Messerschmitt Bf 109 B – The German High-Flyer

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 line was so dominant in the military aviation of WWII that, when asked to describe a fighter of that period, you can’t help but instinctively think of this iconic aircraft. Over 33,000 units of this remarkable plane have been built in over 20 different variations from its first flight in 1935 until its last sorties ten years later. German veteran pilot Günther Rall, the third most successful fighter ace in history, called the 109 “a dream, the non plus ultra […]”. Clearly the German engineers must have done something right when designing this famous war machine.

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 B in the Game

 Technological Progression

The model that we’re looking at is the Bf 109 B – a Tier IV German fighter and the first of four Messerschmitt fighter aircraft that you can discover in the game. After the preceding Arado Ar 80, taking a seat in the cockpit of the Bf 109 B is going to feel like a true step upwards that clearly warrants the price of 5,200 XP and 131,000 credits that you have to pay for it.

Profile and Tactics

Just like the Spitfire was the mainstay of the British RAF, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the principal fighter of the German Luftwaffe. It was very advanced for its time, being one of the first aircraft to feature an all-metal wireframe construction, a closed canopy, retractable landing gear and, most of all, the first batch of remarkably powerful Daimler-Benz engines. Equipped with what, at the time, was the pinnacle of German engineering genius, this aircraft was able to pull off feats that changed the landscape of air-to-air combat forever.

Even before you upgrade to the top engine in the game (the famous Daimler-Benz one), you’ll notice that your fighter’s strongest attribute is its ability to rise in an almost heavy-fighter-like fashion. The Bf 109 B can climb at 15.8m/s to an optimum altitude of 1700m but can be flown comfortably at up to 2km without notable performance drop-offs. To help you get that high you can count on the assistance of a strong 15-second boost, which most other fighters in the game could only dream of. Once you’re as high as you want to be, you’ll see that the Bf 109 B also features the highest top speed at best altitude (550 km/h) and diving speed (680km/h) of all Tier IV fighters – even including the U.S. P-36 which has a greater airspeed score on paper. With values like these it’s easy to see that the Bf 109 B is one of the first, true, German “Boom & Zoom” fighters.

The plane’s strong suits become even more apparent when you consider its shortcomings: it has the lowest manoeuvrability score of all eight Tier IV fighters in the game.  At only 322 points (which can drop as low as 292 with the heaviest equipment) the manoeuvrability of the Bf 109 B can only be described as ‘limited’, with turning a full circle taking as long as 16.9s on average with the best combination. Once you’ve upgraded to the stronger modules, that value goes up by another second and a half, showing only too well that you won’t do yourself any favours engaging in furball type, multiple-plane dogfights with this particular aircraft.

What you have to do instead is play to the strengths of your plane’s profile. Since your warbird excels at outclimbing other aircraft of its class, the use of “Boom & Zoom” tactics is key! Fly up high (to at least 1.5km) then come down hard on your opponents at full speed only to subsequently zoom away into the sky for another go-around. By upgrading to the proficient 20mm-calibre cannon you can extend your firing range to almost 900m, which, in combination with up to four other 7.92mm guns, is enough to break through the hull of even the best-armoured plane out there. If you find attacking foes on the way down too difficult, which can happen because your guns aren’t the most accurate ones under the sun, you can focus on enemy heavy fighters. They usually cruise at around your optimum altitude and your weapons are surprisingly effective against them – especially if you send a high speed delivery of 540 Solid Core Armour-Piercing bullets per minute their way.

As far as everything else is concerned, you need to decide on a case-by-case-basis. Obviously, you shouldn’t even consider wasting your time attacking ground targets. Slower ground attack aircraft make easy prey for the Messerschmitt Bf 109 B, but be prepared for multiple fly-bys or a lot of circling before you can take them out. When it comes to fighters, you need to assess each enemy individually, making good use of the comparative performance icons in the ‘locked-target window’. Avoid close 1-on-1s at all cost if your target is more manoeuvrable than you and, instead, try to break off and attack your opponent from above where you have the advantage.  

Upgrades

Spitting fire since before the Spitfire: the Messerschmitt Bf 109 B.

The key to success with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 B is mastering “Boom & Zoom” tactics and finding the right weapons setup that suits your playing style best. Of the five possible gun and cannon-combinations, each one has its own merit and truly has an impact on the plane’s stats and characteristics.

