The Messerschmitt Bf 110 (called Me 110 then) was a twin-engine average hunter in service with the Luftwaffe during the Second world war. Based around the concept of the Zerstörer or “Hunter destroyer” with long operating range Bf 110 obtained some successes at the time of the campaigns of Poland and France. However the Bataille of England revealed its serious weakness like hunter of day against manoeuvrable single-engined aircrafts. It appeared adapted like hunter of night when its autonomy, its firepower and its capacity to embark a Radar made it useful.

Design

In June 1934, RLM publishes a specification concerning a hunter with long operating range and heavily armed. Messerschmitt studies its twin-engine Bf 110, like Focke-Wulf Fw 57 and Henschel Hs 124. Only Bf 110 answers waitings and is retained.

About it, the marshal Hermann Göring declares one day: “Messerschmitt 110 will be like the cavalry of Hannibal protecting its elephants; the bombers will be my elephants”. With Bf 110, Luftwaffe had defined a new concept, certainly expensive, but which seemed viable at the beginning of the war. Zerstörer (Destroying) was appeared as a hunter of great dimension, twin-engine, two-seater, able to ram the pawn with any unfavourable plane, carrying an armament definitely higher than that of a hunter standard and having capacity of carrying while carburizing higher, which enabled him to have a much greater autonomy than his/her little brother the Bf 109 (first Bf 110 had a passable distance of 800 km, that is to say approximately twice as much as Bf 109).

Bf 110 was flexible and pleasant to control, and contrary to an generally accepted idea, Zerstörer had a small ray of turn for an apparatus of its size, and in fact it could transfer almost like a hunter single-engined aircraft. On the other hand, its low rate roll made it vulnerable to the combat.

First illusory versions: Bf 110 has and B

The prototype Bf 110 V1, equipped with two engines Daimler Benz dB 600 has of 980 ch, accomplishes its first flight on May 12th, 1936 with Augsburg. Initially Bf 110-A of preproduction were to carry dB 600, but because of the delays of delivery, the four Bf 110A manufactured receive Junkers Jumo 210 Da of only 610 ch and an offensive armament of four machine-guns MG 17 of 7,92 Misters Their first flights spread out between August 1937 and March 1938. The next April 19th, the first of both Bf 110 B-0 equipped with Jumo 210G with 670 ch flies. The first model of series, Bf 110 B-1 receives Jumo 210 Ga and an armament supplemented by two guns MG FF of 20 Misters. A total from approximately 45 Bf 110B is manufactured, of which of B-2 equipped with a camera and B-3 arranged in the two-seat trainers. The engines not being very satisfactory, the plane could never be regarded as an apparatus of first line. It could not be tested in Spain and had already been relegated to the drive when the Second world war started.

First important version: Bf 110 C

After the produced minor amounts of Bf 110 has and B, Bf 110 C-0 starts to be delivered to Luftwaffe in February 1939, equipped with engines dB 601 B. The Göring marshal then authorizes the constitution of several Zerstörergruppen, but next in September, only three of these units could be equipped. They first of all take share with the Campagne of Poland then, the following year, with those of Norway and France. Several alternatives of C are born:
  • Bf 110 C-1, the C-1/U1 for the towing of sailplanes.
  • C-2 equipped with new radio stations, the C2/U1 equipped with machine-guns in “barbettes” (mini remote-controlled casemates placed on the back sides).
  • C-3 equipped with improved guns.
  • the C-4/B fighter-bomber, carrying two bombs of 250 kg, driving dB 601Ba
  • diurnal C-5 of recognition
  • C-6 armed with two guns of 30 mm under the fuselage.
  • C-7 fighter-bomber, carrying two bombs of 500 kg, driving dB 601P

Because of the priority granted to Zerstörer, manufacture is entrusted, in addition to that ensured by the factory of Augsburg (MIAG), at the firms Focke-Wulf and Gothaer Waggonfabrik (GWF). On the whole, in 1939,315 Bf 110C are delivered. May 10th, 1940, the first day of the Battle of France, 355 Bf 110C are on line. It proves very quickly that this twin-engine does not have the agility necessary to fight the enemy single-engined aircrafts. 35% of the committed apparatuses are lost at the end of May. As one will further see it, this lesson will not be included/understood rather early.

