DB 603 JZ what was it?

[Harold Lake]

I've heard about this possible version of the DB 603, but can't find anything about this engine in "Jane's" or other published books. Does anybody know if it really existed?

Hal

[Revi16]

Maybe this will help?

Regards,
Mike

[Harold Lake]

Well. yes and no. Your source lists the "J" engine but fails to tell us what the "Z" indicated. Zwilling (twin) comes to mind, but that is probably not quite right. Somehow I have the idea it represented some special boosting device, but that is just a wild guess.

Hal

[Revi16]

As you have said, a "possible version" may not have existed.

Regards,
Mike

[Peter Achs]

J/Z means Jäger/Zerstörer-Triebwerk.

This is the unofficially name for the whole power-egg with cowling and cooler etc. It was designed as “Einheitstriebwerk” for fighters and bombers, eg. the 8603 C with DB 603 E, G or L for Ta 152, Me 410 and Do 217 or the 8603 F with DB 603 U for the Ju 388.
The J/Z-Triebwerk was flight tested for the first time in the Me 410/2300 (BN+CY) in October 1943 at Echterdingen (Daimler-Benz).

Regards Peter

[Harold Lake]

Peter,

Thank you very much for your helpful post. Your explaniation is understood and appreciated. But according to the source listing from Revi16, it would appear that their was indeed an actual "J-series" which was based on the DB 603G. If this is the case, then maybe the "Z" would, as you suggest, imply the Einheitstriebwerk "JZ" was a DB 603J but only for Zerstorerflugzeug. Do you think that is possible?

Hal

[Peter Achs]

Sorry, I’m afraid you don’t understand me. J/Z is not a designation for a version of the DB 603-engine. It means generally Jäger-Zerstörer-Triebwerk. (Fighter-destroyer-power-egg). The J/Z-Triebwerk includes the engine, the cowler, the propeller etc. It was the complete unit in front of the “fire wall”.

Designations for J/Z-Triebwerke were 8603 B, 8603 C or 8603 F. Note the “8” in front of the 603, that means, it is an complete power-egg. You can fit every DB 603 in a power-egg, DB 603 A, G, E, L etc.

The designation J/Z was used also by Jumo.

Regards
Peter