Me-210Ca-1: Hungarian Firepower

[Would you like to see this in-game?]
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0 voters

History:

The Me-210 was intended to supplement and even replace the Bf-110 with an aircraft of much higher performance. It was far more aerodynamic than the Bf-110 allowing it to reach much higher speeds and included features such as a bomb bay in the nose for reduced drag and advanced remote controlled defensive turrets. However, it was far from living up to these expectations and when the first prototype took to the skies in 1939 it suffered from serious aerodynamic issues. Oscillations were common and stability was poor but the worst part were the serious stall issues. Several attempts to remedy these problems such as shifting from twin to single rudder were attempted but had little effect. Out of the 1000 ordered only 90 were complete with 320 incomplete airframes put into storage. The failure of the Me-210 forced Germany to restart production of the Bf-110 which was obsolete at this point in the war and the Me-210 would only return with serious revision years later as the Me-410.

One of the attempts to salvage the Me-210 was the Me-210C which included newer more powerful DB 605 engines as well as lengthening the fuselage by 92cm. Hungarian authorities were satisfied with this revision as a safer alternative to their risky and expensive turboprop powered RMI X/H and so bought the license to produce the aircraft with the deal that 2 out of every 3 produced would go to the luftwaffe. The specific changes made were having DB605B engines, new wings with a sweep back of 4 degrees, and a simplification of the complex armor scheme removing many of the bottom plates. These changes made the Me-210Ca-1 a much better aircraft which served successfully until the end of the war.

me-210ff007

The Hungarians required an aircraft capable of defeating allied bombers from outside the range of their guns and undertook a few projects to equip the Me-210Ca-1 with such a capability. The first of these was to equip the planes with launchers for 15cm Nebelwerfer rockets under the wings. These triple pods were draggy and so were able to be jettisoned after launch.
This was not seen as enough by the engineers so after the rockets had been successfully tested it was decided to include an option for a 40mm 39M bofors autocannon in the front bomb bay. This weapon was loaded by the radio operator/gunner and projected to have a maximum range of 1200m. However, the factory was bombed after only 3 planes had been equipped leading to the end of that program.

0_ME210_136

Here you can see both the rocket pods and the 40mm

Specifications:

Engines: 2x DB605B

At 2300 RPM provides 1075 HP, at 2800 RPM provides 1475 HP, with MW50 methanol-water injection, it could provide 1650 HP

Maximum speed at height: 560km/h at 5000 meters

wingspan: 16,4 meters

height: 3,4 meters

length: 12,96 meters

structural weight: 5400-6400 kgs

maximum take-off weight: 8200-9400 kgs

wing area: 36,2 m2

service ceiling: 10500m

maximum useful loadability: 1600 kgs

maximum bombload: 1000 kgs (with maximum fuel load)

Armament:

2x Nose mounted Mg 151/20 autocannons

2x Nose mounted 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns

2x 13mm Mg 131 machine guns in defensive barbettes

Loadouts:

1x 40mm 39M autocannon in nose bomb bay

6x 15cm Nebelwerfer rockets in 2 pods of 3 each under wing

Up to 1000kg of bombs in various configurations

Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-363-2271-21,_Frankreich,_Flugzeug_Me_210,_Bomben

2x 250kg bombs being loaded into the bay of an Me-210

Gallery

Spoiler



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Details of 40mm installation

Me-210_Ca.2_Hu_graf_HDTSz-2013.oct_AA-Scan-2

Armor Scheme

Me-210-A1-weapons-ships_SC50bombs

50 Kg bombs carried by Me-210

Me-210-DRRT-1638@2x

Me-210Ca-1s after factory was bombed

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Sources:

Spoiler

https://hungarianweaponryww2.wixsite.com/hungarianmilitaryww2/single-post/2018/08/07/aviation

Szextant Blog "https://szextant.blogspot.com": 210.) 210s - Kettőtizesek: Messerschmitt Me 210Ca/410 'Hornisse' & Sud Aviation SE-210 'Caravelle' airliner-jet

Messerschmitt Me 210 - Wikipedia

Luftwaffe Resource Center - Fighters/Destroyers - A Warbirds Resource Group Site

13 Likes

Shouldn’t the one with 40 mm be a separate vehicle rather than a loadout?

