The Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer

The Zerstörer was the result of a certain way of thinking from before the war. During the period of 1934 - 1939 a lot of countries adopted the doctrine of the Heavy Fighter. This aircraft was mostly powered by two engines, heavily armed, and crewed by two or three people. Some examples are the Fokker G.I of the Dutch Air Force (RNAF, Klu), the Petlyakov Pe-3 of the Russian Air Force (VVS), or the Boulton Paul Defiant of the Royal Air Force. These fighters, it was thought, had the armament to strike lethal blows in one pass during combat, and possessed range and power to penetrate deep into the heart of the enemy. A result of the fact that they were mostly powered by 2 engines meant that the aircraft was a lot less maneuverable than single-engined fighters, and thus became vulnerable.
The "Heavy Fighter" concept started already in the first World War, while Germany and the Netherlands were the countries that were most interested. It would be able to perform long-range duties such as reconnaissance, ground attack, and escort. Because of the requirements it meant the aircraft would have to be larger than a fighter necessary for the range, and smaller than a bomber necessary for maneuverability. Turned around it meant that it was neither a fighter, nor a bomber. It could not deliver reasonable payloads because it lacked the size and power, nor did it have the agility of single-engined fighters. Politics in Germany started from the first view-point, whereas the lower echelons in the military saw that it would be a "Jack of all trades", but a master in nothing. However, in Germany the concept of a Zerstörer (Destroyer) was the embodiment of all what the Nazi's stood for, just like the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka. Thus in 1934 a requirement was issued to AGO, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (later Messerschmitt), Dornier, Focke-Wulf, Gotha, Heinkel and Henschel for a twin-engined heavy fighter with a crew of three, a heavy gun armament including a trainable mountable cannon, and provisions for an internal weapons bay for bombs.
Willy Messerschmitt, together with Walter Rethel, felt that the requirements would produce an indifferent fighter, and decided to concentrate on a design with the highest possible performance. This was not to the likings of the RLM (Reichs Luftfahrt Ministerium), but because of urgings from Ernst Udet, a known Ace of the First World War, the design was given a fair chance. BFW (Bayerische Flugzeugwerke) received an order for three prototypes that were to be evaluated against the Focke-Wulf Fw 57 and Henschel Hs 124. Even before the production of the Bf 100 (as it was called then) prototypes had begun a change was made in the requirements. The multi-role Kampzerstörer concept was abandoned in favour of two separate versions: the Schnellbomber (fast bomber) and the Zerstörer (destroyer). These would be of roughly the same seize and weight, but the maximum possible performance was concentrated on single-role applications. The Schnellbomber resulted in the failed Bf 162, where the Zerstörer requirements resulted in the Bf 110.

Versions:

• Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4 (*)
• Messerschmitt Bf 110F-2 (*)
• Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4c/R3 (*)
• Other Messerschmitt Bf 110 versions

Further pictures:

Messerschmitt Bf 110 taking off on a Desert airstrip


Messerschmitt Bf 110 being prepared

Technical data on the Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4

Powerplant	2 × Daimler-Benz DB 601A-1 inverted-Vee, rated at 1100 hp (820.04 kW) each		Role during war	Fighter (Ground) Attack Fighter Close Support Attack Fighter Fighter-bomber Night-Fighter Long range (attack) Fighter Reconnaissance Aircraft Advanced Trainer
Length	39 ft 8.33 inch		Height	13 ft 6.5 inch
Empty weight	11354 lb		Operational weight	14881 lb max
Wing Span	53 ft 1.8 inch		Wing Aspect ratio	6.82
Wing Area	414.42 sq ft		Service ceiling	32810 ft
Maximum speed	348 mph at 22965 ft		Cruising speed	304 mph at 16405 ft
Initial climb rate	2,165 ft per min Climb to 19,685 ft in 10 min 12 sec		Range	680 miles max
Fuel capacity internal	279 Imp gal (335 US gal)		Fuel capacity external	-
Machine guns	4 × 0.312 inch MG 17 fixed forward-firing in the nose, 1.000 rounds each 1 × 0.312 inch MG 15 trainable rearward-firing in the rear cockpit, 750 rounds		Cannons	2 × 20 mm MG FF fixed forward-firing in the lower nose, 180 rounds each
Bomb load	-		Torpedoes/rockets	-
Crew	3: pilot, optional navigator/observer, radio operator/gunner		Naval or ground based	Ground
First flight (prototype)	12 May 1936		Operational Service	january 1939 - 1945
Manufacturer	Messerschmitt A.G.		Number produced	about 6.050 total, unknown number this version

Metric system

Length	12.1 m		Height	4.13 m
Empty weight	5150 kg		Operational weight	6750 kg max
Wing Span	16.2 m		Wing Aspect ratio	6.82
Wing Area	38.5 m²		Service ceiling	10000 m
Maximum speed	560 km/h at 7000 m		Cruising speed	489 km/h at 5000 m
Initial climb rate	660 m per min Climb to 6.000 m in 10 min 12 sec		Range	1094 km max
Fuel capacity internal	1.270 liters		Fuel capacity external	-
Machine guns	4 × 7,92 mm MG 17 fixed forward-firing in the nose, 1.000 rounds each 1 × 7,92 mm MG 15 trainable rearward-firing in the rear cockpit, 750 rounds		Cannons	2 × 20 mm MG FF fixed forward-firing in the lower nose, 180 rounds each
Bomb load	-		Torpedoes/rockets	-

Here is a quick overview of all different versions, without the full technical specifications:

Remarks:

During the War the Bf 110 Zerstörer had it's moments of great victory, and moments of terrible losses. The first version to see action was the Bf 110C-1 in the Polish campaign that started World War 2. The Zerstörer had such advantage in firepower and performance that it had not much opposition from the slow but agile Polish fighters. Nevertheless, in fighter vs Fighter engagements it didn't live up to expectations fully. As a bomber-interceptor, however, the heavy armament and good performance, and it's agility that was better than it's opponents, the Zerstörer excelled. During one mission in December 1939 a couple of Zerstörers were responsible for the destruction of 12 out of 24 Vickers Wellingtons over Heligoland. These bombers were unescorted, and no match for the powerfull Zerstörer.
During the Battle of Britain the flaws of the 'Heavy Fighter' concept showed in fighter vs fighter engagements. During the Battle the Bf 110's were easy meat for the Hurricanes and Spitfires. It must be noted however that when the Zerstörer would perform a "Freie Jagd" or Fighter Sweep, it outperformed the Hurricanes and Spitfires. It was not until Hermann Göring ordered the escorting fighters to stay close to the bombers that the Bf 110 suffered it's severest losses. The Zerstörer was an aircraft that needed speed to work with, and a close escort robbed it of this advantage.
Later in the War it was often effectively used as a night-fighter. The layout of the aircraft, and the fact that multiple seats were available meant it could easily be fitted with radar equipment and operators, while still maintaining a reasonable good performance. De Havilland Mosquitoes where it's most dangerous adversaries at that time.
Although it might sometimes sound as iff the Bf 110 was a bad aircraft please be aware that it was in fact not so. Of the twin-engined aircraft it was one with the longest history (1939-1945), and in the beginning it had decisive advantages over enemy single-engine fighters. In the JaBo role it was also put to good use by the Luftwaffe, and as night-fighter it filled a desperate gap quite well.

Strengths:

• Good performance
• Excellent armament
• Good agility for a twin-engined aircraft

Weaknesses:

• Inadequate maneuverability to escape from single-engined enemy fighters.
• Handling characteristics
• Inadequate performance later in the war
• Marginal defensive armament

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