The Engines of the "Bf 109"



Jumo 210 DB 600 DB 601 DB 605

Junkers Jumo 210:

In 1936 the Junkerswerke in Dessau developed the "Jumo 210". This engine was a 12 cylinder in-line engine. The cylinders were arranged in a "hanging" V-shape. It was a liquid-cooled engine with carburetor and a charger for high altitutes. The "Jumo 210 Da" engine, used in the "Bf 109 B" and "C" had an average power of 690 hp.
The "Jumo 210 Ga" also was used in the "Bf 109 C" and had (as the first engine worldwide) a direct fuel injection system, that gave him a maximal power of 730 hp.

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Daimler-Benz DB 600:

To increase the power of the "Messerschmidt", the constructors were searching for a more powerful engine and found it with the "Daimler-Benz DB 600". This engine was developed in 1932. It was a liquid cooled and in version "DB 600 A" it was produced, with a maximum power of 800 hp. Like "Jumo 210" the "DB 600" was a 12 zylinder engine with charger but no injection system.
This engine only saw duty in the small "Bf 109 D" series, because it soon was replaced by "DB 601".
 

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Daimler-Benz DB 601:

In 1934, the "DB 600" was reconstructed and was fittet with a fuel injection system. Apart from this change and a changed airscrew transmission, the "DB 601" didn´t differ much from his predicessor.
Like the "Jumo 210" and the "DB 600", the "DB 601" was a liquid cooled 12 cylinder engine. Again the cylinders were arranged in a "hanging V".
The different Versions of the "DB 601" saw duty in all "Bf 109 E", "T", "F" and the preproduction of "Bf 109 G" the "G-0".
The "DB 601" gave the "Bf 109" (in it´s version A and N) 1175 hp, later, the DB 601 E had 1350 hp.
For a short time it was even possible to increase the power of the engine by giving him the so called "Schuss" (shoot). In this process, a mixture of water and methanol was injectetd in the cooling, what increased the power for about 5 minutes.

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Daimler-Benz DB 605:

The "DB 605", a consequent developement of the "DB 601", was used in the "Bf 109 G".
The engines basic version ("DB 605 A") had a maximum power of 1475 hp. With the water-methanol-injection, the "DB 605 AM" was able to reach even 1800 hp.
The "DB 605", in all his many variations was not only used in all "Bf 109 G" series, but also in the "Bf 109 K".
 

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