Messerschmitt Bf 110

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Bf 110

Type	Night Fighter/Fighter Bomber
Manufacturer	Messerschmitt
Designed by	Willy Messerschmitt
Maiden flight	12 May 1936
Introduced	1937
Retired	1945, Luftwaffe
Status	Retired
Primary users	Luftwaffe Hungary, Italy, Romania
Number built	Approximately 15,000

The Messerschmitt Bf 110 (often called Me 110) was a twin-engine heavy fighter (Zerstörer) in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II. Later in the war it was changed to fighter-bomber (Zerstörer-Jabo) and night fighter operations, and it became the major night fighter type of the Luftwaffe.

1 Design and developmnet
2 Operational service
3 Variants
4 Notes
5 Operators
6 Specifications (Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4)
7 External links
8 Related content

[edit] Design and developmnet

In 1934 several countries in Europe began research and design of the strategic fighter, called the Kampfzerstörer (battle destroyer). The RLM, pushed by Hermann Göring issued a request for a new multipurpose fighter. Specifically the request called for a twin engined, three seat, all metal monoplane that was armed with cannons as well as a bomb bay. Only three companies out of the original seven responded to the request. These included BFW (Messerschmitt), Focke-Wulf and Henschel. Due to BFW ignoring most of the Kampfzerstörer specifications by RLM, only Focke-Wulf and Henschel were given the funds to build several prototype aircraft. By luck (and pressure by Ernst Udet) RLM reconsidered the ideas of the Kampfzerstörer and began focus on Zerstörer. Due to these changes the BFW design better fit RLM's requests. On May 12, 1936, Rudolf Optiz took flight in the first Bf 110 out of Augsburg. But, as many pre-war designs found, the engine technologies promised were not up to acceptable reliablity standards. Even with the tempermental DB 600 engines, the RLM found the Bf 110, while not as manuverable as liked, 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 of 1937. During this testing both the Focke-Wulf Fw 187 and Henschel Hs 124 competitors were ruled out of the running 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, and thus BFW was forced to install Junkers Jumo 210B engines which left the Bf 110 seriously underpowered, able to reach a top speed of only 268 mph. The armament of the A-0 units was also limited to four nose mounted MG 17 machine guns.

Even without the deliveries of the DB 600 engines, BWF began assembly the Bf 110 in the summer of 1937 in anticipation of the engines deliveries. As the DB 600 engines continued to have issues, BWF was forced to continue using Jumo motors, the 210G, which supplied 700 HP each (versus the 610 supplied by the 210B). Three distinct versions of the Bf 110B were built, the B-1, which featured a total of four MG 17 and 2 MG FF 20 mm cannons. The B-2 reconnaissance verion, which installed a camera in place of the cannon armament, and the B-3 which was utilized as a trainer, with the cannon removed, and extra radio equipment installed in its place. Only 45 Bf 110Bs were built before the Jumo 210G engine production line ended. The major identifier of the A & B 110's was the very large "mouth" bath radiators located under the engine.

In the later months of 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 a water/glycol radiators located under the wing, to the outside of the engines. With the DB 601 engine, the Bf 110's maximum speed increased to a respectable 336 mph with a range of approximately 680 miles.

[edit] Operational service

A total of at least seven major revisions of the Bf 110C existed as listed below. The Bf 110C was the first Bf 110 to see widespread combat and enjoyed some success in the Polish and French campaigns.

With experiences 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 fuel tanks resulted in no less than four versions of the Bf 110D, including the Dackelbauch tank, which due to cold weather and limited knowledge of fuel vapors, sometimes exploded, leading, at the time, to unexplained losses during the North Sea patrols.

[edit] Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain revealed its fatal weaknesses as a daylight fighter against single-engine aircraft. Its size and weight meant that it had high wing loading, which limited its manoeuvrability. Furthermore, although it had a slightly higher top speed than contemporary RAF Hurricanes, it had poor acceleration.

[edit] Other theatres

After the Battle of Britain, Bf 110 units were largely moved to the Russian and Mediterranean theatres of war. The production of the Bf 110 was put on a low priority in 1941 in expectation of 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 ETC-50 racks under the wing, along with the centerline bomb rack. 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. The E models also had upgraded armor and some fuselage upgrades to support the added weight. Most pilots of the Bf 110E considered the plane 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 1350 HP (almost double the original Jumo engines provided), which allowed for upgraded armor, 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 acrobatic and fully and in some respects smoother to fly than the Bf 109, while not as fast.

Although the Me 210 entered service in mid-1941, it was eventually withdrawn in favour of a further development. There were insufficient aircraft to fully replace the Bf 110 in that role and thus the Bf 110 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 DB 605B engines, producing 1475 HP in War Emergency setting, and 1355 at 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 Rüstsätze, making the G the most versitile of the Bf 110. 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 He-219, the best of the Luftwaffe nightfighters.

[edit] Night fighting

Eventually withdrawn from daylight fighting, the Bf 110 enjoyed later success employed as a nightfighter where its range, firepower and ability to mount a radar stood it in good stead for the remainder of the war.

