FirePower
Series Aircraft
Messerschmitt
ME 410 B Zerstorer
History:
The Me 210 was the result of a
call to Messerschmitt to create a successor to the popular and effective Bf 110
long range fighter and bomber destroyer.
The first prototype flew on September 5, 1939. The aircraft was plagued with a myriad of handling difficulties
including some vicious stall tendencies.
Messerschmitt began a series of modification programs to address the
many serious issues encountered during trials.
Plans for the Me 210 to replace the Bf 110 were all but abandoned by
late 1941 when the Me 210 was still pronounced to be totally unsuitable for
operational units.
The decision to stop production
wasn’t official until April 14th, 1942. Despite this order, development and testing continued, and
consequently the most serious issue of poor stability was somewhat
resolved. Much money was lost during
this long period of troubled development, so for partly political reasons, the
project was assigned the designation Me 410.
The Me 410 made its appearance
over Britain in June, 1943. With the
210’s stability issue improved, the Me 410 was a solid performer, and through
many variants, gave the Luftwaffe a formidable heavy bomber interceptor, and
ground attack platform. By the end of
1943, 457 Me 410’s were delivered to the Luftwaffe. While the Me 410 scored a considerable amount of daytime bomber
kills, it was still vulnerable to the latest single-engine Allied fighters.
Distinctive Characteristics:
Cockpit panel:
Side view Defensive armament
Internal bombay Large cannon configuration
Flying characteristics:
The
Me 410, was a solid firing platform, with adequate handling qualities. The Me 410 is generally stable in all flight
regimes. Stall and spin characteristics
require the pilot’s full attention, although there is good rudder control up to
the point of stall. Stall recovery
generally consists of a smooth application of power after pitching the nose
down enough to regaining flying speed.
Power-on stalls tend to have a fairly sudden wing drop, and in some
cases the aircraft may roll to an inverted position if the stall recovery is
not prompt. At speeds beyond the
maximum dive speed of 450 mph IAS (730 kph/391 kts) the controls will tend to
freeze and will ultimately reverse or lock.
Applying the dive brakes results in moderate slowing, with a slight
pitch up. Lowering the undercarriage
will pitch the nose moderately down, and dropping flaps will help to counter
that effects.
Pilot Comments:
"This is a fast airplane that packs a lot of
firepower, but it's not a dogfighter. Get in, get your mission finished
and get out, and don't try to engage Allied fighters. It's a losing
proposition. And beware the stall; there's almost no warning, it's like
flying on a knife-edge. The plane will roll inverted almost instantly,
and will spin. Stalls and spins are recoverable, but only if you have
plenty of altitude."
Combat tactics:
Engaging fighters:
First rule – keep your energy
high, because if you get into a turning battle, you may easily get into trouble
if the enemy pilot has any reasonable amount of combat experience, especially
if he is flying a light fighter. Your
biggest advantage is your concentrated firepower in your nose (in the heavy
fighter configuration), so take full advantage of any head on attack. You also have some degree of defensive
armament that can make it difficult for an Allied fighter to line up a shot if
coming in from your tail. Use short
bursts when loaded with large cannons, and longer bursts when loaded with
smaller cannons with more rounds per gun.
Intercepting bombers:
When fitted with heavy cannons,
the firepower in your nose is powerful and concentrated, so attacking heavy
bombers from an angle; including head on attacks is highly effective. After your first pass, keep your speed high,
and make slashing attacks giving the defensive gunners little time to line up a
shot. The deadly cone of fire from your
nose cannons allows you to put a tremendous amount of
power into a small area, so aim carefully and fire in short, concentrated
bursts.
Ground attack:
The 30mm and 50mm cannon configurations pack enough power
to inflict moderate damage on even larger buildings. If you are lucky enough to come across a convoy traveling in line
down a road, one well-executed strafing pass can inflict a significant amount
of damage on the entire column. Your
nose cannons also perform well in the anti-ship role.
Specifications:
Type: Two-seat heavy fighter / light bomber. Power Plants: Two Daimler-Benz DB 603G 12-cylinder inverted-vee liquid cooled engines each rated at 1900 h.p. for take-off and 1580 h.p. for climb. Armament: Two 7.9-mm MG 17 machine guns with 1000 r.p.g. and two 20mm MG151 cannon with 350 r.p.g. Weights: Ramp 13,550 lb.; maximum 23,500 lb. Dimensions: Span, 53 ft 7 ¾ in; length 40 ft 11 ½ in; height, 14 ft ½ in; wing area 389.687 sq ft
Firepower Certified Specifications:
Messerschmitt
Me 410 A-1 Schnellbomber
ENGINE OPERATION
This engine uses the common German
"Kommandogerat" system which automates mixture control. Mixture
control is not available on this engine.