Engine

Since you start out with a Tier III engine on a Tier IV fighter, you should consider upgrading this part first. A “Boom & Zoom” plane relies heavily on its capacity to climb high and dive fast. The Tier IV Jumo 210 Da engine does help with the rate of climb a bit (+1.9m/s) and boosts your speed by up to 37km/h. However, it still pales in comparison to the Daimler Benz 600 Aa that can be mounted as the second engine upgrade. Skip the Jumo 210 Da and go straight for the Daimler-Benz model. It is a bit pricey at 1,340 XP and 24,000 credits but you will find the price tag worth it once you discover the boost it provides to speed (up to 82km/h), rate of climb (+3.1m/s) and, most of all, horse power (+260). Your plane will only truly excel with this engine!

Weapons

Just as with your engine, you start a little bit underpowered to make any serious damage with the stock guns that the plane comes equipped with. Your starting firepower is only 44, which is not the worst of all Tier IVs, but also nowhere near the 85 points that the Japanese A6M1 boasts. In addition to the pre-equipped, hub-mounted weapon and the non-removable synchronised machine gun, the Bf 109 B also has a third wing-mounted weapon slot, which can hold two further 7.92mm MGs. In order to help you choose your preferred setup we have listed all of the possible combinations below:

Option 1: Stock

Not mounting any upgrades will leave your average time to turn at 17.4 seconds (assuming that you have mounted the Daimler-Benz engine, which is a must!). If you value your manoeuvrability over anything else (which you shouldn’t really in a “Boom & Zoom” plane) then sticking with the default weapons is the best choice for you.

Option 2: Mounting all five 7.92mm guns and nothing else

Pilots who primarily target other fighters may find that they don’t need a 20mm-cannon on the Bf 109 B. If you only install the two additional 7.92mm MGs in your wings, you can keep your overall manoeuvrability at above 300 while losing only a minimum of 15 points from your airspeed score. This combination also allows you to shoot the longest, giving you a full 20 seconds of non-stop fire before the guns overheat. Your firepower will go up to 67 points with the same initial shooting range of 600m but you will have to take the biggest hit to your average time to turn of all the available upgrade possibilities.

Option 3: Mounting the Tier IV 20 mm MG-FF (H) and no wing-mounted guns

If you’re looking for extra punch without further hits to your manoeuvrability, you can mount the first available 20mm MG and leave the 7.92 upgrade aside. This will kick up your firepower to 64 points, extend your max firing range to 800m, and give you 10 seconds of non-stop 20mm-calibre fire that can do a lot of damage (IF it hits). Don’t be fooled that you will be more successful as a sniper though! You will rarely hit anything more than 500m away. The true power of the cannon unfolds when you nose dive on your enemies or open fire at their vulnerable sides from up close.

Wingman Tip #1: Mounting a 20mm cannon will also allow you to use High-Explosive and Solid Core Armour-Piercing ammunition, which are unavailable on the 7.92mm guns.

Option 4: Mounting the Tier V 20 mm MG-FF/M (H) and no wing-mounted guns

Basically, if you’re willing to add the extra 30kg and lose 0.4s of your average time to turn from the Tier IV 20mm canon, there is no reason why you shouldn’t go one step further and opt for the even stronger Tier V model. It weighs exactly the same as its Tier IV predecessor and thus doesn’t change anything in your manoeuvrability or airspeed stat line. What it does though is add another 10 points to your firepower (74 total) and extend your maximum reach to 900m. If you find that you had good results with the previous model, spending the additional 2,950 XP and 28,650 credits for the MG-FF/M (H) makes sense. Otherwise you can just stick with what you’ve got and save the coin for a rainy day.

Wingman Tip #2: We consider this combination to be the best because it gives you the maximum necessary firepower with the minimum effect on your average time to turn. Even as a “Boom & Zoom” fighter, you’ll come to value your manoeuvrability for those moments when you get lured down to low altitudes.

Option 5: Maxing everything out, mounting the Top 20mm cannon as well as the additional 7.92mm guns

Those of you who’ve perfected the art of “Boom & Zoom” tactics, always shooting down in a straight line to take out slow-moving targets, can go for the maxed-out setup on the Bf 109 B. It will increase your average time to turn to a very long 18.3s and make it a little harder to complete your initial ascent. However, if you’re not likely to engage in anything that even remotely resembles a dogfight, and are looking for the highest possible damage output (firepower score: 97), then this combination is right for you.

The Bf 109 B in its natural habitat: Up in the clouds, booming down on its unsuspecting prey!

Equipment and Consumables

In order to boost your plane’s performance we recommend that you invest in the equipment parts listed below in the following order:

As far as your consumables are concerned, there are only two that you might need occasionally:

Give the Messerschmitt Bf 109 B a try, pilots!