German crossGermany's Balkenkreuz aircraft marking

Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 110G, Bf 110H fighter, Zerstörer (destroyer)

Photos

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 night fighter captured by the British:
Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 night fighter captured by the British		 Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 night fighter:
Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 night fighter		 Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4/R7 fighter:
Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4/R7 fighter		  

Design

Prototype

Production

Variants

  • Messerschmitt Bf 110G-0: Pre production.3 First delivered in May 1942.3
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110G: Had Daimler-Benz 605B engines.2,5 Had a 37 mm gun under the fuselage.2 Some had radar and were the main night fighter from 1943-1945.2
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110G-1: Heavy fighter.3
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110G-2: Fighter bomber.3 Had bomb racks.3
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110G-2/R3: Had two 30 mm cannons replacing the four machine guns in the nose.3
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110G-3: Long range reconnaissance.3 Had nose cannons removed.3 Cameras were installed.3
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4: Night fighter.3,4 First delivered in 1942.4
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4a:
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4b:
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4c:
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4d:
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110H: Had modified nose.3 Carried two 30 mm cannons in the nose.3 The tail wheel was retractable.3 Fuselage, wing attachments, and undercarriage were strengthened.3
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110H-1: Heavy fighter.3
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110H-2: Fighter bomber.3
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110H-3: Reconnaissance.3
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110H-4: Night fighter.3

Usage

Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Romania used the Bf 110G.3

Anti Bomber

Most of the fighting done by the Bf 110Gs were at night against the British, but they also went against the American bomber streams in the daylight.3

Specifications

  Messerschmitt Bf 110G Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4
Type Fighter bomber3
Night fighter3 		Fighter bomber3
Night fighter3
Crew 2 - 33 2 - 33
Engine (Type) 2: Daimler-Benz DB 605B-13 2: Daimler-Benz DB 605B-13
Cylinders Inverted V 123 Inverted V 123
Cooling    
HP 1,475 each3 1,475 each3
Propeller blades 3 each3 3 each3
Dimensions    
Span   53' 3.75"3
16.25 m3
Length including antennae   42' 9.753
13.05 m3
Height   13' 8.5"3
4.18 m3
Wing area    
Weight    
Empty   11,220 lb3
5,089 kg3
Loaded   20,700 lb3
9,390 kg3
Maximum load   21,799 lb3
9,888 kg3
Performance    
Speed at sea level   311 mph3
500 kph3
Speed @ 22,900' /
6,980 m 		  342 mph3
550 kph3
Climb   2,170'/minute3
661 m/minute3
Climb to 18,000' /
5,486 m 		  7.9 minutes3
Service ceiling   26,000'3
7,925 m3
Range - internal fuel   560 miles3
900 km3
Maximum range   1,305 miles3
2,100 km3
Armament    
Nose   2: 20 mm3
4: 7.9 mm MG3
Rear cockpit   2: 7.9 mm MG3
Under fuselage   2: 20 mm3
OR   Bomb rack3

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
  2. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
  3. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
  4. World War II Airplanes Volume 1, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
  5. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998