Germany's Heinkel He 111 bomber1,2,3,4, Spaten (Spade)1
Heinkel He 111B bomber in Spain in 1937: |
Heinkel He 111B bomber in Spain in 1937: |
Heinkel He 111B bomber in Spain in 1938: |
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Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber under construction: |
Heinkel He 111H-2 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111H-6 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111H-6 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111H-16 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111P bomber: |
Heinkel He 111Z bomber: |
Heinkel He 111Z bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111Z bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
Heinkel He 111 bomber: |
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
- Heinkel He 111A: 103
- Heinkel He 111B: ~3003
- Heinkel He 111C: 53
- Heinkel He 111E: ~1903
- Heinkel He 111F: 703
- Heinkel He 111G: 103
- Heinkel He 111H: ~6,2003
- Produced from 1938 to 1944.3
- Heinkel He 111J: 903
- Heinkel He 111P: ~4003
- Produced from 1938 to 1940.3
- Total: nearly 7,0004, over 7,3001,2,3
- Manufacturer: Ernst Heinkel A.G.4
Variants
- Heinkel He 111V1: Prototype.3 Had BMW 6.0Z (660 HP) engines.3
- Heinkel He 111V2: Transport prototype.3 Had seats for 10.3 Had BMW 6.0Z (660 HP) engines.3
- Heinkel He 111V7: Prototype with DB 601Aa engines.3
- Heinkel He 111V8: A modified He 111B-0 with a new nose.3
- Heinkel He 111A: Pre production with BMW engines.3
- Heinkel He 111B-1: Had stepped wind screen and elliptical leading edges on the wings.2 Had Daimler-Benz DB 600 engines.3
- Heinkel He 111B-2: Had Daimler-Benz DB 600 engines.3 Had coolant radiators on each side of the engines below the wings.3
- Heinkel He 111C: Transport.3 Carried 10 passengers.3
- Heinkel He 111D: Experimental.3 Had new DB 600 engines.3
- Heinkel He 111E: Had Junkers Jumo engines.3 Larger bomb load.3
- Heinkel He 111E-4: Had bomb racks under the wings.3
- Heinkel He 111F: Straight leading wing edge.2 Jumo engines.3
- Heinkel He 111G: Had BMW 132 or DB 600 engines.3
- Heinkel He 111H: Had fully glazed nose with no wind screen steps.3 Had Junkers Jumo 211 engines.2 Went to units in 1939.4
- Heinkel He 111H-2: Increased armor.3 More defensive armament.3
- Heinkel He 111H-3: Bombing and anti shipping.3 20 mm cannon in nose.3
- Heinkel He 111H-4: Had Junkers Jumo 211D-1 engines (1,400 HP).3 Racks for bombs under the wings.3
- Heinkel He 111H-5: More fuel.3 Only carried external bombs.3
- Heinkel He 111H-6: Had Junkers Jumo 211F-1/2 engines.3 Larger bomb load.3 Could carry torpedo.2 First to units in 1941.4 Used successfully against Atlantic convoys.4
- Heinkel He 111H-8: Had a balloon cable fender.2
- Heinkel He 111H-10: Night bomber version.3 First to units in 1943.4 Larger bomb loads.4
- Heinkel He 111H-11: Dorsal gun was completely enclosed.3 Defensive armament was changed.3
- Heinkel He 111H-11/R2: Glider tug for the Go 242.2
- Heinkel He 111H-12: Could launch tow Henschel Hs 293A, FuG 203, or FuG 230 missiles.3,4 First to units in 1943.4 Larger bomb loads.4
- Heinkel He 111H-14: Pathfinder version with special radio.2,3
- Heinkel He 111H-15: Torpedo version.2
- Heinkel He 111H-16: Had an increase in armament.2,3 Built by license in Spain after World War II.4
- Heinkel He 111H-18: Pathfinder version with special radio.2 Night bomber.3
- Heinkel He 111H-20: A transport that could carry 16 paratroopers.2,3 Could tow a glider.3
- Heinkel He 111H-21: Had Junkers Jumo 213 engine (1,750 HP).3
- Heinkel He 111H-22: Carried a Fi 103 missile.2 Could carry V1 under port wing.3
- Heinkel He 111H-23: Transport to carry eight paratroopers.3,4 First to units in 1944.4
- Heinkel He 111J: Torpedo bomber.3 Had DB 600 engines.3
- Heinkel He 111P: Had a fully glazed asymmetric nose with no wind screen steps.2,3 Had a DB 601Aa engine.2 Delivered in 1939.2
- Heinkel He 111P-0: Pre production that appeared in 1938.3
- Heinkel He 111P-1: Deliveries began in early 1939.3
- Heinkel He 111P-2: Deliveries began in May 1939.3 Had new radio equipment.3
- Heinkel He 111P-3: Dual control trainer.3
- Heinkel He 111P-4: Heavier armor.3 More defensive armament.3
- Heinkel He 111P-6: Had DB 601N (1,175 HP) engines.3 Modified dorsal gun position that was now enclosed.3
- Heinkel He 111P-6/R2: Glider tug conversion.3
- Heinkel He 111Z Zwilling (twin): Was two He 111s joined together with a fifth engine.2,3 Used to tow Me 323.2,3
Usage
Models used by which countries:
- Heinkel He 111A: China3
- Heinkel He 111B: Germany and Spain3
- Heinkel He 111E: Germany and Spain3
- Heinkel He 111F: Turkey3
- Heinkel He 111G: Turkey3
- Heinkel He 111H: Germany, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia3
- Heinkel He 111P: Germany and Hungary3
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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Wing area | 931 ft2 1, 931.07 ft2 2 86.5 m2 1,2 |
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| 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 |
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| Loaded | 18,960 lb3 17.5 m3 |
30,865 lb4 | 30,800 lb1, 30,865 lb2,3 14,000 kg1,2,3 |
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| Maximum load | 22,046 lb3 10,000 kg3 |
30,865 lb3 14,000 kg3 |
29,762 lb3 13,500 kg3 |
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| Performance | |||||||
| Speed at sea level | 186 mph3 299 kph3 |
176 mph3 283 kph3 |
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| Speed | 252 mph4 | ||||||
| Speed @ 13,120' / 4,000 m |
230 mph3 370 kph3 |
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| Speed @ 16,400' / 5,000 m |
200 mph3 322 kph3 |
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| Speed @ 19,685' / 6,000 m |
252 mph3, 271 mph2 405 kph3, 436 kph2 |
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| Speed @ 20,000' / 6,000 m |
270 mph1 435 kph1 |
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| Cruising speed | 174 - 214 mph3 280 - 344 kph3 |
205 - 239 mph3 330 - 385 kph3 |
168 - 193 mph3 270 - 310 kph3 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Range with bomb load | 565 miles3 909 km3 |
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| 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 |
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| 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:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
- World War II Airplanes Volume 1, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