TAKEOFF (21,769 lbs.)
Flaps: Up
Elevator trim: Neutral
Rudder trim: +15%
Tailwheel unlocked for best
directional control
Liftoff speed: 125 mph/201 kph
IAS
CLIMBING (21,769 lbs.)
Initial climb: 2500 fpm (12.5
m/s) at full power/140 mph IAS
Normal climb: 155 mph (251 kph)
IAS @ 1.3 ata/2500 rpm
Rate of climb: 2077 fpm (10.4
m/s)
LANDING (17,777 lbs.)
Gear extension: 155 mph/275 kph
IAS
Flap extension: 155 mph/251 kph
IAS
Approach speed: 130 mph/225 kph
IAS
Full flaps at 138 mph/224 kph IAS
Over airfield boundary: 120
mph/200kph IAS
Touchdown at 95 mph/154 kph IAS
Specifications:
Top Speed @ SL: 328 mph TAS (528
kph/285 kts)
Top Speed @ Alt: 389 mph TAS (626
kph/338 kts) @ 24,300 feet
Max Cruise @ SL: 306 mph TAS (493
kph/266 kts) @ 1.2 ata/2300 rpm
Max Cruise @ 21,980 ft: 261 mph
IAS/359 mph TAS @ 1.2 ata/2300 rpm
Normal Cruise: 243 mph IAS/324
mph TAS @ 19,685 feet @ 1.0 ata/2000 rpm
Climb: 11 minutes to 21,980 ft @
1.3 ata/2500 rpm/155 mph IAS @ 21,769 lbs
Fuel to climb: 50 gallons
Initial climb: 2500 fpm
1 g stall speed, clean: 96 mph
IAS (163 kph/88 kts) @ 17,777 lbs
1 g stall speed, landing: 82 mph IAS (129
kph/70 kts) @ 17,777 lbs
Stall behavior: severe wing drop,
recovery difficult, spins possible.
Takeoff: Liftoff speed 125 mph
IAS (201 kph/109 kts) @ 21,769 lbs
Ramp weight: 15,109 pounds
Normal takeoff/test weight:
21,769 lbs.
Max takeoff wt: 23,500 lbs.
Roll rate: Approx. 50 deg/sec at
250 mph IAS.
Turning rate, in Gs: Approx. 3.5
Gs at 200 mph in a level turn.
High speed dives: Controls will
freeze/reverse at approx. 500 mph IAS (810 kph/435 kts)
Vmax: 450 mph IAS (725 kph/390
kts)
Dive brakes: mild pitch up
To Gear down: mild pitch down
To Flaps down: moderate pitch up
Engines: 2x DB603A inline
liquid-cooled V-12
Takeoff power: 1750 HP @ 1.4
ata/2700 RPM
Climb (rated) power: 1580 HP @
1.3 ata/2500 RPM
Max cruise power: 1375 HP @ 1.2
ata/2300 RPM
Service ceiling: 32,810 feet
Fuel capacity: 666 gallons plus
2x 79 gallon drop tanks
Range: 1447 miles
Fuel consumption at max cruise:
105 gph/engine
Messerschmitt Me 410 B-2/R3 Zerstörer
ENGINE OPERATION
This engine uses the common
German "Kommandogerat" system which automates mixture control.
Mixture control is not available on this engine.
TAKEOFF (21,276 lbs.)
Flaps: Up
Elevator trim: Neutral
Rudder trim: +15%
Tailwheel unlocked for best
directional control
Liftoff speed: 130 mph/209 kph
IAS
CLIMBING (21,276 lbs.)
Initial climb: 2500 fpm (12.5
m/s) at full power/155 mph IAS
Normal climb: 155 mph (251 kph)
IAS @ 1.3 ata/2500 rpm
Rate of climb: 2000 fpm (10 m/s)
LANDING (17,777 lbs.)