It was also used as a ground attack aircraft starting with the C-4/B model, and as a day bomber interceptor, where its heavy firepower was particularly useful. Later on there were dedicated ground attack versions which proved reasonably successful. The Bf 110 served the Luftwaffe extensively in various roles, though not in its intended role as a heavy fighter.

[edit] 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, especially those who served in the bomber-destroyer role, had two 30 mm MK 108 cannons fitted instead of the MG 17. The defensive armament consisted of a single, flexible mounted MG 15 machine gun. Late F-series and prototype G-series were 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. Many G-series night fighters were retrofitted or factory-built with the Schräge Musik off-bore gun system for shooting down bombers while passing underneath, frequently equipped with two MG FF/M, but field installations of the MG 151/20 or MK 108 cannons were also utilized. The Schräge Musik cannons were typically mounted to the back of the rear cockpit.

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

[edit] Variants

A Me-110 G-4 night fighter at the RAF Museum in London.

Bf 110 A-series - prototypes with two Jumo 210 engines

Bf 110 A-0 - The designation of the first four pre-production aircraft

Bf 110 B-series - Small scale production with two Jumo 210 engines
Bf 110 B-0 - First pre-production aircraft, similar to B-1

Bf 110 B-1 - Zerstörer, four MG 17 7.92 mm machine guns and two MG FF 20 mm cannons, nose mounted

Bf 110 B-2 - Reconnaissance, both MG FF cannons removed, and various camera models added

Bf 110 B-3 - Trainer. MG FF cannons removed, and extra radio gear added. Some war weary B-1 were later refitted as B-3s

Bf 110 C-series - first major production series, DB 601 engines

Bf 110 C-1 - Zerstörer, DB 601 B-1 engines

Bf 110 C-2 - Zerstörer, fitted with FuG 10 radio, upgraded from FuG III

Bf 110 C-3 - Zerstörer, upgraded MG FF's to MG FF/M

Bf 110 C-4 - Zerstörer, upgraded crew armor

Bf 110 C-4/B - Fighter-Bomber based on C-4, fitted with a pair of ETC 250 bomb racks and upgraded DB 601 Ba engines

Bf 110 C-5 - Reconnaissance version based on C-4, both MG FF removed, and Rb 50/30 camera installed, uprated DB 601P engines

Bf 110 C-6 - experimental Zerstörer, additional single 30 mm MK 101 30 mm cannon in underfuselage mount, DB 601P engines

Bf 110 C-7 - Fighter-Bomber based on C-4/B, two ETC-500 centerline bomb racks capable of carrying two 500 kg bombs, uprated DB 601P engines

Bf 110 D-series - Heavy fighter/fighter-bomber, extreme range versions based on C-series, often stationed in Norway

Bf 110 D-0 - Prototype utilizing C-3 airframes modified with 1200l (316,8 US gallon) belly-mounted tank called Dackelbauch

Bf 110 D-1 - Long-range Zerstörer, modified C series airframes with Dackelbauch belly tank

Bf 110 D-1/R2 - Long-range Zerstörer, removed Dackelbauch tanks and replaced with wing mounted 900l (237,6 US gallon) drop tanks

Bf 110 D-2 - Long-range Zerstörer, two wing mounted 300l (79,2 US gallon) drop tanks and centerline mounted ETC 500 bomb rack

Bf 110 D-3 - Long-range Zerstörer, lengthened tail for rescue dingy. Either two wing mounted 300l (79,2 US gallon) or 900l (237,6 US gallon) drop tanks could be fitted. ETC500 was optional

Bf 110 E-series - Mostly fighter bombers, strengthened airframe, up to 1,200 kg bombload.

Bf 110 E-0 - Pre-production version, DB601B engines, pair of ETC50 bomb racks fitted outboard of engines, armament as C-4.

Bf 110 E-1 - Production version of E-0, DB601P engines

Bf 110 E-2 - DB 601P engines, rear fuselage extension same as for D-3

Bf 110 E-3 - Long-range reconnaissance version

Bf 110 F-series - Same as the E, again strengthened airframe, better armor, two 1,350 hp (1,010 kW) DB 601F engines

Bf 110 F-1 - Fighter-bomber

Bf 110 F-2 - Long-range Zerstörer, often used against allied heavy bombers

Bf 110 F-3 - Long-range reconnaissance version

Bf 110 F-4 - The first real night fighter (specially designed for this usage, 3-crew).

Bf 110 G-series - Improved F-series, two 1,475 hp (1,100 kW) DB 605B engines, tail rudders increased in size

Bf 110 G-1 - not built

Bf 110 G-2 - Fighter-bomber, fast bomber, destroyer, often used against allied heavy bombers. (often equipped with rockets)

Bf 110 G-3 - Long-range reconnaissance version

Bf 110 G-4 - 3-crew night fighter, FuG 202/220 Lichtenstein radar, optional Schräge Musik

Bf 110 H-series - The final version, similar to the G, prototype/design stage only, cancelled

[edit] Notes

On May 10, 1941, Rudolph Hess, a senior Nazi official, used a Bf 110 to fly from Augsburg, north of Munich, to Scotland, in order to broker a peace deal between Germany and the British Empire.