Evidence of Me109E's being up-armoured

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

The reference to the Bf 109E/U1 Mods appears on p. 56 of Jan Forsgren's new work on the Bf 109.

Co,.

[harrison987]

ahhhh!

Very cool!

[Snautzer]

There are factory drawings to be found on the net

[harrison987]

ah okay...

Was never able to find anything...

[Kurfürst]

Armoring of the 109 radiators was something that keenly interested Messerschmitt's designers.

Apart from the E-/U1 modifications already mentioned I know there were trials for the 109F's radiators to be protected with S-shaped armor plates behind the duct exist (unsuccessful, as they blocked the airflow too much iirc)

But it appears that they have not give it up, at least the January 1944 description of the 109G-1 base-type also mentions "Kühlerpanzerung" or radiator armor/armored radiators. I have it transcribed in full here, though I am not familiar with the exact execution / placement of this armor (maybe just thicker sheeting acting as deflector plates?) on the 109G. Or it may be similar to the armor arrangement used on the Me 410.


http://www.kurfurst.org/Performance_...html#grundausf


Beschreibung der Grundausführung Me 109 G 1.

Baubeschreibung:


Zelle: Druckkabine, verstärkter Flügel (Holm, Rippen, Be-
plankung) rollengelagerter Vorflügel, Leitugen
für GM 1-Anlag im Flügel und Leitungen sowie Be-
schläge für Reichweiten- und Abwurfwaffenanlage
und Flügelgondebewaffnung; Wasser- und Ölkühler-
automatik, Ölbehälter auf 36 l vergrößert. Rücken-
panzerung und Kopfschutz, Kühlerpanzerung und
Leichtmetallpanzerung.