Messerschmitt Bf 109 K-6 - The Last Completed 109 and Kurfurst

[PremiumFuelOnly 1,603]

Aircraft: Bf 109 K-6

 

Classification: Single-seat bomber interceptor, fighter

 

Visuals:

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

Below: What-if pictures of a Bf 109 K-6 model, modified from a standard Hasegawa 1/32 Bf 109 K-4 Model Kit:

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction:

While the last definitive production version of the Bf 109 was the K-4, the actual last Bf 109 to be made and readied for testing was the Bf 109 K-6, which had a few notable distinctions from the K-4. The primary improvement of the K-6 over the K-4 was the new wings, which allowed it to mount MK108s internally, thus eliminating the significant wingpod drag which hampered speed on pod-equipped K-4s. Due to internal cannon mounting, the K-6 doesn’t experience the significant speed loss of “podded” K-4s, and should be considered a worthy addition to the game as the separate model designation would suggest.The K-6 utilized the same engine as the K-4, and would thus retain the excellent characteristics of the definitive Kurfurst.

 

Description:

(Note that this is a paraphrased and improvised translation to English from the original source book which is in German. The original German and literal English translation has been spoilered below.)

 

The Bf 109 K-6 design was conceived and developed in mid-1944. The armament was made considerably stronger than the K-4 and now consisted of one MK 108 motorkanone, two MG 131 13mm machine guns mounted on the cowling, and two additional MK 108s mounted as in-wing armament. This aircraft was intended to be used as a “Sturmjager”.

 

Prototype wings with two MK 108 cannon were originally tested on the a Bf 109 G-6 at the “E-Stelle Tarnewitz” test site, which was used to test  "Schrägbewaffnung" before.

 

In September of 1944 new wings were fitted and adjusted by Messerschmitt’s engineers, who made changes to the belt feed and discharge system. After these changes, the wing-mounted armament functioned without major issues. Messerschmitt designed the belt deflection plate modification for the wing-mounted MK 108s in mid-October 1944.

 

The first K-6 was presented in Regensburg at the beginning of December in 1944, although it wasn’t fully equipped like the intended serial production aircraft, as it excluded mainwheel gear covers since they posed some issues with the adjustment of the internal wing-guns. Due to the problems Messerschmitt encountered with the engine in this prototype, trials were halted in mid February 1945. However, by the end of the month, an airworthy example was prepared after being equipped with the EZ 42 reflector gunsight sent to the 1. Fliegerdivision. This example was likely intended for field tests with a fighter unit.

 

The Bf 109 K-6 was extremely similar to the K-4, and ran the identical DB 605 D engine, MW-50 injection as standard equipment, fully retractable tail gear, and the gun camera which was typically found on K-4s as an R6 modification. According to performance calculations dating to December 12th, 1944, the K-6 equipped with a DB 605 ASCM/DCM engine would’ve reached 608 kph at SL and 728 kph at 8000 meters - speeds that were more or less identical to those of the K-4.

 

The Bf 109 K-6 was planned to be built at the Wiener Neustadt factory starting in 1945, while the Erla and Regensburg factories would built K-4s. Production was slated to be a 2:1 ratio of K-4s to K-6s.

 

Spoiler

Literal German-to-English Translation:

 

Mid 1944 the design for the Bf 109 K-6 was developed, the armament was made considerably stronger in comparison to the K-4 and consisted now out of one MK 108 Motorkanone, two MG 131 as fuselage and two additional MK 108 as wing armament. This aircraft was to be used as a "Sturmjäger".

Prototype wings with two MK 108 were tested with a Bf 109 G-6 on the "E-Stelle Tarnewitz" (Tarnwitz test site), which was used as a testbed for "Schrägbewaffnung" before.

At the beginning of September 1944 the new wings were fitted and adjusted by engineers from Messerschmitt. After some changes to the belt discharger the armament worked without larger problems. The missing belt deflection plates were designed in mid October 1944 by Messerschmitt.

While a first not completely equipped K-6 was presented in Regensburg at the beginning of December 1944, the gear covers created some issues with the adjustments of the guns. Only provisorily the equipment with weapons was allowed by "E-Stelle Tarnwitz". Due to problems with the engine the trials stopped in mid February 1945. At the end of the month the now again airworthy model was, after equipped with the EZ 42 reflecting gunsight, sent to the 1. Fliegerdivision - most likely for field tests with a fighter unit. The Bf 109 K-6 was planned to be built at the Wiener Neustadt factory starting in 1945, whilst the factories Erla and Regensburg should built K-4s.

The DB 605 D powered fighter was equipped with the gun camera from the R6 modification of the K-4, as well as a fully retractable tail gear. A MW-50 injection was standard equipment as well.

According to performance calculations from 11.12.1944 the K-6 with a DB 605 ASCM/DCM engine should reach 608 kph at sealevel and 728 kph at 8.000 m.

