Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber1,2,3,4, Spaten (Spade)1

Heinkel He 111B bomber in Spain in 1937:
Germany's Heinkel He 111B bomber in Spain in 1937
Heinkel He 111B bomber in Spain in 1937:
Germany's Heinkel He 111B bomber in Spain in 1937
Heinkel He 111B bomber in Spain in 1938:
Germany's Heinkel He 111B bomber in Spain in 1938
 
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber under construction:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber under construction
Heinkel He 111H-2 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111H-2 bomber
Heinkel He 111H-6 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111H-6 bomber
Heinkel He 111H-6 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111H-6 bomber
Heinkel He 111H-16 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111H-16 bomber
Heinkel He 111P bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111P bomber
Heinkel He 111Z bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111Z bomber
Heinkel He 111Z bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111Z bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111Z bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111Z bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber
Heinkel He 111 bomber:
Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber

Design

Due to restrictions after World War I the Heinkel He 111 was disguised as an airliner, and flew with Lufthansa starting in 1934.1,4 It however, could be converted into a bomber.1

Crew

The pilot sat on the left, and the bombardier on the right in the cabin.1 There was a gangway that went between the bomb racks back to the rear compartment that held the gunners and radio operator.1

There was a ventral gondola that had a MG in it.1 However, it was called the Sterbebett (Deathbed) as it was very vulnerable to attacks from below.1

Cockpit

The allies soon learned to attack from the front of the He 111 as there was no armor in front.1

The early models had the more normal stepped cockpits.3

Wings

The broad dihedral wings gave excellent stability and the ability for the He 111 to carry heavy loads.1

Fuselage

The fuselage and tail section was made from metal, including the skin.1 The allowed for great durability, and sometimes could even fly with a destroyed elevator.1

Rocket Assist

Rockets could be fitted to help the He 111 take off from short or rough fields or with heavy loads.1

Prototype

The He 111 first flew at Marienehe on February 24, 1934.1,2,3

The He 111H prototype first flew in January 1938.3

The He 111V8 (became the He 111P) prototype first flew in January 1938.3

Production

Over 7,300 He 111s were produced.1,2

Variants

Usage

Models used by which countries:

Early World War II

The He 111s were extensively used in the early German campaigns.3

There were over 400 He 111Hs in service by September 1939.3,4

Spain

The Condor Legion was supplied with the He 111 in the Spanish Civil War.1 They received 30 He 111B-1s in February 1937.2,3

Battle of Britain

The He 111s proved to be vulnerable to the Hurricanes and Spitfires of the Royal Air Force (RAF).4

  Heinkel He 1113 Heinkel He 111B-23 Heinkel He 111H-24 Heinkel He 111H-33 Heinkel He 111H-63 Heinkel He 111H-161,2 Heinkel He 111P-43
Type Medium bomber3 Medium bomber3 Bomber4 Medium bomber3 Medium bomber3 Medium bomber1,2 Medium bomber3
Crew 43 43 54 5 - 63 5 - 63 4 - 51, 52, 5 - 63 4 - 53
Engine (Type)   2: Daimler-Benz DB 600CG3 2: Junkers Jumo 211 A-34 2: Junkers Jumo 211D-13 2: Junkers Jumo 2111F-1/23 2: Junkers Jumo 211F-2 piston1
2: Junkers Jumo 211F piston2
2: Daimler-Benz DB 601A-13
Cylinders   Inverted V 123 V 124 Inverted V 123   Inline2 Inverted V 123
Cooling     Liquid4        
HP   950 each3 1,100 each4 1,200 each3 1,350 each3 1,350 each1,2 1,100 each3
Propeller blades   3 each3   3 each3 3 each3   3 each3
Fuel capacity           Inner wing: 182 gallons1
Inner wing: 700 liters1
 
Dimensions              
Span   74' 1.75"3
22.6 m3
74' 1"4 74' 1.75"3
22.6 m3
74' 1.75"3
22.6 m3
74' 1"1, 74' 1.75"2,3
22.6 m1,2,3
74' 1.75"3
22.6 m3
Length   57' 5"3
17.5 m3
53' 9"4 53' 9.5"3
16.39 m3
53' 9.5"3
16.39 m3
53' 9"1, 53' 9.5"2,3
16.393, 16.4 m1,2
53' 9.5"3
16.39 m3
Height   14' 5.25"3
4.41 m3
13' 1"4 13' 1.5"3
4 m3
13' 1.5"3
4 m3
13' 1"1, 13' 1.25"2,3
3.4 m2, 4 m1,3
13' 1.5"3
4 m3
Wing area           931 ft2 1, 931.07 ft2 2
86.5 m2 1,2
 
Weight              
Empty   12,875 lb3
5,840 kg3
  17,000 lb3
7,711 kg3
  19,096 lb1, 19,136 lb2,3
8,680 kg1,2,3
17,670 lb3
8,015 kg3
Loaded   18,960 lb3
17.5 m3
30,865 lb4     30,800 lb1, 30,865 lb2,3
14,000 kg1,2,3
 
Maximum load   22,046 lb3
10,000 kg3
  30,865 lb3
14,000 kg3
    29,762 lb3
13,500 kg3
Performance              
Speed at sea level   186 mph3
299 kph3
        176 mph3
283 kph3
Speed     252 mph4        
Speed @ 13,120' /
4,000 m
  230 mph3
370 kph3
         
Speed @ 16,400' /
5,000 m
            200 mph3
322 kph3
Speed @ 19,685' /
6,000 m
          252 mph3, 271 mph2
405 kph3, 436 kph2
 
Speed @ 20,000' /
6,000 m
          270 mph1
435 kph1
 
Cruising speed   174 - 214 mph3
280 - 344 kph3
      205 - 239 mph3
330 - 385 kph3
168 - 193 mph3
270 - 310 kph3
Climb to 6,650' /
2,000 m
            14.2 minutes3
Climb to 13,120' /
4,000 m
          23.5 minutes3  
Climb to 19,685' /
6,000 m
          42 minutes2  
Service ceiling   22,966'3
7,000 m3
27,900'4     21,980'2,3, 28,000'1
6,700 m2,3, 8,500 m1
14,765'3
4,500 m3
Range   1,030 miles3
1,657 km3
1,280 miles4     1,200 miles1, 1,212 miles2, 1,280 miles3
1,950 km1,2, 2,060 km3
1,224 miles3
1,970 km3
Range with bomb load   565 miles3
909 km3
         
Armament     6: MG4     1: 20 mm1,3
1: 13 mm1
7: 7.9 mm MG3
9: 7.92 mm MG1
6 or 7: 7.9 mm MG3
Nose   1: 7.9 mm MG3       1: 20 mm MG FF2  
Dorsal   1: 7.9 mm MG3       1: 13 mm MG3
1: 13 mm MG 1312
 
Ventral   1: 7.9 mm MG3       2: 7.2 mm MG 152  
Beam           2: 7.9 mm MG 812  
Bombs   3,307 lb3
1,500 kg3
5,501 lb4     4,409 lb2, 7,165 lb3, 7,775 lb1
2,000 kg2, 3,250 kg3, 3,307 kg1
4,410 lb3
2,000 kg3

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
  2. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
  3. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
  4. World War II Airplanes Volume 1, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
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