4 x 7,92 mm MG 17 machine guns 1 x 7,92 mm MG 15 for defense
The Messerschmitt Bf110 (later Me110) was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
History
Based around the concept of the long-range Zerstörer or "Destroyer Fighter" the Bf110 enjoyed some success in the Polish and French campaigns. However, the Battle of Britain revealed its fatal weaknesses as a daylight fighter against more maneuverable single-engine aircraft. Eventually withdrawn from daylight fighting, the Bf110 enjoyed later success as a night fighter where its range, firepower and ability to mount a radar stood it in good stead. It was also used as a ground attack aircraft starting with the C-4/B model. Later on there were dedicated ground attack versions which proved reasonably successful. All in all the Bf-110 served the Luftwaffe very well in various roles, except in its intended role as a heavy fighter.
After The Battle of Britain Bf-110 units largely moved to the Russian and Mediterranean theatres of war. The production of the Bf-110 was put on a low priority in 1941 and stepped up again in 1942 after the development of the Me-210, the Bf-110's intended successor, proved to be unsuccessful.
Armament
Early versions had four MG 17 machine guns and two 20 mm MG FF/M cannons fitted in the nose. Later versions replaced these with the more powerful 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons and many G-series aircraft had two 30 mm MK 108 cannons fitted instead of the MG 17. The defensive armamanet consisted of a single, flexible mounted MG 15 machine gun. Late F-series and prototype G-series got this upgraded to a 7,92 mm MG 81 machine gun with a higher rate of fire and the G-series was equipped with the twin-version MG 81Z.
The fighter-bomber versions could carry up to 2,000 kg of bombs depending on the type. Many G-series night fighters were built with the Schräge Musik off-bore gun system for shooting down bombers while passing underneath.
Rather than protecting the bombers under escort, the Bf 110C formations usually found that they were hard put to defend themselves, and the farcical situation developed in which single-seat Bf 109E fighters were having to afford protection to the escort fighters.
The last version, the Bf 110G, was intended for use originally as a fighter-bomber but, in view of the success of the F-4 and the increasingly heavy attacks on Germany by Allied bombers, was employed mostly as a night fighter.
It was in a Bf110 that Rudolf Hess, Deputy Fuhrer of Germany, flew solo to Scotland on the night of May 10,1941, in the hope of negotiating peace terms with Britain, without Hitler's knowledge.
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