 

Original German Writing (from Source 1 below under "Sources"):

 

 

Engine Data:

Manufacturer: Daimler-Benz

Designation: DB 605 DC

Engine Count: 1

Configuration: liquid-cooled inverted vee

Number of Cylinders: 12

Displacement: 35.7 liter

Dry Weight: 745 kg

Gear reduction ratio: 1.685:1

Fuel Type: C3 (100 Octane)

Supercharger: single stage, variable speed supercharger

 

Power Data:

War Emergency Power (“Sondernotleistung”): 1.98 ata - 2000 PS @ 2800 RPM @ SL

Military Power: 1.45 ata - 1370 PS @ 2600 RPM @ SL

War Emergency Power (“Sondernotleistung”): 1.98 ata - 1800 PS @ 2800 RPM @ 4900 m

Military Power: 1.45 ata - 1285 PS @ 2600 RPM @ 6800 m

Max Continuous Power: 1.35 ata @ 2400 RPM

 

Propellor Data:

Type: VDM 9-12199

Blade Count: 3

Blade Diameter: 3 m

 

Dimensional Data:

Length: 9.02 m

Height: 3.37 m

Wing Span: 9.92 m

Wing Area: 16.05 m²

Wing Loading: 224.3 kg/m² (using gross weight)

 

Fuel and Oil Data:

Internal Fuel Capacity: 400 liter (0.296 t)

MW-50 Capacity: 85 liter (0.0765 t)

Oil Capacity: 36.8 liter (0.046 t)

 

Weight Data:

Empty Weight: 2960 kg

Gross Weight (combat): 3626 kg

 

Note: all following data is calculation based according to Messerschmitt/RLM official estimates and calculations made in preparation for K-6 trials.

 

General Performance Data:

Max Speed (clean condition): 716 kph @ 6000 m

Takeoff Distance (combat condition): 440 m 
Range: 575 km (under 3100 kg)

Service Ceiling: 12500 m

 

Maximum Speeds (clean condition):

At SL (WEP): 604 kph

At SL (Military Power): 524 kph

At 6000 m (WEP): 716 kph

At 8000 m (Military Power): 686 kph

 

Spoiler

Graph of Speed Data (K-4 compared to K-6):

 

 

 

 

 

Rate of Climb (WEP):

At SL: 22.2 m/s

At 1 km: 22.2 m/s

At 2 km: 21.3 m/s

At 3 km: 20.3 m/s

At 4 km: 19.3 m/s

At 5 km: 18.4 m/s

At 6 km: 16.0 m/s

At 7 km: 13.0 m/s

At 8 km: 10.5 m/s

 

Time to Altitude (calculated from RoC per every 1K meters):

0-1000 m: 45.45 sec

0-2000 m: 92.40 sec (1 min, 32.4 seconds)

0-3000 m: 141.66 sec (2 min, 21.7 seconds)

0-4000 m: 193.48 sec (3 min, 13.5 seconds)

0-5000 m: 247.83 sec (4 min, 7.8 seconds)

0-6000 m: 310.33 sec (5 min, 10.3 seconds)

0-7000 m: 387.25 sec (6 min, 27.2 seconds)

0-8000 m: 482.49 sec (8 min, 2.5 seconds)

 

Spoiler

Graph for Climb Data (K-4 compared to K-6):

 

 

 

Armament:

Identical as K-4, with 1 MK108 of 40 RPG mounted in each wing, giving:

2x MG131 13mm MGs (cowling mounted): 300 RPG

1x MK108 30mm cannon (engine mounted): 65 RPG

2x MK108 30mm cannon (in-wing mounted, 1 per wing): 40 RPG

 

Sources:

1. Griehl, Hermann (1987): Flugzeug Profile Messerschmitt Bf 109 G/K - Die Geschichte eines legendären Jagdflugzeuges. (Unitec-Medienvertrieb), page 40-42

2. Hermann, Dietmar / Ringlstetter, Herbert (2017): Messerschmitt Bf 109 - Vom Prototyp bis zur Bf 109 K. (GeraMond Verlag), page 182

3. Prien, Jochen / Rodeike, Peter (1997): Messerschmitt Bf 109 F/G/K/ Series. An Illustrated Study. (Schiffer Publishing), page 177

4. Radinger, Willy / Otto, Wolfgang / Schick, Walter (2011): Messerschmitt Me 109. das meistgebaute Jagdflugzeug der Welt; Entwicklung, Erprobung und Technik; alle Varianten: von Bf (Me) 109A bis Me 109K. (Aviatic-Verlag), page 133

5. Leistungen 8 - 109 K4 und K6 mit DB 605 ASCM/DCM A/IV/294/44

6. Maximum speeds - DB 605 D Sondernotleistung with MW, Steig- u. Kampfleistung,  with thin blade prop. 9-12199

7. Climb rates - DB 605 D Sondernotleistung with MW, Steig- u. Kampfleistung, with thin blade prop. 9-12199

8. Maximum speeds - DDB 605 DC/ASC without MW for base-setting 1,98ata and 1,8ata with prop. 9-12199 and 9-12159. Start- u. Notleistung, Steig- u. Kampfleistung

