The Messerschmidt Me410 had a complex history as the Luftwaffe continued to pile on different requirements and add mission types. That resulted in a wide variety of modifications to the aircraft and I, like many of you, have wondered what IL-2 Battle of Normandy would do to represent at least some of these modifications. Thanks to a new post by IL-2 series Executive Producer, Jason Williams, now we know!

Modifications galore

The Me410 was envisioned as a multi-role aircraft for the Luftwaffe able to replace a variety of aircraft including the Ju88, Ju87, and Bf110. Even which aircraft and roles the type was intended to replace in frontline combat vary by account which helps give a sense of just how challenged the development and deployment of the Me410 was. Osprey Publishing’s Me 210/410 Zerstörer Units gives a good, abbreviated, account of the chaos behind the scenes.

The result was that the Me410 was trialled in a variety of different configurations with different armament and payloads including using the forward bomb bay as a multi-purpose weapons bay where weapons like the massive 50mm Bk5 could be fitted. While I’m sure this weapon could be used attacking light armor, its primary purpose for being on the Me410 was anti-bomber. A lot of what you’ll see on this was intended for use against B-17s and B-24s although nothing will stop us from trying it against the B-25 and B-26 that are in the sim.

We’ve wondered for a while what modifications 1CGS would be able to offer us and now, thanks to an update in Jason’s Ready Room, we know exactly what the Me410 will be packing.

Standard Armament:

• 2×7.92mm MG17 + 2x20mm – forward firing / + 2x13mm MG131 defensive
• 8x70kg bombs
• 2x250kg bombs
• 1x500kg bombs
• 4x210mm rockets WGr21

Modifications:

• DB603Aa engine mod
• Forward firing MG17s replacement by MG131s
• 2xMG151/20 (WB151) in bomb bay
• 2x30mm MK103 in bomb bay
• 50mm Bk5 in bomb bay
• 4xMG151/20 in bomb bay

This appears to cover most of the configurations that the Me410 could pack in. The only option I can see missing is the dual SD500 which were slightly slimmer than the SC500 and could be fitted within the bomb bay. To date, IL-2 has not included the SD500 bomb so I’m not too surprised at its omission. There was also a configuration where two SC500s could be loaded in but with the bay doors partially open causing a huge amount of drag.

We don’t know exactly when the Me410 will come to IL-2: Battle of Normandy’s early access but we do expect it sometime this spring.