Improved autonomy: Bf 110 D

The countryside of Norway, started on April 9th 1940, watch that the autonomy of Bf 110C, although important, is insufficient for this vast territory, in particular because of the need for protecting the maritime convoys along the coasts. Also the Messerschmitt research department designs it an enormous plywood tank containing 1200 liters, called Dackelbauch (belly of dachshund), assembled under the fuselage. The performances of the apparatus, in its first alternatives Bf 110 D-0 (of C-3 modified) and D-1/R1 of series, are naturally largely faded; moreover, once still empties but filled up highly flammable vapors, the aforementioned tank has an annoying tendency to explode, from where certain disappearances remained misunderstood a long time. During the release of the Battle of England, ten Gruppen of Bf 110 are on line, almost all based in the north of France, at one moment when the D-1/R2 equipped with two releasable reserves of 900 liters under the wings starts to be delivered. Dice the first attacks in force, the losses of Bf 110 are sensitive: 17 apparatuses on August 11th, 1940, 11 the following day, 20 two days later. The heaviest losses are recorded on August 15th, when 27 apparatuses do not return. On the whole, during the battle of England, 300 Bf 110 are lost. Obviously, as simulations could have enabled it to foresee, such twin-engines could not compete, in aerial combat, with the single-engined aircrafts Hurricane and Spitfire. The diurnal attacks of Luftwaffe cease with the autumn 1940. A news and growing threat then appears for the Germany in the form of strategic bombardments inaugurated in the night from May 15th to 16th 1940 with a raid achieved by 99 twin-engines Hampden, Vickers Wellington and Whitley, at one time or only the Flak defends the IIIe Reich. Consequently, hardly withdrawn from the offensive units, Bf 110 are used for the Chasse of night within Nachtjagdgeschwader (NJG) equipped with a first called specialized version D-1/U1. This model of hunting of night carried infra-red sensors Spanner in the nose. The traditional versions D-2 and D-3 which can carry bombs and two reserves of 300 liters are committed in 1941 in the Balkans, in the Mediterranean and Libya.

New missions: Bf 110 E

Following the heavy losses undergone by Zerstörergruppen during the Battle of England, Bf 110 is from now on manufactured as a Chasseur-bombardier and Chasseur of night.
  • Bf 110 E-0 of preproduction, then E-1, always equipped with engines dB 601B of 1100 ch appear in May 1941. However, the dB 601P of 1175 ch is quickly available for alternatives E-1/U1 equipped with a detector Spanner, E-1/U2 with a third seat receiving a leitoffizier (officer controller) and E-1/R2 which can carry two bombs of 1000 kg under the fuselage.
  • In 1942, the E-2 fighter-bomber and the reconnaissance aircraft E-3 start to leave.
This last can be equipped with two auxiliary tanks of 300 or 900 liters under the outer wings. Moreover, for the first time and with an aim of reinforcing defense, two machine-guns MG 17 of 7,92 mm drawing backwards are assembled in the sides of the fuselage. There this traditional climbing of the warheads, without notable increase in the power, involves still a deterioration of qualities of flight and performances of Zerstörer.

Increased power: Bf 110 F

Manufactured parallel to Bf 110E, the F profits during some time from a welcome increase in power with its new engines dB 601F in 1350 ch. Selon la usual method, various alternatives of series appear:

  • Bf 110 F-0 of preproduction similar to E-1, but with increased oil radiators.
  • F-1 equipped with various shielding around the cockpit until very little protected there, and a set of explosive bombs or flamers.
  • F-2 without bomb thrower.
  • F-3 of recognition.
The production is stopped in October 1941 with factory MIAG, then in December with factory GWF, because of the imminent startup of the Me 210. Mow, because of cooking failure of this last, it is precipitately necessary to take again manufacture of Bf 110 as of February 1942. At this time, the night raids of RAF multiply and the the United States enter in war following the attack against Pearl Harbor, on December 7th, 1941, which will change the course of the history radically. After tests carried out with Bf 110 V19 armed with a battery of twelve rocket launchers of 210 mm, the last alternatives of Bf 110F are:
  • F-4 hunter of night with a third seat receiving a leitoffizier (officer controller)
  • as for the hunter of night F-4, it is equipped, with front, of a Radar FuG 202 comprising an antenna with four branches, its offensive armament comprising four MG 17 and two MG FF.
The production of this last continues during a good part of the year 1943.

