1940: Minengeschoss and MG FF/M cannon (Me 109 and 110)
 

Hello,

Does someone know more or less exactly WHEN the "Minengeschoss" for 20 mm MG FF/M cannon was introduced?

I think it was a few weeks after the start of the BoB. Who knows more?

Was Minengeschoss-ammo used by Me 109 Fs (Friedrich) from 1941 on?

(The MG FF/M was specially designed to fire Minengeschoss-ammunition. It could not fire the preceding ammo for the previous (standard) MG FF.)

"Minengeschoss" : Geschoss means projectile, missile fired by a gun. "Minen" means that they reduced the quantity of steel in the hull of the 20 mm shell and filled in more explosive, making the whole more destructive.

Thanks in advance.

After 1940: Minengeschoss and MG FF/M cannon (Me 109 and 110)
 

CORRECTION:

It seems very likely that MG FF/M and "Minengeschoss" (shell containing more explosive) were used in MG 151/20 too, approximately from June 1941 on.

A published combat report by Adolf Galland mentions various kinds of ammo used by the same MG 151/20 cannon, like SmK etc., and Minengeschoss too.

Re: 1940: Minengeschoss and MG FF/M cannon (Me 109 and 110)
 

Three deciphered signals from 1940:

CX/JQ/2
29.5.40
10. On 28/5 ZG 26 was asking for immediate delivery of 26,000 rounds of 2 cm. FFM and a further 4,000 rounds as soon as possible.

CX/JQ/15
2.6.40
26. On 1/6 LG Stab z.b.V. urgently asked that 60,000 rounds of 2 cm FF and FFM ammunition, as well as 300 KC 250 Flak (ammunition ?) should be sent to Guise-Northeast. (B)

CX/JQ/90
27.6.40
T5 1. It was reported about midday 27/6 that III./ZG 26 had landed at aerodrome Barly. It needs FFM ammunition very urgently as the altered Me 110 no longer fires FF ammunition. Same quantity of FFM is required as formerly of FF. (A)

Ammo for Me 110 and 109
 

Wow, very interesting, many thanks. So the FFM ammo was used much earlier than I thought but probably not by all German fighters. It seems that the early production was too low, which is normal.

And they certainly needed some time to re-equip all 109s and 110s with the new MG FF/M cannon or the modified ol' MG FF.

Re: 1940: Minengeschoss and MG FF/M cannon (Me 109 and 110)
 

CX/JQ/152 20/7/40
22. Learnt on 19/7 that JG 2 is to be rearmed during July with 2 cm FF M machine guns in so far as this has not already been done. In order that the necessary number of machine guns may be computed, JG 2 is to report by 21/7 the number of a/c bearing at present: 1) MG FF A 2) MG FF B 3) MG 17. (A)

CX/JQ/162 22/7/40
3. On 22/7 Fliegerkorps 5 told JG 2 that during July all fighter and heavy fighter units equipped with Me 109 E-4 and Me 110 C-4 to be re-armed with “MG FF M”. Consequently all Me 109 E-3 and Me 110 C-2 were to change their Feder (springs) and Schienen (struts) accordingly. The necessary new parts were ready in Luftpark St. Cyr and could be fetched from there. In future, new machines would come from the factories ready equipped. (A)

Re: 1940: Minengeschoss and MG FF/M cannon (Me 109 and 110)
 

MG FF/M and MG 151/20 fired the same projectiles from different cartridges, the latter had larger cartridges and thus more propellant

Re: 1940: Minengeschoss and MG FF/M cannon (Me 109 and 110)
 

Some information here:

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/mg151.html