German aircraft classifications
 

Hello, first time user here. Looking into German aircraft classifications. Reading a book, in German, "Luftkrieg 1939-1945" by Janusz Piekalkiewics. Find numerous references to Schlachtflugzeug & Zerstorer, anybody know what these terms refer to? These are in addition to the more common tems i.e. Jager (fighter, pursuit), Bomber, Aufklarer (reconnaissance) etc. Greatly appreciate any assistance. thanks in advance.

Re: German aircraft classifications
 

Schlachtflugzeug = ground-attack aircraft
Zerstörer = twin-engined heavy fighter

Re: German aircraft classifications
 

Zerstorer is German for destroyer, and also used for the ship class.

Re: German aircraft classifications
 

True, but as far as aircraft are concerned, I don't think the term was used to describe anything except heavy fighters, mainly the 110, 210 and 410.
But IIRC, some early Zerstörer units did have some single engine a/c - 109s? - that might muddy the water a bit.
Peter

Re: German aircraft classifications
 

Yes they did operate the Bf109, but only as a temporary measure due to the early lack of Bf110s. I don't think that's any reason to argue with your identification of the term. Although perhaps the Ju88C/G should be included as a fairly major type in the category. There is some logic to arguing that the Me262 should be included, though it never is. The He219 could be an obvious candidate, but the specialist role of night fighters had overtaken the prewar terminology.

Re: German aircraft classifications
 

Hello all

Interesting question about Zerstörer. Does anyone know about some original document, explaining the term?

Judging by the way Zerstörer units were employed from the beginning of the war the term more likely means high-performance twin-engined multipurpose aircraft. And here is the analogy with the warship.

Re: German aircraft classifications
 

Interesting theory but I remain doubtful of it.

Re: German aircraft classifications
 

Zerstörer is short for Flugzeugzerstörer (aircraft destroyer), perhaps escort fighter would be the appropriate translation. It appears in the November 1935 Flugzeugentwicklungsprogramm and perhaps earlier as well. The Bf 110, FW 57 and Hs 124 were in this category.

Re: German aircraft classifications
 

Destroyer when applied to a ship is short for "torpedo-boat destroyer" ("contre-torpilleur" in French — I just learned that!), intended to come between the capital ships and said torpedo boats. So not a bad analogy for a bomber escort intended to counter lighter opponents.

Re: German aircraft classifications
 

Nick

Yes, it's true. But it is also true that already in the Great War destroyers became multi-purpose ships performing a variety of roles.

Perhaps it would be a strange question, but I'll ask it. What is the source of information, that term Zerstörer means heavy fighter? Is there any LW document explaning it in such a way?


It seems that the German wikipedia supports my interpretation
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zerstörer_(Flugzeug)

Re: German aircraft classifications
 

Exactly, but also true that the Kriegsmarine, which is probably the important analogy in the German context, had both Zerstörer (Z1 et seq.) and Torpedo-Boote (T1 et seq.) throughout the war

Re: German aircraft classifications
 

I will allow myself to quote from the German wikipedia article

Anfang 1934 trat auch das Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) an verschiedene Flugzeughersteller (darunter auch Messerschmitt, Focke-Wulf und Henschel) heran, um ein Mehrzweckflugzeug entsprechend dem Rüstflugzeug II, das auch die Aufgaben eines Zerstörers erfüllen sollte, konstruieren zu lassen. Die offizielle Ausschreibung wurde im Juni 1934 herausgegeben und forderte einen „Kampfzerstörer“