Bf 110 G Zerstörer

Before the stop of the production of Bf 110, at the end of 1941, the manufacture of a preproduction of G-0, equipped with engines dB 605 B-1 of 1475 ch, is undertaken.

  • Dice the restarting of the chain, appears G-1, a pure hunter on which the guns MG FF are replaced by MG 151.
  • This version is quickly replaced by G-2 comprising a reinforced train and a defense postpones assured by a twinning MG 81Z 7,92 Misters
In the months which follow, G gives place to many alternatives in the form of Rüstsäzten (modifications in units):
  • first, called G-2/R1, is equipped with a gun BK 3,7 of 37 mm supplied with 72 blows under the belly; generally, only one shell is enough to come to end to B-17 but, handicapped by the mass and the trail of the weapon, the twin-engine constitutes an easy prey for the hunters of escort.
  • the G-2/R2 is then created. It is equipped with making it possible to increase speed, but price fuel injection engines of the suppression of shieldings and the weapons of defense.
  • on the G-2/R3, the four MG 17 of nose are replaced by two guns MK 108 of 30 mm, two MG 151 which can moreover be gone up under the fuselage.
  • finally, always in order to increase the firepower, the G-2/R4 is armed with a gun of 37 mm and two MG 151.
  • while the G-2/R5 incorporates the modifications R 1, R 2 and R3.
  • in parallel with G-2, G-3 of recognition leaves chain.
  • as from the summer of 1942, G-4 intended for the hunting of night starts to be delivered. Its offensive armament comprises the four traditional MG 17 and two MG 151.
Moreover, on the successive alternatives, different standard from radars, unceasingly more powerful, are assembled to the front one. Combining changes of radars and armament, are born still the G-4/U1, G-4/U5, G-4/U6, G-4/U7 and G-4/U8.

In 1943, the production of Bf 110 is of 1509 apparatuses, follow-ups of 1518 others in 1944.

Switzerland

The April 28th 1944, oberleutnant it Wilhelm Johnen takes off with its machine gunner on Bf 110 G-4/R3 carrying the code C9+EN, unit of the 5. /NJG5. Two Lancaster appear soon in its table of hunting but one of its engines undergoes an oil decrease in pressure. It must be posed urgently and makes the error choose the airport of Zurich-Dubendorf.
It is immediately an diplomatic incident especially because the plane is equipped with the radar FuG 220 Lichtenstein SN2 recent German answer to jammings which the British practice while releasing of the small aluminum foils. Dice the following day, a commando of three Nazis crosses the Swiss border, but is quickly stopped thanks to the sense of smell of a railroad worker which is astonished to see three unknown buying a ticket of 1 in turn Frs with a ticket of 1.000 very new Frs.
Negotiations lead to the compromise which Bf 110 will be destroyed and the crew released in exchange of the sale of 12 hunters of the last model Bf 109 G-6. These planes will appear lemons.

Ultimate version: Bf 110 H

Before the final disappearance of Bf 110, a last version, called Bf 110H, appears. In fact, the alternative H2 manufactured differs from G-2 only by its engines dB 605 E, some reinforcements of the train and the back of the fuselage, the slightly modified orders and a caster of tail hydraulically retractable. H-3 of recognition, H-4 of hunting of night and its Umrüst-Bausätzen H-4/U7, H-4/U8 are also produced.

Production and operators

According to the German statistics, the total manufacture of Bf 110 related to 5762 specimens, including 2240 hunters of night and 494 apparatuses of recognition.

They were useful in the forces German, Italian, Rumanian and Hungarian.

Evolution of the characteristics and the performances

See too

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