Messerschmitt Me410 - Versions and operators.Part 2. German Dzib -Compiler-

Versions 

Me 410 A-1 Schnellbomber - fast bomber delivered to the units from January 1943. Armed with two MG 151/20 cannon 20 mm caliber machine guns and two MG 17 7.92 mm caliber, and supported by a second crew member, two MG 131 machine guns caliber 13 mm mounted on a remotely operated firing turrets on the sides of the hull. Bomb chamber located under the cockpit could accommodate 1000 kg weapons, which could consist of: 1 bomb SC-1000 or SD-1000 a weight of 1000 kg, 2 SC-500 bombs of 500 kg, or 8 SC-50 bombs of 50 kg . Additionally, you could hang on brackets under the wings of four SC-50 bombs. Viewfinder type Stuvi bomber dropping bombs 5B allowed to dive.  


A-1/U1 Me 410 - Factory Conversion Kit amending Me 410 A-1 reconnaissance aircraft equipped with a photographic camera type Rb 20/30, Rb 50/30 or Rb 75/30 located in the central part of the hull.   

A-1/U2 Me 410 - Factory Conversion Kit amending Me 410 A-1 in the heavy fighter with additional armament, two MG 151/20 cannon 20 mm caliber ammunition from a supply of 250 units per gun, mounted on a platform placed in Waffenbehalter the bomb bay. 

A-1/U4 Me 410 - Factory Conversion Kit amending Me 410 A-1 in the interceptor to destroy the bombers. Standard equipment mounted on the bow shooting turned into BK 5 gun caliber of 50 mm with a supply of 21 rounds of ammunition contained in a cylindrical tank. Guidance plot takes place through the viewfinder RUF 4a. 

Me 410 A-2 Zerstörer - destroyer, heavy fighter structurally identical to the Me 410 A-1, having the same armament armaments and portability in the bomb bay, but without sight Stuvi 5B and handle bombs under the wings. Additional weapons were to plot MK 103, no aircraft in this version has not been produced. 

Me 410 A-3 Aufklärung - reconnaissance version was due to a small set of conversion options A-1/U1 Me 410. In order to accommodate other photographic camera was removed two MG 17 machine guns, calibers 7.92 mm with the bow and modified hull bottom line. In place of the bomb bay camera installed two Rb 20/30, Rb 50/30 or Rb 75/30. Me 410 A-3 entered service in limited numbers at the beginning of 1944 and replenished one unit on the western front and two on the east. 

Me 410 B-1 - standard version produced since April 1944, the successor to Me 410 A, equipped with new, more powerful engines, Daimler-Benz DB 603AA inverted V with a capacity of 1670 hp (1227 kW) each. External dimensions of the new version were the same as the Me 410 A-1/U2. Curb weight 7982 kg of the new aircraft and the start 11237 kg. Top speed increased to 630 km / h at an altitude of 8100 m. Because of the identical size and portability of Military Me 410 B-1 completely replaces version A rapidly becoming the primary bomber. 

Me 410 B-2 - the equivalent of a series of Me 410 A-2 Zerstörer, has appeared in many variants. Rifle armament guns were at 2 MK 103 and MG 151/20 and four guns, 131st MG 

B-2/U2 Me 410 - Factory Conversion Kit amending Me 410 B-2 in fighter equipped with additional armament, two MG 151/20 cannon 20 mm caliber ammunition from a supply of 250 units per gun, mounted on a platform placed in the chamber Waffenbehalter bomb (same set as for the Me 410 A-1/U2). 

B-2/U4 Me 410 - Factory Conversion Kit amending Me 410 A-2 interceptor to destroy the bombers. Rifle armament was two MK 151 cannon caliber of 20mm and a BK 5 gun caliber of 50 mm with a supply of 21 rounds of ammunition. 

Me 410 B-2 + R2 - half modified by adding two plots MK 108 30 mm caliber. 

Me 410 B-2 + R 3 - half modified by adding two plots MK 103 30 mm caliber. 

Me 410 B-2 + R4 - half modified by adding two plots MG 151/20 20 mm caliber. 
 
Me 410 B-2 + R 5 - half modified by adding four parcels MG 151/20 20 mm caliber. 
 
Me 410 B-3 - a long-range reconnaissance aircraft the equivalent of Me 410 A-3 and with the same alterations of the hull and the bomb bay.  

