Bf 109
From Battleground Europe Wiki
Contents |
Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1
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| Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1 | |
|---|---|
| Specifications | |
| Type | Fighter |
| Armament | 4 x 7.92 mm MG-17 Machine Guns |
| Crew | 1 pilot |
| Weight | 2,573 kg |
| Top Speed | 565 km/h |
History
Almost doomed by the bureaucracy of the RLM prior to its maiden flight, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 went on to become the most numerously produced German fighter of the war. Its design was simple; a compact slender airframe with plenty of power and a heavy gun package.
The Bf 109 combat lineage began with the Spanish Civil war when in October 1936 a handful of early Bf 109 prototypes were hastily sent as reinforcement to the embattled Nationalist air force. All in all some 140 Bf 109s of different variants were engaged in Spain between 1936 and 1939. Thus, by the outbreak of WWII the E model was a combat tested fighter aircraft of proven quality. Equally important, the 'field test' in Spain had given its pilots and leaders plenty of experience with this new generation of high-speed monoplane aircraft that led to development of new tactics and procedures that have held true through to this day.
The Bf 109 enjoyed a good turn of speed and a very high rate of climb as its most useful performance attributes, and good combat pilots learned how to employ this against opponents who could not climb as quickly. The 109 series had certain shortcomings, chief among them a very short operational range, a narrow and cramped cockpit and bad handling on bumpy grass airstrips due to the very narrow landing gear footprint.
The Bf 109E-1, first fielded in 1939, was the first variant to feature the excellent DB 601 engine. With four rifle-calibre machine guns it has the lightest firepower of all Bf 109 variants. This same lightness also makes it the most manoeuvrable of all variants, especially in turn radius. Though its weaponry carries less punch than later variants the E-1 machine guns are belted with incendiary ammunition and offer a high rate of fire that ultimately yields more destructive power than a cursory glance may lead you to believe.
NOTE: the Bf = Me, as in Me-109. For a time Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (Bavarian Aircraft Works) was the name of the company, before it was reconstituted as Messerschmitt AG on July 11, 1938 (with Willy Messerschmitt as chairman and managing director). The renaming of BFW resulted in the company's RLM designation changing from Bf to Me. Existing types, such as the Bf 109 and 110, retained their earlier designation in official documents, although sometimes the newer designations were used as well. In practise, all BFW/Messerschmitt aircraft from 108 to 163 (not the same plane as the Me 163) were prefixed Bf, all later types with Me.
Game Play
The Bf 109E-1 is the "turningest" of all German fighters in the WWIIOL:BE inventory. Light, fast and nimble, this aircraft possesses all the traits vital to an air superiority fighter. It does almost everything better than the opposition in its tier: it is superior in climb, in level speed and in dive performance. These traits allows it to attain superior altitude with which it can dominate any contender, and to engage and disengage at will - features a true energy fighter will appreciate.
The E-1 can hold its own in a turning fight as well: it rolls well, its initial and sustained rate of turn is superlative and it can go toe to toe with any enemy fighter in its tier. While the E-1 may not be able to out-turn a Hurricane or a H-75 in a prolonged stall fight on the deck, it can easily dominate these opponents by operating in the vertical.
Although lacking cannons, its four machine guns pack a considerable punch: a high rate of fire, a high muzzle velocity, and a plentiful allowance of hard-hitting incendiary ammunition is more than sufficient to down any target - though you will need to fly close to your man and fire a concentrated volley.
The Bf 109E-1 sports, or lacks, one other conspicious feature: it has no armour plate behind the pilot's head (though the seat itself is armoured). This gives the pilot an unrestricted view aft at the price of a more vulnerable head. A clear view gives the pilot better situational awareness, a feature that is incomparably more valuable than any piece of armour.
The pilot who masters the Bf 109E-1 will eventually notice how much it has in common with the E-4 variant, and appreciate it for its clean and unladen character - the E-1 is a true hot rod for the low ranked new pilot, but it demands good shooting discipline to give its best.
Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4
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| Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 | |
|---|---|
| Specifications | |
| Type | Fighter |
| Armament | 2 x 20 mm Cannon, 2 x 7.92 mm MG-17 Machine Guns |
| Crew | 1 pilot |
| Weight | 2,608 kg |
| Top Speed | 576 km/h |
History
Deployed in quantity during the spring of 1940, the Bf 109E-4 variant was a significant upgrade over the original Emils. The original DB 601A-1 powerplant was replaced by the more powerful DB 601Aa, and firepower was vastly improved in weight of fire and destructive potential as each wing now carried a 20mm MG-FF/M cannon.
Game Play
The Bf 109E-4 variant is fast and carries the heaviest armament of the Bf 109 series until the later G variant is introduced, with two 20mm cannon in the wings. However, with only 60 rounds per gun it pays to get close and only fire when certain to score a hit. Light and nimble and possessing of excellent dive characteristics, the Bf 109E-4 can mix it up in circling combats as well as stick to fast diving attacks. The Emil can be effective against any enemy type using coordinated wingman tactics, but when fighting without such support the pilot must rely on its speed and climb rate to survive an encounter against bad odds. Combine its overall good performance with a cool headed and confident pilot and the E can hold its own through an entire campaign. In the early stages of a WWIOL:BE campaign the Bf 109E does well to avoid typical protracted dogfights as all Allied aircraft can out turn the Bf 109E-4 if it isn't using vertical moves. Climbing, spiralling turns with even a small initial energy advantage, followed by slashing high-speed attacks, is the Bf 109E's forte. As the campaign progresses the Bf 109E-4 loses its speed advantage but gains in relative turn radius ability, requiring (and allowing) the pilot to rethink his approach to air combat.
While it is difficult for many players to grasp the advantages of a climbing turn style of combat, where the ability to bleed your opponent's energy to the point of stall while you remain above them awaiting the moment to drop on their head like a sledge hammer, it remains one of the most effective forms of air superiority combat tactics you can learn and master.
Another tactic that works well in the 109E is the scissors style where a series of slicing reversals one after another can be used to force a pursuing fighter with a better turn rate (but a slower roll rate) out in front of your guns. Again, this is a difficult style of combat to learn but extremely effective if you ever do manage to learn how to master such a method.
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Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2
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| Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2 | |
|---|---|
| Specifications | |
| Type | Fighter |
| Armament | 1 x 15 mm MG151 Cannon, 2 x 7.92 mm MG-17 Machine Guns |
| Crew | 1 pilot |
| Weight | 2,750 kg |
| Top Speed | 601 km/h |
History
Considered by many to be the ultimate expression of the 109 line, the Bf 109F was an improved model over the 109E in almost all respects. It boasted a much higher climb rate and top speed.
While its armament was reduced in terms of mounted cannons (only 1 in place of the previous 2) the centerline mounted "Motor Kanon" firing between the cylinders and though the spinner eliminated convergence issues and favored accurate shooters. The downside was that combat reports tended to claim that for average or less accurate shooters it was more difficult to down enemy fighters with one centerline cannon than had previously been noted with the earlier 2 wing mounted cannons of the 109E series.
Game play
The Bf 109F is a favorite fighter for those that cherish climbrate and know how to use both it and speed to create good shooting solutions, rather than just to set off and run at the first sign of trouble. For their opponents however it remains that the “run away” element of speed being a chief performance attribute is all they ever see or all that most ever *seem* to be able to see. For it’s time the Bf 109F is the fastest and the best climbing fighter available in Battleground Europe. Belting in the MG151/15 15mm cannon is basically AP-AP-AP-AP-HE taking advantage of the high velocity shells to get the kill, however the kill zone of pilot and engine is much smaller, meaning better marksmanship, but with 200 rounds and flat trajectory the chance of a kill are better.
Notes
Before the release of version 1.31.2, the Bf 109F-1 was used. That aircraft possessed a 20 mm MG-FF/M Cannon. The major downside to the F-1's centerline MG-FF/M was its slow rate of fire and 60 round magazine, requiring better marksmanship to achieve hits on target.
