblique angle for shooting down bombers while passing underneath, frequently equipped with two 20 mm MG FF/M, but field installations of the 20 mm MG 151/20 or 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannons were also utilized.
The Schräge Musik weapons were typically mounted to the back of the rear [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

The Bf 110 G-2/R1 was also capable of accepting armament such as the Bordkanone series 37 mm (1.46 in) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] cannon.

A single hit from this weapon was enough to destroy any Allied bomber.

The fighter-bomber versions could carry up to 2,000 kg (4,410 lb) of bombs depending on the type.

Operational service


Polish Campaign


Hermann Göring reportedly ordered the Zerstörerwaffe to make all the Luftwaffe's Bf 110s available for operations.

Future ace, commander of [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] scored his first kills over Poland, as did future night fighter ace [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]. [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], future [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Falck's unit, I./ZG 76, claimed 31 kills during the campaign, of which 19 were confirmed. I(Z)./LG 1 also contributed.

Escorting German bomber formations on attacks against [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], the unit claimed 30 kills on the first day.

Polish fighter units reported a 17% loss rate on this day.

This rose to 72% in five days. JGr 2 also claimed 28 aerial and 50 ground victories.

The Phoney War and the "Battle of German Bight"


Most of the units protecting western Germany from aerial attack were equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

One of the Bf 110 units assigned to air defence in this sector was [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

On 23 November 1939, the Bf 110 claimed its first Allied victim when LG 1 Bf 110s engaged and shot down a [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] over [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Just three weeks later, on 18 December 1939, the Bf 110 participated in the first German victory over British arms in World War II.

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] sent 22 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] bombers to attack the German naval base at [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Despite help from Bf 109 units, it was the Bf 110 which excelled in the bomber destroyer role.

By the end of the fighting the Germans claimed 38 RAF bombers.

Actual losses were 11 Wellingtons and six damaged to varying degrees.

Some sources claim a 12th Wellington was destroyed.

The raid convinced RAF Bomber Command to think about aborting the daylight bombing of Germany in favour of night actions.

Invasions of Denmark and Norway


The Bf 110 Zerstörerwaffe (Destroyer Force) saw considerable action during operation [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] the
invasion of [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Two Zerstörergeschwaders (1 and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]) were committed with 64 aircraft.

The Bf 110 destroyed 25 Danish military aircraft stationed on the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] airbase on 9 April through ground [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

One Danish [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] did manage to get airborne but was immediately shot down.

During this campaign, Victor Mölders, brother of the famous [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], took the official surrender of the town of [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] after landing at the local airfield.

Dressed in flying gear, he was given a lift into the town centre by a milkman to find suitable quarters for I.ZG 1's Bf 110 crews.

In Norway, the Bf 110s helped secure the Oslo-Fornebu airport, escorting [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] transports loaded with paratroops ([Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]).

The Germans were engaged by several [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and machine guns manned by troops on the ground; in the ensuing battle both sides lost two aircraft.

The Messerschmitt pilots did not know that many earlier waves of transports had turned back and the airport was
unsecured.

Landing their cargoes, many transports were destroyed.

The remaining Bf 110s strafed the airfield and helped the ground troops take the airfield; the air support provided by the Zerstörer was instrumental, and it was to perform well as a fighter-bomber in the coming campaigns.

During these battles, a future 110-kill Luftwaffe ace, [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], scored his fifth and sixth victories against Norwegian opposition.

With experience fighting in Norway, efforts were made to extend the combat range of the Bf 110;
these became the Bf 110D Long Range (Langstrecken) Zerstörer.

Several different external [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], in the shape of 900 L (240 US gal) underwing-mounted and 1,050 L (280 US gal) centerline ventral fuel tanks, resulted in no less than four versions of the Bf 110D, including the enormous tank, which owing to cold weather and limited knowledge of fuel vapours, sometimes exploded, leading to unexplained losses during the North Sea patrols.

As a result, the aircrews came to dislike this version.

The handling characteristics were also affected; the Bf 110 was not manoeuvrable to begin with and the added weight made it worse".

The Bf 110D was nicknamed the Dackelbauch, or "Dachshund Belly".