Messerschmitt Me 210

The Messerschmitt Me 210 was a German twin‑engine heavy fighter developed in the late 1930s as a successor to the Bf 110. First flown in 1939, the aircraft entered operational service in 1941 with the Luftwaffe, but early combat experience revealed serious handling problems, especially a tendency to stall and spin during sharp turns. To rectify these flaws Messerschmitt introduced the Me 210A and later the substantially redesigned Me 210B, which incorporated enlarged vertical stabilizers, revised wing‑root struts and a more powerful DB 605 engine. The aircraft’s principal strengths were its high top speed of about 620 km/h, a clean aerodynamic layout, and a heavy armament package that typically included two 20 mm MG 151 cannons, two 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns and optional under‑wing rockets. Although it never achieved the reputation of the later Me 410, the Me 210 represented an important step in Germany’s attempt to create a fast, long‑range escort fighter and ground‑attack platform. Its development experience directly influenced subsequent Messerschmitt designs, highlighting the challenges of integrating powerful engines with twin‑engine fighter aerodynamics during World II. The Me 210 remains a subject of study for historians and aircraft engineers alike.

Messerschmitt

Messerschmitt Me 210

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification