The Messerschmitt Me 210 was a two-engine heavy fighter aircraft briefly used by the Luftwaffe during World War II. It had been developed as a potential successor of the Me 110. Its prototype, the Me 210V1 first flew in September 1939, leaving the production assembly line in mid 1941.
The first batch was delivered to the Luftwaffe late in 1941 and it saw combat action on the eastern front and in North Africa. However, service evaluation proved the aircraft to be unsuitable for operational service as it became unpopular with pilots. Thus, its production was stopped in 1942.
About 200 Messerschmitt Me 210 aircraft had been built, with an additional 370 being in various stages of manufacturing. Nevertheless, after nine months, technical difficulties had been overcome and the production continued but the aircraft had been re-designated as the Me 410, which proved to be a very satisfactory fighter, with excellent handling characteristics.
Specifications
Type: heavy fighter
Crew: 2 (pilot and gunner)
Length: 12.2 m (40 ft)
Wingspan: 16.33 m (53 ft, 7 in)
Height: 4.26 m (14 ft)
Power Plant: two Daimler-Benz DB 601F, 12-cylinder, liquid cooled engines, delivering 1350 HP each.
Maximum Speed: 350 miles per hour.
Range: 1150 miles
Armament: two 20-mm MG-151 guns, and two 7.92-mm machine guns.
Below, the Messerschmitt Me-210 in late 1941.
The Me-210 in flight, you can observe its large, straight low-wings.
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