4 Likes

It could be a different vehicle considering the T18B and T18B (57) were the same in real life just one had a gun mounted in the bomb bay similar to the Me-210 Ca-1. I do think that it could also be the same vehicle considering there are planes such as the Yak-9UT and Bf-109 K-4 that can switch out their nose mounted guns. Personally I would like it to be the same vehicle as it would provide a more interesting one overall.

5 Likes

Yes! I would like to see my countries planes in game.

I think both the normal and the 40mm variant could be in game.

I just remembered that there was a radar version, for flying in the night. The radar was named Turul. The radar version could be in game as well, can be a premium or something while the others are in the tech tree.

(Turul - a mythological bird, mostly depicted as a falcon, and is a national symbol of Hungarians.)

http://real-j.mtak.hu/11406/5/HT_2013-5_teljes_red.pdf at page 75, there is the radar variant

4 Likes

Me 210 C-1 made in Hungary, all variants included 267-272 (depending on source) of them was ever made, overall 179 (160 originally +19 got back from Germany) was used by RHAF.

Me 210 Ca-1 variants:

Me 210 Ca-1 (Ca-1/A?): Basic fast bomber variant, close to the German prototype Me 210 C, which was a large step towards the Me 410 from the unsuccesful Me 210 A and B.
Its specifications were mostly written down, the only thing I would like to add is all version of the Me 210 Ca-1 was equipped with four external hardpoints in the wing roots for additional bombs, unlike any other Me 210 or 410 version.

Me 210 Ca-1 nehézvadász (Ca-1/B?): heavy fighter variant of the Me 210 Ca-1 with additional armament of 40 mm Bofors L/60 in bomb bay and 3x150 mm Nebelwerfer rockets under each wing. 4 planes modified to this standard (30 was planned).

Me 210 Ca-1 közelfelderítő (Ca-1/C?): close recon variant with extended bomb bay belly, 5 cameras and an operator in the bomb bay. 2 was made.

Me 210 Ca-1/D: night fighter variant with german “BAKE” blind landing system. At least 16 was made.

Me 210 Ca-1/E: far recon variant with the same modifications as the close recon plane, but an additional fuel tank was also added into the rear part of the bomb bay. 3 was made.

Me 210 Ca-1 with Turul (Ca-1/F?): probably the further improvement of the Ca-1/D with Turul radar (based on german FUG X). One prototype was made, low amount of information available.

Planned variant:
Me 210 Ca-1 with Lidérc air-to-air rockets. Development of the proximity fuse of the rocket was not ended before the fall of Budapest. Probably would have been named Ca-1/G, unless the rocket was meant to be a standard armament for Ca-1/B heavy- and/or Ca-1/D and /F night fighters.

7 Likes

Source for Me 210 Ca-1 using 1000 kg bomb (43 M. páncél bomba = PC1000)
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/653585280984416256/1142798921467428874/image.png
It does not mean much, as this 1000 kg bomb has around the same TNT equivalent as a 500 kg bomb SC500, but shows the Me 210 Ca-1 was able to carry a single 1000 kg bomb in its bomb bay. Maybe also SC1000, just like Me 410s - with halfway open bomb bay doors, which is sadly not in the game.

Source:
IV. sz. Kimutatás a m. kir. honvéd légierőnél rendszeresített gp. lőszer- és bombákról

5 Likes

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wavy camo
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4 Likes

Couldnt it also potentially mount the 44m lederc air to air missile? Idk if it was actually done irl but I believe it was an intended armament.

1 Like

It was planned for it, but it wasn’t done.

The lidérc missiles were made in small numbers and were used as ground to ground rockets at the ned of the war. They tested the acoustic sensors and achieved great results, it worked.

Now, the hungarian Me-210 could have Lidérc missiles, but I dont know if it would be a good idea.

2 Likes

Suggestion passed to the developers for consideration.

3 Likes