Messerschmitt Bf 110

Messerschmitt Bf 110 C
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 1 x 7,92 mm MG 15 for defense

The Messerschmitt Bf110 (later Me110) was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II.

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 Eventually withdrawn from daylight fighting, the Bf110 enjoyed later success as a night fighter where its range, firepower and ability to mount a radar stood it in good stead.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 and two 20 mm MG FF/M cannons fitted in the nose. Later versions replaced these 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. 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.

Specifications (variant described)

General characteristics

• Crew:
• Capacity:
• Length: m ( ft)
• Wingspan: m ( ft)
• Height: m ( ft)
• Wing area: m² ( ft²)
• Empty: kg ( lb)
• Loaded: kg ( lb)
• Maximum takeoff: kg ( lb)
• Powerplant: Engine type(s), kN (lbf) thrust or
• Powerplant: Engine type(s), kW ( hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: km/h ( mph)
• Range: km ( miles)
• Service ceiling: m ( ft)
• Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: or
• Power/mass:

External links