Messerschmitt Bf 110

What was the Messerschmitt Bf 110?

The Messerschmitt Bf 110 was a twin-engine, three-seat, all-metal heavy fighter built for the Luftwaffe. Germany called this class of aircraft the Zerstörer, or “destroyer.”

The idea was a long-range fighter that could escort bombers deep into enemy territory and still win a dogfight. The prototype first flew on 12 May 1936, and 6,170 were built before production ended in 1945.

The full specification table for the aircraft is on this page. The sections below explain the history behind the numbers.

Design and development

The Bf 110 was a low-wing monoplane with two Daimler-Benz DB 601 inverted V-12 engines, an enclosed cockpit for the pilot and a rear gunner-radio operator, and a heavy forward-firing armament.

Early production aircraft, the Bf 110 C series, carried two 20 mm MG FF cannon and four 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns in the nose. A single 7.92 mm MG 15 gun covered the rear.

The Bf 110 in the Battle of Britain

The Bf 110 was meant to be the escort that made the Luftwaffe’s bombers safe. Over Britain in 1940 it was not.

It could not out-turn single-engine fighters, and the RAF exploited that weakness whenever Bf 110s covered German bombers. Historian accounts record nearly thirty destroyed on 15 August alone. The Luftwaffe lost 223 of the 237 it began the battle with, and replacements could not keep pace.

After the battle the type was no longer treated as an elite day fighter.

Second careers: ground attack and night fighting

The Bf 110 did not disappear. Its range, payload and firepower made it useful as a fighter-bomber, and the Bf 110 E could carry up to 2,650 lb (1,200 kg) of bombs. During the invasion of the Soviet Union, ground attack became its main job rather than air combat.

The type’s real redemption came at night. From the winter of 1940-41 the Bf 110 became the Luftwaffe’s main night fighter. Its size let it carry crew, fuel and, later, airborne radar that a single-seat fighter could not.

The Bf 110 F-4 was the first version designed specifically for the night role. The later G-4, with 2,293 built, carried FuG 202 and FuG 220 Lichtenstein radar and optionally upward-firing Schräge Musik guns.

Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, the top-scoring night fighter pilot of the war, flew the Bf 110 exclusively and claimed 121 victories.

Bf 110 variants

The Bf 110 evolved through several series, each tied to a new engine or role.

• Bf 110 C: the first major production series, with DB 601 engines. The C-4/B and C-7 were fighter-bombers.
• Bf 110 D: long-range versions with a ventral fuel tank and underwing drop tanks, often based in Norway.
• Bf 110 E: strengthened fighter-bombers, 856 built.
• Bf 110 F: DB 601F engines and better armour, 512 built. The F-4 was the first dedicated night fighter.
• Bf 110 G: DB 605B engines. The G-4 became the main three-crew night fighter.
• Bf 110 H: cancelled before any prototype was ready, after documents were lost in an air raid.

Explaining the numbers

Quoted Bf 110 speeds vary because they describe different variants and altitudes. The figure on this page is for the Bf 110 C-1 at about 19,685 ft (6,000 m), where the DB 601 engines made their best speed.

Later versions, such as the G series, used more powerful DB 605B engines, so their performance differs from the C-1 figures here.

The range figure is the standard range at sea level on internal fuel. Flown at economical cruise at altitude, a Bf 110 C could reach about 680 mi (1,094 km).

Operators

The Luftwaffe was the main operator. Smaller numbers served with the air forces of Hungary, Romania and Croatia, and Italy’s Regia Aeronautica received three C models.

A few captured aircraft flew with the Soviet Air Force, and the RAF’s No. 1426 Flight operated one captured example for evaluation.

How does it compare?

Against its contemporaries the Bf 110 looked impressive on paper and poor in a turning fight. If you want to see how it stacked up against the era’s best, our guide to the best fighter aircraft in the world shows how fighter design changed after the piston era.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the Bf 110 a good plane?

It depended on the job. As a daylight escort fighter in the Battle of Britain it failed, because it could not out-manoeuvre single-engine fighters. As a night fighter it was very successful, and it carried the Luftwaffe’s top night aces.

What was the Bf 110’s top speed?

The Bf 110 C-1 reached 292 kt (336 mph, 541 km/h) at about 19,685 ft (6,000 m). At sea level it was slower. Later variants with more powerful engines changed those numbers.

Did the Bf 110 have radar?

Yes. From 1941 experimental airborne radar was fitted to night-fighter Bf 110s, with an effective range of about 2 miles (3.5 km). The Bf 110 G-4 carried FuG 202 and FuG 220 Lichtenstein radar.

How many Bf 110s were built?

A total of 6,170 Bf 110s were built between 1937 and 1945, including 2,293 of the G-4 night-fighter version.

How did the Bf 110 do in the Battle of Britain?

Badly. The Luftwaffe lost 223 of the 237 Bf 110s it started the battle with, and the type was withdrawn from the escort role.