9. Climb rates - DB 605 DC/ASC without MW for base-setting 1,98ata and 1,8ata with prop. 12199 and 12159. Start- u. Notleistung, Steig- u. Kampfleistung (9-605-2290/91)

10. Maximum speeds - DB 605 DB/ASB Sondernotleistung with MW, Steig- u. Kampfleistung, Start- u. Notleistung with thin blade prop. 9-12199

11. Climb rates - DB 605 DB/ASB Sondernotleistung with MW, Steig- u. Kampfleistung with prop. 9-12199 and 9-12159 (9-605-2271)

12. Geschwindigkeitmessungen mit 4 VDM Luftschrauben auf Me 109 K-4 mit DB 605 D.     (for info on the thin-bladed prop)

13. http://hyperscale.com/2007/features/bf109k632ms_1.htm                   (source for modeling pictures)

Edited November 14, 2018 by Aquilachrysaetos

[blakeob 8,086]

Open for discussion. 

[_Vigilante 876]

This plane without a doubt has it's place in the game.

[xX_Lord_James_Xx 2,400]

I didn’t know this plane was actually built! +1 

 

Plz Gib, Gaijooble! 

[TheElite96 5,839]

Sure! +1

[senfwurst 556]

Would be nice to have the "final" (as in actually built and tested) Kurfürst in the game!

 

+1

[Willardd 9]

Would love to see this

[Admiral_Aruon 2,264]

yes please. its the penultimate BF 109. like the P-51H and spitfire mk 24.

[PremiumFuelOnly 1,603]

20 minutes ago, Admiral_Aruon said:

yes please. its the penultimate BF 109. like the P-51H and spitfire mk 24.

 

Just so that you know, the K-4 remains the best-performing 109.

[Admiral_Aruon 2,264]

3 hours ago, Aquilachrysaetos said:

 

Just so that you know, the K-4 remains the best-performing 109.

 

and the P-51H and spacefire can BnZ annihilate both of them anyway! :P

[Z3r0_ 4,127]

17 hours ago, senfwurst said:

Would be nice to have the "final" (as in actually built and tested) Kurfürst in the game!

 

+1

 

It wasn't the last one to be built and tested, just mass produced.  There were two K-14s that made it to front-line units but the war ended before major production could begin.

 

Also, to the OP, add a poll.

Edited November 8, 2017 by Z3r0_

[senfwurst 556]

The K-6 was certainly not "mass produced", I even haven't seen pictures of complete K-6s in service - and regarding the K-14: there are so many dubious sources and interpretations floating around, non of them are very convincing to me. And in any case, thanks to the DB 605 L the K-14 would be xxxx in WT anyway.

Edited November 8, 2017 by senfwurst

[PremiumFuelOnly 1,603]

1 hour ago, Z3r0_ said:

 

It wasn't the last one to be built and tested, just mass produced.  There were two K-14s that made it to front-line units but the war ended before major production could begin.

 

Also, to the OP, add a poll.

Added a poll.

 

The "factoid" about 2 K-14's making it to a front line unit (under the command of Haupt. Willy Batz) is highly contested, and ultimately quite unlikely. In the K-14 thread there is an image of a squadron/group roster of 109 types being fielded, where it lists 2 K-14's being assigned to JG.52 (IIRC, might have the exact group number wrong). In postwar interviews, the commanding office claims he never saw a 4-bladed 109, which corroborates Messerschmitt and RLM production reports for Kurfursts - a K-14 simply wasn't built, and neither was its speceial 4-bladed propellor. It's "engine", a DB 605 L was simply a DB 605 A with a 2-speed supercharger on it. Considering how underpowered the engine proved to be, and how quickly the effort was dropped (within 9 months in 1944), we can surmise that it was simply a testbed for the 2-speed supercharger, and not an actual viable engine choice for the K-14. Therefore, not even the K-14's engine was built.

 

Sad to say, but the K-14 doesn't exist. The K-6 is the last 109 that we know existed.

Edited November 8, 2017 by Aquilachrysaetos

[super_cacti 1,071]

Yes please!! 

[Nell_Lucifer 927]

+1

[Uhmmmm 60]

+1

[Borotovas 4,500]

This is exactly what we need! I've been waiting for more Bf 109 variants for over 5 years!

Edited November 9, 2017 by Borotovas

[Bobertman 15,027]

I like it! Yes sir! 

[_EQUAI_ 356]

Nice I’m for it. Hope it gets added

[igeticsu 3,400]

I support it! Germany could use more high tier props.

[averageSuccrity 120]

I support the bird

[AnelToro089 70]

I love the 109 Line and would love to see some new faces +1

[*Deprimo 159]

I hope this has not been forgotten.... we need it

[FrobroSwagginz 339]

Germany needs more high tier props such as this, the K-14, 190 A-9, A-10, G series 190's, Me 309, Me 209-II, etc...

 

I support +1

[raeuberhose 81]

Yes please. +1