Messerschmitt Me 410

Messerschmitt Me 410

Country: German

Type: Fighter bomber

Manufacturer: Messerschmitt

Service: 1943 - 1945

First Flight: 1942

Production: 1200

The Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse was a Luftwaffe heavy fighter and Schnellbomber of World War II developed from the badly flawed Me 210. The Me 410 a straightforward modification of that the Me 210. The major change between the Me 210 and 410 was the introduction of the larger and more powerful Daimler-Benz DB 603A engines. The Me 410 also included a lengthened fuselage and new leading-edge slats, both of which had been tested on Me 210s and were found to dramatically improve handling.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ( Me 410 A-1)

General characteristics

Crew: 2 (pilot and gunner)
Length: 12.40 m (40 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 16.35 m (53 ft 7 in)
Height: 4.28 m (14 ft)
Wing area: 36.20 m (390 ft)
Empty weight: 6,100 kg (13,000 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 10,650 kg (23,480 lb)
Powerplant: 2 x Daimler-Benz DB 603A liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,750 PS (1,726 hp, 1,287 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 624 km/h (388 mph)
Range: 2,300 km (1,400 miles) combat
Service ceiling 10,000 m (32,810 ft)

Armament

2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns
2 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon
2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns
up to 1,000 kg (2,204 lb) of disposable stores