In 1937 Messerschmitt began developing the Bf 210, planned as a more versatile successor to the Bf 110. In June 1939 an order for 1000 aircraft was placed “off the drawing board”, but after prototype Me 210V1 had revealed flight instability and landing gear problems, progress foundered. Production aircraft were delivered from late 1941 but in service it was a complete flop and production ended after 352 machines. The failure of the Me 210 nearly cost Willy Messerschmitt his job. Key aspects of the design were changed to produce the Me 410, which proved to be an altogether more capable as well as more successful warplane. The Me 210’s failings had in fact been solved just before its cancellation, and it was from this type that the Me 410 was evolved, with basically the same revised aerodynamic and structural features in combination with modified outer wing panels and the different powerplant of two Daimler-Benz DB 603A inverted-Vee piston engines. The Me 410 first flew in prototype form in autumn 1942, and there followed 1137 production aircraft in variants such as the Me 410A (three major variants) and the Me 410B. Five major variants of the 410B were produced with the DB 603G engines. The B-5 anti-shipping torpedo bomber, the B-7 day reconnaissance and B-8 night reconnaissance aircraft were still in the experimental stage at the war’s end.
Specifications
- Manufacturer
- Messerschmitt A.G
- Type
- Heavy Fighter
- Length
- 12.48m (40ft 11.5in)
- Span
- 16.35m (53ft 7.75in)
- Height
- 4.28m (14ft 0.5in)
- Maximum Speed
- 624km/h (388mph)
- Service Ceiling
- 10,000m (32,810ft)
- Range
- 1670km (1050 miles)
- Crew
- Two
- Powerplant
- 2 x DB 603A
- Armament
- 4 x cannon, 4 x MG
- Bomb Load
- Not Available
- First Flight
- 1942
- Initial Climb
- 628m (2060ft) per min
- Weight (empty)
- 7518kg (16,574lb)
- Weight (loaded)
- 10,650kg (23,483lb)