The LW currently has no Carrier planes. Whats a LW fan to do
Can we plllllz add the 109T? Here's a brief summary of it
THE BF 109 T
The first Bf 109T (Träger, German for carrier) prototype was a basically a Bf-109E-1 with its wings increased in span and area by some 3ft 11.75in (1.22m) and 11.84 sq ft (1.10m2) respectively. Other modifications involved extendable spoilers added on the upper surfaces of the wing at about one-third chord to steepen the approach angle for carrier landings, break points added in the wings outboard of the gun bays to allow the manual upward folding of the outer panels and reduce width to 13ft 4in (4.06m), leading-edge slots increased in span, trailing-edge flaps with a greater extending angle, ailerons interconnected with flaps, catapults spools added under the fuselage and frame 5 which accomodate them strenghtened. Finally, an arrestor hook was installed under the rear fuselage. The armament was that of the E-1 variant, with two 0.312in (7.92mm) MG 17 fuselage-mounted machine guns and two more MG 17 wing-mounted machine guns.
Messerchmitt's conversion was approved but actual works would be carried out by Fieseler, the only company in Germany with some experience in naval aircraft. An order was issued for the completion of ten Bf 109E-1 fighter as Bf 109T-0 pre-production aircraft. Trials at the Erprobungstelle in Travemünde revealed that the fighter's offensive punch was insufficient and therefore two of the prototypes were modified to accomodate two MG FF 20mm cannons in the wings, thus bringing the armament to E-3 standard. The modified prototypes were denominated Bf 109 T-1 and sixty production aircraft were ordered. But only a few months later, works on the Zeppelin were halted and Fieseler was instructed to remove all carrier gear and complete the fighters as STOL (short take-off and landing) airplanes. Stripped of catapult spools and arrestor hooks and fitted with the new Daimler Benz DB601N engine, new angular canopy (E-4 standard) and a a ventral rack that could carry one 551lb (250kg) SC-250 bomb, or four 100lb (50kg) SC-50 bombs or a 79.25 US gal (66 imp gal; 300 liters) drop tank (E-7 standard), they were redenominated Bf 109 T-2. Works were completed in early 1942 and by then the sixty T-2's were already obsolete. They were assigned to III/JG77 in Norway and relegated to secondary roles, mostly to protect harbors from unlikely raids of Russian bombers. The survivors were used for the point defense of the island of Heligoland in late in 1944.
We were unable to find photos of a Bf 109T. Gerd Eles says that there might be a couple of T-2 shots while operating in Norway in private collections. Unfortunately not in his.
Characteristics (T-2) :
Dimensions: Wing span: 36ft 4.25in (11.06m) with an aspect ratio of 7.015; (wing folded upward) 13ft 4in (4.06m) Wing area: 188.37 sq ft (17.50 sq m) Length: 28ft 9in (8,76m) Height: 8ft 6.33in (2,60m)
Weights: empty weight: 4,967 lbs (2,253kg), normal take-off weight: 6,173 lbs (2,800kg), maximum take off weight: 6,786 lbs(3,078kg)
Powerplant: one Daimler Benz DB601N 12-cylinder inverted Vee, rated at 1,200 hp (895kW) for take-off and 1,270 hp (947 kW) at 16,405ft (5,000m)
Performance: maximum level speed 310 kt (357 mph; 575 km/h) at 19,685ft (6,000m), declining to 264 kt (304.5 mph; 490 km/h) at sea level, maximum cruising speed 298 kt (343 mph; 522 km/h) at 16,405ft (5,000m), economical cruising speed 191 kt (220 mph; 355 km/h); climb rate: initial climb rate 3,346ft (1,020m) per minute, climb to 19,685 ft (6,000m) in 6 min. 24 secs; service ceiling: 34,450 ft (10,500m); range: maximum range 493 nm (568 miles, 915 km) with drop tank
Armament: two 0.312in (7.92mm) MG 17 fuselage-mounted machine guns, each with 1,000 rounds or either two more MG 17 machine guns with 500 rounds each or two 0.787in (20mm) MG FF cannon in the wings leading edge with 60-rounds drum.
