| Messerschmitt Bf 110 C
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| Description
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| Role | Fighter
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| Crew | 3
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| First Flight | May 12, 1936
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| Entered Service | 1939
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| Manufacturer | Messerschmitt A.G.
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| Dimensions
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| Length | 12.3 m | 40 ft 6 in
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| Wingspan | 16.3 m | 53 ft 4 in
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| Height | 3.3 m | 10 ft 9 in
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| Wing area | 38.8 m² | 414 ft²
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| Weights
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| Empty | 4,500 kg | 9,900 lb
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| Loaded | 6,700 kg | 14,800 lb
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| Maximum takeoff | kg | lb
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| Powerplant
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| Engine | 2 x Daimler-Benz DB 601B
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| Power (each) | 809 kW | 1,100 hp
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| Performance
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| Maximum speed | 590 km/h | 365 mph
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| Combat range | 2,410 km | 1,500 miles
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| Ferry range | 2,800 km | 1,750 miles
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| Service ceiling | 10,500 m | 35,000 ft
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| Rate of climb | m/min | ft/min
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| Wing loading | 173 kg/m² | 35.7 lb/ft²
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| Power/Mass | 260 W/kg | 0.155 hp/lb
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| Armament
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| Guns | 2 x 20 mm MG FF/M cannons
4 x 7,92 mm MG 17 machine guns
1 x 7,92 mm MG 15 for defense
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The Messerschmitt Bf110 (later Me110) was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
History
Based around the concept of the long-range Zerstörer or "Destroyer Fighter" the Bf110 enjoyed some success in the Polish and French campaigns. However, the Battle of Britain revealed its fatal weaknesses as a daylight fighter against more maneuverable single-engine aircraft. Eventually withdrawn from daylight fighting, the Bf110 enjoyed later success as a night fighter where its range, firepower and ability to mount a radar stood it in good stead. It was also used as a ground attack aircraft starting with the C-4/B model. Later on there were dedicated ground attack versions which proved reasonably successful. All in all the Bf-110 served the Luftwaffe very well in various roles, except in its intended role as a heavy fighter.
After The Battle of Britain Bf-110 units largely moved to the Russian and Mediterranean theatres of war. The production of the Bf-110 was put on a low priority in 1941 and stepped up again in 1942 after the development of the Me-210, the Bf-110's intended successor, proved to be unsuccessful.
Armament
Early versions had four MG 17 machine guns and two 20 mm MG FF/M cannons fitted in the nose. Later versions replaced these with the more powerful 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons and many G-series aircraft had two 30 mm MK 108 cannons fitted instead of the MG 17. The defensive armamanet consisted of a single, flexible mounted MG 15 machine gun. Late F-series and prototype G-series got this upgraded to a 7,92 mm MG 81 machine gun with a higher rate of fire and the G-series was equipped with the twin-version MG 81Z.
The fighter-bomber versions could carry up to 2,000 kg of bombs depending on the type.
Many G-series night fighters were built with the Schräge Musik off-bore gun system for shooting down bombers while passing underneath.
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