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Subject: Messerschmitt Me 410
Date: 18 Sep 2016 21:14:57 -0700
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_410
The Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse ("Hornet") was a German heavy fighter and
Schnellbomber used by the Luftwaffe during World War II. Though essentially a
straightforward modification of the Me 210, it was designated the Me 410 to
avoid association with its notoriously flawed predecessor.
Development of the Me 210 had been under way since 1939 but the aircraft proved
extremely unstable and was never considered for full-scale production.
Modifications to the layout produced the Me 210C and 210D, which proved somewhat
superior. As studies progressed on the Me 210D, and with a separate parallel
attempt to improve upon the 210 with the Messerschmitt Me 310 in the second half
410.
The major change between the Me 210 and 410 was the introduction of the larger
(at 44.5 litre, 2,715 in3 displacement) and more powerful Daimler-Benz DB 603A
engines, which increased power to 1,750 PS (1,730 hp, 1,290 kW) compared to the
1,475 PS DB 605s used on the Me 210C - the interim Me 310 design experiment
actually used the DB 603 powerplant choice first. The engine performance
increased the Me 410's maximum speed to 625 km/h (388 mph), greatly improved
rate of climb, service ceiling, and most notably the cruising speed, which
jumped to 579 km/h (360 mph). It also improved payload capability to the point
where the aircraft could lift more war load than could fit into the bomb bay
under the nose. To address this, shackles were added under the wings for four 50
kg (110 lb) bombs. The changes added an extra 680 kg (1,500 lb) to the Me 210
design, but the extra engine power more than made up for the difference.
Deliveries began in January 1943, two years late and continued until September
1944, by which point a total of 1,160 of all versions had been produced by
crews, even though its improved performance was not enough to protect it from
the swarms of high performance Allied fighters they faced at this stage of the
war.
Role
Fighter-bomber
Manufacturer
Messerschmitt, Dornier
First flight
14 March 1942
Introduction
1943
Retired
1945
Primary users
Luftwaffe
Hungarian Air Force
Produced
May 1943-August 1944
Number built
1,189
Developed from
Me 210
The Me 410 night bomber proved to be an elusive target for the RAF night
fighters. The first unit to operate over the UK was V./KG 2, which lost its
Havilland Mosquito of No. 85 Squadron RAF.
They were moderately successful against unescorted bombers through 1943, with a
considerable number of kills against USAAF day bomber formations being achieved.
However, the Me 410 was no match in a dogfight with the lighter Allied
single-engine fighters such as the North American P-51 Mustang and Supermarine
Spitfire. In early 1944, the Me 410 formations encountered swarms of Allied
fighters protecting the bomber streams, usually flying far ahead of the combat
box formations as an air supremacy move in clearing the skies of any Luftwaffe
opposition, resulting in the Me 410's previous successes against escorted
attack on Berlin by 750 8th AF heavy bombers, when 16 Me 410s were shot down in
return for eight B-17s and four P-51s (which were destroyed by Bf 109 and Fw 190
fighters escorting the Me 410s). The following month on 11 April, with 8th AF
raids hitting Sorau, Rostock and Oschersleben, II.ZG 26's Me 410s accounted for
a rare success, initially bringing down 10 B-17s without any losses. During the
course of the same raid, their second sortie was intercepted by P-51s that
destroyed eight Me 410s and three Bf 110s. Sixteen crewmen were killed and three
wounded.
From mid-1944, despite being Hitler's favourite bomber destroyer, the Me 410
units were taken from Defence of the Reich duties and production was phased out
in favour of heavily armed single-engine fighters as dedicated bomber
destroyers, with the Me 410s remaining in service flying on reconnaissance
duties only. Some Me 410s were used with Junkers Ju 188s during the Battle of
Normandy, for high-altitude night reconnaissance.
Specifications (Me 410 A-1)
General characteristics
Crew: 2 (pilot and gunner)
Length: 12.4 m (40 ft 8-3/16 in)
Wingspan: 16.39 m (53 ft 9-1/4 in)
Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 2-5/8 in)
Empty weight: 6,150 kg (13,558 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 10,760 kg (23,721 lb)
hp, 1,287 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 624 km/h (388 mph)
Range: 2,300 km (1,400 mi) combat
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (32,800 ft)
Climb to 6,000 m (19,680 ft): 10.7 min
Armament
Guns:
FDSL 131/1B remote-operated turret, one per side
Rockets: 4 x 21 cm (8 in) Werfer-Granate 21 rockets
Bombs:
up to 1,000 kg (2,204 lb) of disposable stores[8]
*
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