Me 210/410 Zerstörer Units cover

Description

Intended as a progressive development of the twin-engined Bf 110 Zerstörer ('destroyer' or heavy fighter), the Me 210 first took to the air in September 1939. However, due to a lack of sufficient flight-testing before being declared service-ready, the Me 210 suffered from a less than satisfactory reputation in respect to its flight characteristics and weak undercarriage. After enhancements were made to the fuselage and wings, and the power of the plane was increased, the Me 210 became the Me 410 in late 1942.
By this stage of the war much was expected of the two types, which were forced to fly in very dangerous skies over North Africa and in the defence of the German homeland. Both aircraft were deployed as heavy fighters, fighter-bombers, reconnaissance platforms and interceptors, seeing service with a number of different units. The Me 410 was fitted with 30 mm cannon, 21 cm underwing mortars and the colossal 5 cm BK cannon that was intended to pack a punch against the USAAF's four-engined bombers which threatened the Reich in large numbers from 1943 onwards.
In this title, supported by contemporary photography and full-colour artwork, Robert Forsyth tells the complex story of the Me 210 and 410, detailing their development and assessing their capabilities as combat aircraft.

Table of Contents

Chapter One:
The concept of the Zerstörer and the troubled development of the Me 210
Chapter Two:
Under trial
Chapter Three:
Into service (Me 210 – Mediterranean and North Africa and later ops by the Hungarians)
Chapter Four:
Enhancement (development of Me 410)
Chapter Five:
Operations 1943
Chapter Six:
Operations 1944
Appendices
Index

Product details

Published 28 Nov 2019
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472829092
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 80 b/w; 30 col
Series Combat Aircraft
Short code COM 131
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Robert Forsyth

Robert Forsyth is an author, editor and publisher,…

Cover illustrator

Mark Postlethwaite

Mark Postlethwaite was born in Leicestershire in 1…

Illustrator

Jim Laurier

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives i…

Resources

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