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Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4
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| Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 | |
|---|---|
| Specifications | |
| Type | Fighter |
| Armament | 1x 20 mm MG-151/20 Cannon 2x 7.92 mm MG-17 Machine Guns |
| Crew | 1 pilot |
| Weight | 2,922 kg |
| Top Speed | 635 km/h |
History
The first versions of the MG-151 15mm cannon installed in 109F-2 and F-3 was found to be lacking in damage potential despite the much higher rate of fire and much larger capacity over the MG-FF/M. It did not take long for Mauser to successfully adapt its 20mm rounds from the MG-FF/M to the MG-151, now designated the MG-151/20, the 20 being for 20mm.
With this potent new 20mm cannon, the 109F-4 had the speed, maneuverability, and firepower to take on anything the Allied air forces could put in the air at that time.
Gameplay
Up close and with a good gunner on the trigger, the more powerful MG151 (over the MGFF of the 109E) can rip any aircraft apart, and even at longer ranges and higher deflection the rounds greater velocity over the earlier 20mm cannons will give you better shot opportubities. The “Franz” is a fighter for true “experten” pilots, it will reward the studied and practiced pilot who employs skill and training in his fighting at all times, while at the same time it will quickly betray any over confidence and foolhardiness.
The Franz will turn competitively with Allied fighters, and with some creative flap usage it can even out turn some of them, but it remains true that to rely on turning alone is a bad choice in a plane that employs speed and climb to better advantage than it can its turn rate. It doesn’t turn well enough to let you rely on that aspect of air to air combat, and unless you are extremely confident in your ability you will die a lot trying to use the 109F as a pure turnfighter. The edge in this plane is its power to weight ratio and low drag. These combine to give it exemplary climb performance at any altitude. Indeed when all your cards are played out, a tight spiral climb can leave almost all opponents stalling below you, so remember that your exit in the Franz can be above you as much as below. Climbing tactics and vertical fight management is more important than with many other aircraft, and this is an attribute shared by all the Bf109 series, no matter which varient it is.
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Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/U4
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| Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/U4 | |
|---|---|
| Specifications | |
| Type | Fighter Interceptor |
| Armament | 1x 30 mm MK 108 cannon 2x 13 mm MG-131 machine guns |
| Crew | 1 pilot |
| Weight | 3,122 kg |
| Top Speed | 630 kph |
The Bf-109G was an improved model over the Bf-109F in some respects, but not in others. It boasted a high climb rate and top speed, but it was no faster than the F in its earlier versions without MW50 injection. And its extra weight meant it didn't climb quite as well, although it still outclimbed the Allied aircraft, except for the Spitfire IX. The biggest surprise for those caught in its gun sights is going to be the "melon launcher" 30 mm Mk 108 cannon firing HE Mine rounds. This hits with roughly the same authority as a 40 mm Bofors round! However, the increased weight does hurt its turn performance over the lighter, more nimble 109F. The upside of this is that it's actually a little more stable in violent manuevering as a result of the loss of all that edgy nimbleness in its leaner sister. Those who can't handle the feeling of instability in the 109F may find the heavier G more to their liking.
Game Play
The MK-108 cannon has a short reliable ballistic range, so you need to be close to your target to expect a good chance of a hit, and you only have 60 rounds to shoot with. The good news is the two cowl mounted MG-131 (13mm) HMG's are nearly as good as the Browing .50 (12.7mm) HMG, so it has the range and punch you need to quickly damage fleeing or maneuvering targets. If you are a smart and accurate shooter you should run out of the 13mm before you run out of the 30mm's.
| Air Units in Battleground Europe |
|---|
| Aircraft |
| Bf 109E-1 | Bf 109E-4 | Bf 109F-4 | Bf 109G-6/U4 | Bf 110C-4 | Bf 110C-4/B | Blenheim IF | Blenheim IV | C47 'Skytrain' | Dewoitine D.520 | Douglas DB-7 | Fw 190A-4 | Havoc Mk.I | Hawk 75 | Hawk 81 | Hawk 87 | Heinkel 111 | Hurricane Mk I | Hurricane Mk IIb | Hurricane Mk IIc | Junkers 52 | Junkers 87 'Stuka' | P-38 'Lightning' | P-39 Spitfire Mk Ia | Spitfire Mk Ib | Spitfire Mk Vb | Spitfire Mk IXc |
