Messerschmitt Bf 109 - Bf 109A/B/C

The planned Bf 109A series was canceled before production begun, because of its weak armament (it was planned to have only two nose-mounted machine guns). Instead of this, the Bf 109 V4 was constructed, carrying a third MG 17, mounted behind the engine, firing through the propeller axis. In the following three prototype planes (V5, V6, V7), the new Jumo 210B engine was installed. They also were armed with three machine guns and were identical to the Bf 109B-0 pre-production series.

The first Bf 109 model that went in serial production, the B-1, was fitted with the more powerful Jumo 210D engine. When the new Jumo 210E engine (rated at 670 hp (493 kW)) was developed, it was fitted to the cell of the Bf 109B, resulting in the Bf 109B-2. Both the B-1 and B-2 versions saw combat with the Legion Condor during the Spanish Civil War, in the process demonstrating that the armament was still inadequate. Thus the Bf 109 V8 was constructed to test the fitting of two more machine guns in the wings. In the following V9 prototype both wing guns were replaced by 20 mm MG FF cannons.

The short-lived Bf 109C series comprised the C-0 pre-production series, carrying four MG 17 machine guns; the identical C-1; and the C-2, which was armed with an additional machine gun in the nose, making a total of five MG 17 machine guns. The C-3 was tested with one 20 mm MG FF cannon in each wing, but only one prototype was ever produced.

The next model, the V10 prototype, was identical to the V8, except for its Jumo 210Ga engine (later models carried a Daimler-Benz DB600A). The V10, V11, V12 and V13 prototypes were built using Bf 109B airframes, and tested the DB600A engine with the hope of increasing the performance of the aircraft. However the DB600A was found to be unreliable, and as the improved DB601A was to soon become available the DB600A was dropped.

Messerschmitt Bf 109 - Bf 109D Dora

Developed from the V10 and V13 prototypes, the Dora was the stansard version of the Bf 109 in service with the Luftwaffe during the period just before World War Two. Despite this, the type saw only limited service during the war, as all of the 235 Doras still in service at the beginning of the Polish campaign were rapidly taken out of service and replaced by the Bf 109E. Varients included D-0 and D-1 Models, both with a Junkers Jumo 210 engine and armed with two wing-mounted and two nose-mounted 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns. The D-2 was armed with two MG 17 in the wings, and the D-3 with two 20mm MG FF cannon in the wings.