The Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse was a WW2 twin-engine heavy fighter. It entered service with the Luftwaffe on January 20, 1943 and it was used by the Third Reich until the end of the war. It was a very reliable and sturdy aircraft, which also carried out ground attack missions. It had been developed from the Messerschmitt Me 210, which had instability problems and a tendency to flick into a spin.
In order to set things right, the fuselage of the Me 210 was considerably lengthened and its wings were fitted with automatic slots. It was also upgraded with two Daimler-Benz DB 603A, 12-cylinder engines, each delivering 1,850 HP. This is how a more stable and new aircraft emerged: the Messerschmitt Me 410A-2, which was the first production version. Thus, by mid 1944, it would establish an excellent reputation among the German pilots as a very reliable aircraft. It would be engaged almost exclusively in the defense of the Reich, fighting against Allied bombers. By mid 1943, the Me 410B version would appear, fitted with more powerful engines: DB 603G that put out 1,900 HP. This would be followed by the Me 410B-2/3/4/5/6 as well as the Me 410C, 410D, and 410H variants.
Armament and Designations
The suffix /U1, such as in the Messerschmitt Me 410A-1/U1 version, meant that the 7.92mm MG-17 machine guns had been removed and replaced by a single vertical reconnaissance camera that was installed in the rear fuselage. Those designated with /U2 were fitted with two 20mm MG-151 cannons for the fighter/interceptor (Zerstörer) role. The /U2/R2 variants were equipped with two 30mm MK-103 guns. Meanwhile, the /U4 conversion featured a single 50mm BK gun.
The Me 410B-5 was torpedo-bomber which operated in the coastal airspace. Aside from the aforementioned weapons, all versions were equipped with two 13mm MG-131 machine guns, each one mounted on each side of fuselage to fire backwards. All variants had a bomb bay, which was located under the nose and forward cockpit, being able to carry up to two 500-kg bombs.
Specifications
Type: Two-seat heavy fighter
Length: 12.48 m (40 ft, 11 in)
Wingspan: 16.35 m (53 ft, 7 in)
Wing Area: 36.20 square meters (389.687 sq. ft)
Height: 4.28 m (14 ft)
Power Plant: two Daimler-Benz DB 603G, inverted V-12 engines
Maximum Speed: 624 km/h (388 mph) at 6,700 m (21,980 ft) high; and 507 km/h (315 mph) at sea level.
Range: 1,690 km (1050 miles)
Below, the Messerschmitt Me-410A-3 version in flight in 1943.
The Me-410B-5 at an airbase in Tunisia in late 1943
Below, the first version of the Messerschmitt Me 410