Gear extension: 155 mph/275 kph
IAS
Flap extension: 155 mph/251 kph
IAS
Approach speed: 130 mph/225 kph
IAS
Full flaps at 138 mph/224 kph IAS
Over airfield boundary: 120
mph/200kph IAS
Touchdown at 95 mph/154 kph IAS
Specifications:
Top Speed @ SL: 334 mph TAS (538
kph/290 kts)
Top Speed @ Alt: 395 mph TAS (636
kph/343 kts) @ 24,300 feet
Max Cruise @ SL: 303 mph TAS (488
kph/263 kts) @ 1.2 ata/2300 rpm
Max Cruise @ 24,300 ft: 258 mph
IAS/369 mph TAS @ 1.2 ata/2300 rpm
Normal Cruise: 238 mph IAS/319
mph TAS @ 19,685 feet @ 1.0 ata/2000 rpm
Climb: 12.1 minutes to 24,300 ft
@ 1.3 ata/2500 rpm/155 mph IAS
Fuel to climb: 56 gallons
Initial climb: 2500 fpm
1 g stall speed, clean: 96 mph
IAS (155 kph/83 kts) @ 17,777 lbs
1 g stall speed, landing: 82 mph
IAS (129 kph/70 kts) @ 17,777 lbs
Stall behavior: sudden wing drop,
recovery difficult, spins possible.
Takeoff: Liftoff speed 130 mph
IAS (209 kph/113 kts) @ 21,276 lbs
Ramp weight: 15,109 pounds
Normal takeoff/test weight:
21,276 lbs
Max takeoff wt: 23,500 pounds
Roll rate: Approx. 50 deg/sec at
250 mph IAS.
Turning rate, in Gs: Approx. 3.5
Gs at 200 mph in a level turn.
High speed dives: Controls will
freeze/reverse at approx. 500 mph IAS (810 kph/435 kts)
Vmax: 450 mph IAS (725 kph/390
kts)
Dive brakes: mild pitch up
To Gear down: mild pitch down
To Flaps down: moderate pitch up
Engines: 2x DB603G inline
liquid-cooled V-12
Takeoff power: 1900 HP @ 1.4
ata/2700 RPM
Climb (rated) power: 1580 HP @
1.3 ata/2500 RPM
Max cruise power: 1375 HP @ 1.2
ata/2300 RPM
Service ceiling: 32,810 feet
Fuel capacity: 666 gallons plus
2x 79 gallon drop tanks
Range: 1447 miles
Fuel consumption at max cruise:
105 gph/engine
Messerschmitt Me 410 B-2/U2/R4 Zerstörer
ENGINE OPERATION
This engine uses the common
German "Kommandogerat" system which automates mixture control.
Mixture control is not available on this engine.
TAKEOFF (21,725 lbs.)
Flaps: Up
Elevator trim: Neutral
Rudder trim: +15%
Tailwheel unlocked for best
directional control
Liftoff speed: 130 mph/209 kph
IAS
CLIMBING (21,725 lbs.)
Initial climb: 2500 fpm (12.3
m/s) at full power/155 mph IAS
Normal climb: 155 mph (251 kph)
IAS @ 1.3 ata/2500 rpm
Rate of climb: 1950 fpm (9.8 m/s)
LANDING (17,777 lbs.)
Gear extension: 155 mph/275 kph
IAS
Flap extension: 155 mph/251 kph
IAS
Approach speed: 130 mph/225 kph
IAS
Full flaps at 138 mph/224 kph IAS
Over airfield boundary: 120
mph/200kph IAS
Touchdown at 95 mph/154 kph IAS
Specifications:
Top Speed @ SL: 334 mph TAS (538
kph/290 kts)
Top Speed @ Alt: 395 mph TAS (636
kph/343 kts) @ 24,300 feet
Max Cruise @ SL: 303 mph TAS (488
kph/263 kts) @ 1.2 ata/2300 rpm
Max Cruise @ 24,300 ft: 258 mph
IAS/369 mph TAS @ 1.2 ata/2300 rpm
Normal Cruise: 238 mph IAS/319
mph TAS @ 19,685 feet @ 1.0 ata/2000 rpm
Climb: 12.1 minutes to 24,300 ft
@ 1.3 ata/2500 rpm/155 mph IAS (21,276 lbs)
Fuel to climb: 56 gallons
Initial climb: 2500 fpm
1 g stall speed, clean: 96 mph
IAS (155 kph/83 kts) @ 17,777 lbs
1 g stall speed, landing: 82 mph
IAS (129 kph/70 kts) @ 17,777 lbs
Stall behavior: sudden wing drop,
recovery difficult, spins possible.
