page_title: Messerschmitt Bf 109 variants
section_title: E-7
hierarchical_section_title: Messerschmitt Bf 109 variants / Bf 109E / E-7
caption_attribution_description: English: External jettisonable fuel tank from Messerschmitt Bf 109 G fighter in the Aviation Museum of Central Finland. Suomi: Messerschmitt Bf 109 G -hävittäjän pudotettava lisäpolttoainesäiliö Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseossa.
context_page_description: Due to the Messerschmitt Bf 109's versatility and time in service with the German and foreign air forces, numerous variants were produced in Germany to serve for over eight years with the Luftwaffe. Additional variants were produced abroad totalling in 34,852 Bf 109s built.
context_section_description: The E-7 was the next major production variant, entering service and seeing combat at the end of August 1940. One of the limitations of the earlier Bf 109Es was their short range of 660 km (410 mi) and limited endurance, as the design was originally conceived as a short-range interceptor. The E-7 rectified this problem as it was the first Bf 109 subtype to be able to carry a drop tank, usually the standardized Luftwaffe 300 L (80 US gal) capacity unit mounted on a centre-line rack under the fuselage, which increased its range to 1,325 km (820 mi). Fuel from the drop tank was pumped to the internal fuel tank via a large fuel line that ran up and along the inside starboard wall of the cockpit, with a clear sight glass located in the fuel line's main span so the pilot could easily see the flow of fuel and know when the tank was empty. Alternatively, a bomb could be fitted and the E-7 could be used as a Jabo  fighter-bomber. Previous Emil subtypes were progressively retrofitted with the necessary fittings for carrying a drop tank from October 1940. Early E-7s were fitted with the 1,100 PS DB 601A or 1,175 PS DB 601Aa engine, while late-production ones received 1,175 PS DB 601N engines with improved altitude performance – the latter was designated as E-7/N. A total of 438 E-7s of all variants were built.
   Bf 109E variants and sub-variants  
  E-0 (Pre-production aircraft with 4 × 7.92 mm/.312 in MG 17 machine guns)
  E-1 (Similar to E-0)
  E-1/B (Fighter-bomber version of E-1, usually with DB 601Aa)
  E-2 (Limited production, additional Motorkanone engine mounted MG FF cannon, otherwise as E-3)
  E-3 (Similar to E-1 but 2 × 20 mm MG FFs in the wings instead of the MG 17)
  E-4 (Armour and structural improvements, change of MG FF cannons to MG FF/M. "Square" canopy)
  E-4/B (Fighter-bomber version of E-4, 1 × 250 kg/550 lb bomb, usually with DB 601Aa)
  E-4 trop (Version of E-4 modified to serve in tropical regions)
  E-4/N (E-4 with DB601N engine)
  E-4/BN (Fighter-bomber version of E-4/N, 1 × 250 kg/550 lb bomb)
  E-5 (Recon version of E-3, camera equipment, 2 × 7.92 mm/.312 in MG 17)
  E-6 (Recon version of E-4/N, camera equipment, 2 × 7.92 mm/.312 in MG 17)
  E-7 (Similar to E-4 but with optional 300 L drop tank)
  E-7/N (Similar to E-4/N but with optional 300 L tank)
  E-7/NZ (also known as E-7/Z, an E-7/N with additional GM-1 nitrous oxide injection system)
  E-7/U2 (Ground attack variant of E-7 with additional armour)
  E-8 (Long-range version of E-1 using drop tank installation of E-7, 4 × 7.92 mm/.312 in MG 17)
  E-9 (Recon version of E-7/N, drop tank, camera equipment, 2 × 7.92 mm/.312 in MG 17)
caption: A standard Luftwaffe 300 litre drop tank
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