The Messerschmitt 210 was intended to replace the effective yet outdated Bf 110 fighter-bomber. Then, after dozens of enhancements, the Me 210 evolved into the Me 410 Hornet in 1942.
The German Me 410 quickly proved its value as a bomber destroyer thanks to its array of armament, which comprised underwing mortars, 30-millimeter cannons, and a colossal 5-centimeter BK cannon.
It was also used as a fighter-bomber, heavy fighter, reconnaissance platform, and bomber interceptor, becoming a nightmare for the American B17 formations after realizing that one shot from the Hornet’s BK cannon was more than enough to neutralize them.
The Me 410 night bomber proved to be an elusive target for the RAF night fighters. The first unit to operate over the UK was V./KG 2, which lost its first Me 410 on the night of 13–14 July 1943, when it was shot down by a de Havilland Mosquito of No. 85 Squadron RAF.
The Me 410 was also used as a bomber destroyer against the daylight bomber formations of the USAAF, upgraded with Umrüst-Bausätze factory conversion kits, all bearing a /U suffix, for the design — these suffixes could vary in meaning between subtypes.
As one example, the earlier Me 410 A-1/U1 designation signified a camera-fitting in the under-nose ordnance bay for reconnaissance use (as the A-3 was meant to do from its start), while the Me 410 B-2/U1 designation signified a mount of a pair of the long barreled, 30 mm MK 103 cannon in the undernose ordnance bay.
The /U2 suffix designated a fitment of two additional 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons in the under-nose ordnance bay instead — the A-1/U4 subtype fitted the massive, 540 kg (1,190 lb) weight Bordkanone series 50 mm (2 in) BK 5 cannon, loaded with 21 rounds in the same undernose ordnance bay in place of either the /U1’s cameras or MK 103s, or the /U2’s added pair of MG 151/20 autocannon.
For breaking up the bomber formations, many Me 410s also had four underwing tubular launchers, two per wing panel, firing converted 21 cm (8 in) Werfer-Granate 21 infantry barrage rockets. Two Geschwader, Zerstörergeschwader 26 and 76, were thus equipped with the Me 410 by late 1943.
Even the Fuhrer was mesmerized by the Hornet’s effectiveness and named it “The backbone of the home air defense,” trusting that it would keep the Allied air forces at bay. However, its development took several wrong turns, which resulted in several casualties, putting Hitler’s high hopes into question…
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