Takeoff: Liftoff speed 130 mph
IAS (209 kph/113 kts) @ 21,276 lbs
Ramp weight: 15,109 pounds
Normal takeoff/test weight:
21,276 lbs
Max takeoff wt: 23,500 pounds
Roll rate: Approx. 50 deg/sec at
250 mph IAS.
Turning rate, in Gs: Approx. 3.5
Gs at 200 mph in a level turn.
High speed dives: Controls will
freeze/reverse at approx. 500 mph IAS (810 kph/435 kts)
Vmax: 450 mph IAS (725 kph/390
kts)
Dive brakes: mild pitch up
To Gear down: mild pitch down
To Flaps down: moderate pitch up
Engines: 2x DB603G inline
liquid-cooled V-12
Takeoff power: 1900 HP @ 1.4
ata/2700 RPM
Climb (rated) power: 1580 HP @
1.3 ata/2500 RPM
Max cruise power: 1375 HP @ 1.2
ata/2300 RPM
Service ceiling: 32,810 feet
Fuel capacity: 666 gallons plus
2x 79 gallon drop tanks
Range: 1447 miles
Fuel consumption at max cruise:
105 gph/engine
Messerschmitt Me 410 B-2/U4 Zerstörer
ENGINE OPERATION
This engine uses the common
German "Kommandogerat" system which automates mixture control.
Mixture control is not available on this engine.
TAKEOFF (22,731 lbs.)
Flaps: Up
Elevator trim: Neutral
Rudder trim: +15%
Tailwheel unlocked for best
directional control
Liftoff speed: 130 mph/209 kph
IAS
CLIMBING (22,731 lbs.)
Initial climb: 2450 fpm (12.5
m/s) at full power/155 mph IAS
Normal climb: 155 mph (251 kph)
IAS @ 1.3 ata/2500 rpm
Rate of climb: 2000 fpm (10 m/s)
LANDING (19,761 lbs.)
Gear extension: 155 mph/275 kph
IAS
Flap extension: 155 mph/251 kph
IAS
Approach speed: 130 mph/225 kph
IAS
Full flaps at 138 mph/224 kph IAS
Over airfield boundary: 125
mph/200kph IAS
Touchdown at 105 mph/167 kph IAS
Specifications:
Top Speed @ SL: 333 mph TAS (536
kph/290 kts)
Top Speed @ Alt: 394 mph TAS (634
kph/343 kts) @ 24,300 feet
Max Cruise @ SL: 303 mph TAS (488
kph/263 kts) @ 1.2 ata/2300 rpm
Max Cruise @ 24,300 ft: 258 mph
IAS/369 mph TAS @ 1.2 ata/2300 rpm
Normal Cruise: 238 mph IAS/319
mph TAS @ 19,685 feet @ 1.0 ata/2000 rpm
Climb: 12.1 minutes to 24,300 ft
@ 1.3 ata/2500 rpm/155 mph IAS (21,276 lbs)
Fuel to climb: 56 gallons
Initial climb: 2500 fpm
1 g stall speed, clean: 100 mph
IAS (155 kph/83 kts) @ 19,761 lbs
1 g stall speed, landing: 84 mph
IAS (129 kph/70 kts) @ 19,761 lbs
Stall behavior: sudden wing drop,
recovery difficult, spins possible.
Takeoff: Liftoff speed 130 mph
IAS (209 kph/113 kts) @ 21,276 lbs
Ramp weight: 17,093 pounds
Normal takeoff weight: 22,731 lbs
Test weight: 21,276 lbs
Max takeoff wt: 23,500 lbs
Roll rate: Approx. 50 deg/sec at
250 mph IAS.
Turning rate, in Gs: Approx. 3.0
Gs at 200 mph.
High speed dives: Controls will
freeze/reverse at approx. 500 mph IAS (810 kph/435 kts)
Vmax: 450 mph IAS (725 kph/390
kts)
Dive brakes: mild pitch up
To Gear down: mild pitch down
To Flaps down: moderate pitch up
Engines: 2x DB603G inline
liquid-cooled V-12
Takeoff power: 1900 HP @ 1.4
ata/2700 RPM
Climb (rated) power: 1580 HP @
1.3 ata/2500 RPM
Max cruise power: 1375 HP @ 1.2
ata/2300 RPM
Service ceiling: 32,810 feet
Fuel capacity: 666 gallons plus
2x 79 gallon drop tanks
Range: 1447 miles
Fuel consumption at max cruise:
105 gph/engine