Bf 109E-4

[Pathfinder]

Any Bf109 aficionados out there?

I'd like to know of there are any exterior differences between the E-4 variant as apposed to a E-1, E-4, etc.....

I'm only interested in external differences though.

Cheers

[Revi16]

E-1 and E-3 produced at same time. E-1 had four MG 17's, two in upper cowl, two in wing. E-3 had two MG 17's in upper cowl and two MG FF 20mm in wings.

E-4 looks the same as E-3, but with improved MG FF "M" cannon and armour plate for fuel tank and pilots head.
E-4N had improved DB 601N engine.

Quite a few E-1 & E-3's where converted to E-4 keeping thier original Werknummers.

Regards,
Mike

[Kurfürst]

E-4 differred from the E-3 by having 'different' armament. 'Different' because it had MG FF/Ms capable of firing Mine shells, but the gun itself only differed in it`s recoil elements adjusted to the lighter shell.

Externally, I believe the E-4 also had a new type of canopy, a more boxy one, much like as on the 109Fs, whereas the E-3 had more rounded shaped canopy with some curved plexi surfaces.

I am others will turn up here and give a more satisfying answer on the matter.

[_Graf_]

Well you really can't tell 100% of the time between the E-1,-3, and -4. E-1s differ in that they do not have the MF/FF cannon in the wings. E-3s did have the nose 20mm but no external difference from the E-4.

Now the new "squared" off canopy was introduced on the E-4 but many E-1s and E-3s received the new canopies as well. So...

[Andreas Brekken]

Not to mention that from autumn 1940 A LOT of earlier marks E- series Bf 109's were converted to E-7 standard an received both new armament and new canopies + + +



Regards,
Andreas B

[Christian Schulz]

No Emil ever had a MG FF in the nose. Butch2k posted a nice drawing a while back (either at the UbiZoo or SimHQ, can't remember) showing how the installation of the oil tank blocked the space the gun would need. That "E-3 and 20mm nose gun" is a myth repeated over and over again.

[Birgir Thorisson]

Loss records seem to imply that a number of E-1 were still being lost in BoB. Were they still only armed with 4 mgs? Or were the E-1 rearmed without change of number.

Birgir Thorisson.

[RT]

It seems that some E-4 wore the old canopy, concerning the armament, not sure that before the introduction of the M-geschoss the 2+2 was better than 4 MG17..

Remi

[George Hopp]

The squared canopy and armour were added as they became available, and were not confined to specific subtypes during 1940.

[ChrisS]

Hi again

I've just emailed you some 'emil' plans showing the comparative external differences.

Cheers

Chris