He 162 Armament Theories

[LukeFF]

I've read of two different stories surrounding the armament fitted to the He 162. One theory (as supported in David Myhra's book) states the first aircraft were fitted with the MK 108, but later ones had to be fitted with the MG 151/20, since the last German factory producing the 30mm weapon had been overrun by the Soviets. An article at axishistory.com further states the A-2 was "as the A-1" but only with minor differences.

The other theory I've read is the one that states the MK 108, as fitted to the A-1, was too powerful a weapon for the airframe and so it was decided to fit the MG 151/20 and call it the A-2. The A-3 was supposed to be the version that fixed the problems with the MK 108.

So, which theory is correct? Were there MK 108-armed He 162s on hand with JG 1 or not?

[Simon Schatz]

Aktenvermerk Nr. 11/45 12.2. 1945

Punkt 6.

Nach Mitteilung von Oberst Petersen ist die Fertigung 108 ausgefallen und die Serie Junkers mit Auslieferung der Waffen nicht sichergestellt. Es muß geprüft werden, ob genügend Waffen ausgeliefert werden können bzw ob auch bei Junkers vorübergehend 151 eingebaut werden müssen.

MK 108 factory DWM (Posen/Poland) was lost. So they had to change to MG 151. The Junkers production planes (W.Nr. 310XXX) that served with JG 1 had MK 108.

Cheers, Simon

[LukeFF]

Thank you for that information!

Where did the whole theory about the nose section being too weak for the MK 108 originate, anyways?

[O.Menu]

We have many photo proof from He 162 discovered inside their factories, probably Junkers, clearly showing that He162 with Mk 108 were produced up to surrender... So it seems wrong to say that armement was changed for MG 151 cause of nose weakness...

[Simon Schatz]

Sorry, forgot to mention that the Aktenvermerk Nr. 11/45 dated with 12.2. 1945 was from EHW (Ernst Heinkel Production Vienna)

So the 220XXX series had to change to MG 151. It's just the question, when they changed to MG 151. He 162 M29 (first flown 19.2.1945) was fitted with MK 108. It seems that He 162 M32 (W.Nr. 220020, first flown 15.3.1945) was the first A-2 built by EHW. The Heinkel Rostock-Marienehe Series (W.Nr. 120XXX) was just A-2 fitted with MG 151. Junkers Planes (W.Nr. 310XXX) were all built as A-1.

Cheers, Simon