Germany's Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet (Comet) jet fighter

Photos

Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet jet fighter:


Messerschmitt Me 163A-0 and Me 163B Komet jet fighters:


Messerschmitt Me 163B-1 Komet jet fighter:

Messerschmitt Me 163B Komet jet fighter, KG 400:


Messerschmitt Me 163B Komet jet fighter, KG 400:


Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet jet fighter, captured by the United States:

Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet jet fighter, captured by the United States:


Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet jet fighter, captured by the Soviet Union:

Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet jet fighter:


Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet jet fighter:

Design

The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet was designed by Dr. Alexander Lippisch and Helmuth Walter.^1,2,3 Walter developed the engine and Lippisch designed the plane.³

The design was based on earlier work on the DFS 194 in 1938.² It was done by the German Research Institute for Sailplanes.² A Walter HWK R.I motor (600 lb / 2.7kN) was added.²

The first work on the design was started on January 2, 1939, in Ausburg.³

Engine

The Walter RII-203 rocket engine got its power by combining two fuels, T-Stoff (hydrogen peroxide) and Z-Stoff.¹

The Walter 109-509A rocket engine got its power by combining T-Stoff (hydrogen peroxide) and C-Stoff (hydrazine hydrate, methyl alcohol, and water).^1,2

There were many accidents with the Me 163 caused by the hazardous fuel mixture.¹

Trolley and Skid

The Me 163 would initially take off with an attached trolley, but it was jettisoned after takeoff.^1,2 Then to land the Me 163 would land on a skid.^1,2 If there was any fuel left the landing could mix the remaining fuel and cause an explosion.²

Armament

Due to the Me 163s high speed, there was little time for a pilot to shoot at a bomber.¹ An upward firing 50 mm shell was developed that with a sensor would detect a bomber overhead on the Me 163's flyby and shoot the shells at the bomber.¹

Under wing rockets were also used.¹

Prototype

The DFS 194 was first flown in 1940.²

In the spring of 1941 the Me 163 was first tested as a glider.¹ A Messerschmitt Bf 110 towed the Me 163.³

Powered flights of the Me 163V1 commenced in the summer of 1941.^1,2 An engine was added and on August 13, 1941, at Peenemünde, flight were conducted.³ On October 2, 1941, a speed of 623.8 mph / 1004.5 kph / Mach 0.84³ was reached.^1,2,3

Wolfgang Späte flew the first rocket powered Messerschmitt Me 163 on May 13, 1944, over Bad Zwischenahn.³

The Me 263 first flew in March 1945.²

Production

The Me 163B first flew on February 21³ / June 23, 1943.^2,3

• Messerschmitt Me 163V: 6²
• Messerschmitt Me 163A-0: 10²
• Messerschmitt Me 163B: 300¹, 355²
  • Messerschmitt Me 163Ba-1: 70²
  • Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a: 279^2,3
    • 1944: 237³
    • January 1945: 42³
• Messerschmitt Me 163C:
• Total: ~300³
  • Manufacturer: Messerschmitt A.G.³

Variants

• Messerschmitt Me 163V1: Prototype.¹ Powered by Walter RII-203 rocket.¹
• Messerschmitt Me 163A-0: Unpowered glider trainers.²
• Messerschmitt Me 163B: Production model.^1,2 Powered by Walter 109-509A rocket.¹
• Messerschmitt Me 163Ba-1: Pre production.²
• Messerschmitt Me 163B-0: Had two 20 mm guns.¹
• Messerschmitt Me 163B-1: Had two 37 mm guns.¹
• Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a: 30 mm guns.²
• Messerschmitt Me 163C: Had additional fuel.¹ Pressurized cabin.² Didn't enter production.²
• Messerschmitt Me 163S: Trainer.² Two seat.²
• Messerschmitt Me 263: Larger fuselage.² Tricycle landing gar.²

Usage

JG 400

Outside of Brandis in June 1944, the I/JG 400 were equipped with the Me 163B-1a.¹

On July 28, 1944, Me 163s first attacked Allied bombers near Merseburg.³ On August 16, 1944, they were first used against B-17 Flying Fortresses.^1,2

Only nine confirmed victories were credited to the Me 163.¹

Heavy Losses

95% of the Me 163 loses were due to landing accidents or fires in the air.²

Japan

Mitsubishi developed the J8M1 Shusui (Sword stroke) for the Japanese.² It was a copy of the Me 163B.² It flew in July 1945 but the prototype was destroyed.² There were 10 J8M1s under construction but they were abandoned.²

Specifications