The Messerschmitt Me 262 was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. Although design work began well before the start of World War II, development problems - from the engines to interference from the highest echelons of command - meant the aircraft did not achieve operational status until mid-1944, too late to have the impact required . The Me 262 was more heavily armed and outperformed any Allied aircraft in terms of speed. It served in a number of roles such as light bomber, reconnaissance and experimental night fighter. It was given nicknames dependent on its role, called Schwalbe (German for swallow) in fighter plane versions, or Sturmvogel (German for storm bird) in fighter-bomber versions.
Although war records are patchy, Me 262 pilots claimed that more than 542 Allied aircraft were shot down. Its phenomenal speed made it an extremely difficult target to intercept, but at lower speeds the 262 suffered from reduced performance due to the early jet engine's thrust limitation. Allied pilots soon learned to exploit this trait, attacking the aircraft at its most vulnerable point during takeoff and landing. In the air, Me 262 pilots were relatively safe from Allied aircraft provided they were not drawn into low-speed maneuvering contests.
In order to attack enemy bombers, new tactics had to be developed. Frontal attacks would not work as the rate of closure did not match well with the rate of fire of the mounted Mk 108 guns. When fighting bombers, Me 262 pilots developed a "broadside" attack approach.
The effect of the 262 on the outcome of the war was marred by its late entry. By 1944, German armaments production had shifted to easier-to-manufacture and cheaper aircraft. Only a small number of Me 262s saw service, with only a maximum of 200 reportedly operating at any one time. Nonetheless, the aircraft influenced the development of post-war military jets, capturing examples that were extensively tested by the post-war great powers.
vital statistics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 10.6m
- Span: 12.6m
- Top speed: 900 km/h
- Combat range: 1,050 km
- Armament: 4 × 30mm MK 108 gun (the A-2a had only two guns); 24 × 55 mm (2.2 in) R4M rockets; 2 × 250 kg (550 lb) bombs or 2 × 500 kg (1,100 lb) bombs (A-2a variant)
Contains 6 Warlord Resin aircraft with asset Bases and maps
Warlord Games Unit 1 Central Ct, Finch Cl, Lenton Nottingham NG7 2NN United Kingdom www.warlordgames.com | Imported by: Kutami Fritz-Thiele-Strasse 22 28279 Bremen Deutschland |
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