Consequently, the RLM decided to continue to further refine the 109 However, the troubled Me.109 replacement was still in development and things at the front were beginning to look ominous for Germany. In essence, the Bf.109 design had reached its peak, and would ideally need to be replaced with newer, more modern designs. The new aircraft had begun to reach front-line units by May 1942. Compared to the much earlier Bf.109B, the Gustav was almost 46% heavier. However, the increased equipment led to heavier weight on the Gustav, in fact 10% heavier than the Friedrich. The heavier guns lead to distinct cowling bulges, needed to cover the breechblocks on the new guns. Instead of the previously standard 7.62mm MG 17 machine guns, 13mm MG 131 heavy machine guns were used. The Gustav also received improved armament. The 605 was basically a DB 601 with the cylinder block redesigned to increase displacement from 33.9 to 35.7 litres, which resulted in 175 extra HP for no significant change in size. The Bf.109G «Gustav» was the most mass-produced variant of the 109, powered by the Daimler-Benz DB 605.
Through constant development, the Bf 109 remained competitive with the latest Allied fighter aircraft until the end of the war. It was also flown by several other aces from Germany's allies, notably Finn Ilmari Juutilainen, the highest scoring non-German ace, and pilots from Italy, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria and Hungary.
The Bf 109 was flown by the three top-scoring German fighter aces of World War II, who claimed 928 victories among them while flying with Jagdgeschwader 52, mainly on the Eastern Front, as well as by Hans-Joachim Marseille, the highest scoring German ace in the North African Campaign. The Bf 109 was the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 units produced from 1936 up to April 1945. It was supplied to and operated by several states during World War II, and served with several countries for many years after the war.
Originally conceived as an interceptor, later models were developed to fulfill multiple tasks, serving as bomber escort, fighter-bomber, day-, night-, all-weather fighter, ground-attack aircraft, and as reconnaissance aircraft. From the end of 1941 the Bf 109 was supplemented by the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. The Bf 109 first saw operational service during the Spanish Civil War and was still in service at the dawn of the jet age at the end of World War II, during which time it was the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force. It was one of the first truly modern fighters of the area, including such features as all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, a retractable landing gear, and was powered by a liquid-cooled, inverted-V12 aero engine. A Tier IIIĪircraft, the Bf 109 G-2/trop has an upfront cost of 400000. The Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2/tropical «Gustav» was a German fighter in service with the Luftwaffe. Note: Base stats only (no upgrade installed)
0 kommentar(er)