Me 410 B-5 - built in a small number version of the experimental aircraft torpedo. Modify the removal took MG 17 machine guns and adding radar to track targets FuG 200 Hohentweil surface. The aircraft was also designed to carry one torpedo LT F5b weighing 900 kg, one torpedo LT5i weighing 760 kg, one SC-1800 bomb weighing 1800 kg of bombs or two torpedoes-BT-400 weighing 400 kg each, or six bomb- BT-200 torpedoes weighing 200 kg each (two under the fuselage and two under the wings). It was also possible to mount an additional 700 liter fuel tank in place of the firing position, and because the weapons were moved outside the aircraft, a second tank with a capacity of 650 liters in the bomb bay.  

Me 410 B-6 - version of the heavy fighter optimized for the needs of coastal protection and attack surface targets and submarines equipped with radar FuG 200 Hohentwiel and armament consisting of two parcels MK 103 30 mm caliber, two plots MG 151/20 20 mm caliber and two MG 131 machine guns caliber 13 mm.

Me 410 B-7 - experimental version was built in a small number of copies as the day fighter-reconnaissance.
 
Me 410 B-8 - the next test version was built in several copies, suitable for the role of a night fighter and reconnaissance aircraft capable of night to carry flares illuminating in the bomb bay.
 
Me 410 C - planned for early 1944 version with improved performance and capacity weapons, optionally equipped with radar to perform tasks of a night fighter. Designed two types of new wing of increased span of 18.25 and 20.45 m, providing for the application of new power units of Daimler-Benz DB 603JZ, Junkers Jumo 213E/JZ or driving a new BMW 801TJ czterołopatowe propeller. Due to the bombing of German factories abandoned continuation of this project before building a prototype.

D Me 410 - intended to replace the version of the Me 410 had a C drive engines, Daimler-Benz DB 603JZ, and the hull had to be redesigned to reduce drag and improve visibility from the cockpit. Furthermore, both the wing and fuselage were to be covered with wood because of the deficit of light metal alloys. The project was abandoned due to problems with the strength of the wood. 

Me 410 H - to replace the temporary version of the Me 410 D, identical to the Me 410 B-2. Differences include larger wingspan of up to 23 meters.

Operators 

Germany

• Luftwaffe was Me 410 main operator during 1943-45
• Stabsschwarm & 2.(F)/Aufklärungsgruppe 22
• 1.(F)/Aufklärungsgruppe 33
• 1.(F)/FAGr.121
• 1.,2(Ekdo).,5.(F)/Aufklärungsgruppe 122
• Seenotgruppe 80 (sea recon)
• 9.,20./ZG 1 'Wespen'
• 2.,4.,6.,Stab/ZG 26 'Horst Wessel'
• 1.,2.,3.,/ZG 76
• Eprobungskommando/(Z)25
• 5.(nacht),14.(nacht),15.,16./KG 2 (night intruder)
• 1.(Jagd),2.(nacht),5.(Erg/jagd),6./KG 51 'Edelweiss' (long-range night ops)
• 1./NJG 5 (Mosquito chaser)
• 3./NJG 1 (Mosquito chaser)
   

United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force received at least two captured aircraft during war and shortly after.
• No. 1426 Flight RAF operated a single Me 410 A-1/U2 (WNr.10259, RAF serial TF209) during the war.

Soviet Union

•  Soviet Air Force tested at least one captured Me 410 B-2/U4 (WNr.130379) after the war. 

 

Surviving aircraft

Me 410, W.Nr.10018, (FE499) after being sent to the United States

 

Two Me 410s survive today:

Me 410 A-1/U1 (W.Nr.10018, converted from Me 210 airframe)

This Aircraft held by the American National Air and Space Museum and stored awaiting restoration, at the Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility. It was found intact at an airfield in Trapani, Sicily, in August 1943 and was shipped to the United States in 1944; it was given the US serial number FE499, ⁽⁷⁾

Me 410, W.Nr.420430, RAF Museum Cosford (2009)

Me 410 A-1/U2 (W.Nr.420430)

This aircraft is part of the collection of the RAF Museum and is publicly displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford. It was built in late 1943 by Messerschmitt in Augsburg. There is evidence it served with Zerstörergeschwader 26 before being surrendered at Vaerlose, Denmark in May 1945. It was one of six Me 410s that were taken to the UK in 1945 for evaluation, but the only one to be later selected for preservation and to avoid being scrapped. It underwent restoration in 1986, after which both engines were successfully run on the ground. It was moved to Cosford in 1989 and has remained there since. ⁽⁸⁾