Messerschmidt Bf 109G

"*Like its British Spitfire counterpart, the Bf 109 evolved to meet new challenges and throughout the war. The 109G, or Gustav, introduced early in 1943 was not the best (that may have been the aerodynamically cleaner F model), but it was the most numerous. It was also constantly modified: armament changes produced so many bulges and blisters over gun breeches and under wings that some pilots called the 109G die Beule -- the bump, or boil. Despite handling problems from all these aerodynamic comprises, as well as narrow landing gear that contributed to terrifying takeoff and landing characteristics, enemy pilots could never discount or dismiss the Bf 109, which remained the preferred fighter of many Luftwaffe aces until the end of the war."*

*-In game description of the Bf 106G-6*

*"The Bf 106G-10, which appeared in 1944, was the fastest of all the 109s, with speed to match most Allied fighters. Its extra engine power and the improved visability provided by replacing the old, heavily framed canopy with the cleaner 'Galland hood' kept the Bf 109 design competitive with newer Allied fighters."*

*-In game description of the Bf 109G-10*

The Bf 106 was the backbone fighting mono plane of the Luftwaffe during World War 2.  It was the most widely produced German fighter plane.  It was piloted by many for its decent firepower and handling and still was being used even after the Fw 190 came along.  It was a prolific fighter at low altitudes but not at high ones. The "G" models were the later variants of the war with upgrades.  The Bf 106 could carry rockets and small bombs too.
==Specifications (G-6 and G-8)

==

## Specifications

**G-6 SPECIFICATIONS**

WEIGHT: 5,880/7,496 lbs (2,667/3,400 kg)

SPAN: 32 ft 6.5 inches (9.92 m)

LENGTH: 29 ft 8 inches (9.04 m)

ENGNGE: One Daimler-Benz DB605A liquid-cooled V-12 with 1,471 hp

ARMAMENT: One 30mm Mk 108 cannon or one 20mm MG 151 firing through nose hub, plus two 13mm Mg 131 machine guns with 300 r.p.g mounted above engine

Optional: Two 20mm MG 151 cannon with r.p.g (the G-6/R2 can mount racks for four 110 lb bombs or one 550 lb bomb, plus two WGr rocket tubes)

MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 387 mi (623 km/h) @ 22,970 ft (7,000 m)

CEILING: 38,500 ft (11,750 m)

INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 3,300 ft/min (1,005 m/min)

RANGE: 450 mi (725 km): maximum range 615 mi (990 km) with belly tank (Bf-106G can carry 300 liter tank under fuselage or one on each wing

**G-10 SPECIFICATIONS**

WEIGHT: 5,880/7,496 lbs (2,667/3,400 kg)

SPAN: 32 ft 6.5 inches (9.92 m)

LENGTH: 29 ft 8 inches (9.04 m)

ENGINE: One Daimler-Benz DB605D liquid-cooled V-12 MW-50 water-methanol injection and 1,550 hp (1,850 hp for takeoff)

ARMAMENT: One 30mm Mk 108 cannon firing through nose hub, plus two 13mm Mg 131 machine guns with 300 r.p.g mounted above engine

MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 428 mph (689 km/h) @ 24,250 ft (7,391 m)

CEILING: 41,000 ft (12,500 m)

INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 4,820 ft/min (1,469 m/min)

RANGE: 355 mi (571 km)

### Strengths and Weaknesses

**STRENGTHS (ALL VARIENTS)**

-Highly responsive (maybe too much so).

-Excellent climb, acceleration, and maneuverability.

-Heavy and versatile armament .

**WEAKNESSES**

-Narrow, weak landing gear makes takeoff and landing tricky; plane swings hard to left on takeoff.

-Twitchy handling, heavy controls at high speeds. Uneven slat deployment can make aiming difficult.

-Adding extra wing armament degrades speed, maneuverability, and handling.

-Thin wing and light construction make it more fragile than some other fighters.

-Relatively poor visibility from cramped cockpit.

## Armament (Bf 106 G-6)

4x 50 kg bombs

2x 30mm Mk 103 Gun Packs + 1x 300L Drop Tank

2x WGr21 rockets

2x WGr21 rockets + 1x 300L drop tank

2x WGr21 rockets + 4x 50kg bombs

2x WGr21 rockets + 1x 250kg bomb

1x 300L drop tank

## Armament (Bf 106 G-10)

1x 250kg Stabo bomb

1 250kg bomb

1x 70kg Stabo bomb

1x 70kg bomb

4x 50kg bombs

x2 PanzerSchreck rockets + 1x 250kg bomb

2x WGr21 rockets

2x WGr21 rockets + 4x 50kg bombs

2x WGr21 rockets + 1x 250kg bomb

2x 30mm Mk 103 Gun Packs + 1x 300L Drop Tank

2x 30mm Mk 103 Gun Packs + 1x 250kg bomb

1x 300L drop tank

## Trivia

* The Bf 109G-6 is the starting plane given to the player in the German Campaign as a fighter pilot.
* Some German aces and allied aircrew called the Bf 109 the *Me 109*, though this was not the official designation.
* This was the most mass produced German aircraft of the war, almost 34,000 units made, just shy behind the Soviet Ilyushin IL-2 Sturmovik- Over 36,000.
* Erich Hartmann (1922-1993) of *Jagdgeschwader 52* (JG 52) was the most successful Bf 109 and Luftwaffe ace of the Second World War and in history of aerial combat. He had 352 confirmed victories against mostly Soviet and some American planes. His preferred technique of fighting was stalk-and-ambush tactics enemies from behind at point blank range. He was also one of the 27 Luftwaffe aces to receive the Knight's Cross with Diamonds (rewarded to him by Adolf Hitler himself). After Germany's surrender he was turned over to the Soviet Union and convicted of war crimes, then sentenced to 25 year of imprisonment though he was released in 1955. 4 years after his death the Russian Federation posthumously cleared him of his crimes.
* A Bf 109 appears in the intro movie of *Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe* ambushing two P-47D-25s where it shoots down Red Two, shortly before it gets destroyed by Red One in revenge.

## See Similar Planes

* North American P-51 Mustang
* Supermarine Spitfire