Bf 109 E-3

Bf 109 E-3

Bf 109 E-1

Bf 109 E-4

Bf 109 E-3

Bf 109 E-1

Bf 109 E-4

Germany

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.7	2.3	2.7

Class:

Fighter

Research:9 200

Purchase:16 000

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This page is about the aircraft Bf 109 E-3. For other uses, see Bf 109 (Disambiguation)

Description

The Bf 109 E-3 is a Rank II German fighter with a battle rating of 2.7. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.29.

After having experienced the Bf 109 E-1, players will rejoice upon unlocking the E-3. While essentially the same plane, the E-3 overcomes the inadequate firepower (compared to other aircraft of similar BR) of the E-1. With two wing-mounted MG FF’s with 60 rounds each, the plane has a deadly punch. Players that did well in the E-1 and learned their 109 trade will be able to make great use of their new Emil. Fighting in the E-3 is essentially the same in the E-1 with the difference that a pilot can now actually reliably dispatch enemies in a short burst. Visit the Bf 109 E-1 page for more information.

Remaining a great energy fighter against its historical opposition, the E-3 is somewhat troubled by the fact that it often faces mid-to-later-war planes such as the P-47D. To engage these, make sure you have a clear energy advantage; if attacked, fly defensively and attempt to bleed the enemy's speed while pulling them down. The Bf 109 E-3 is often regarded as a poor turner, a reputation coming out of the fact that its main rival, the Spitfire, simply did it better. However, with combat flaps, the E-3 is a respectable turner able to out-maneuver most planes that outperform it in firepower or other factors.

The main armament is identical to that of the Fw 190 A-1. However, there is one critical difference. The MG FF is not the MgFF/M, which can fire Minengeschoss shells. Minengeschoss have thin shells, allowing more incendiary material to be used; however, these very same characteristics prevent these shells from being fired from older MG FF versions. Thus, the MgFF/Ms are far more powerful than the MG FFs. Unfortunately, this means that the E-3’s cannons compare poorly with the later MgFF/Ms.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 5,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
545	535	11,000	21.2	21.6	12.5	14.5	376
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 5,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
594	570	11,000	19.0	20.0	21.5	17.8	376

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
789	320	500	~12	~10

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 370	< 370	< 520	> 250

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,800 m	905 hp	1,086 hp

Survivability and armour

• No armour plating
• No armour glazing
• Critical components located at front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls, cooling)

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Bf 109 E3 is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm MG FF cannons (60 rpg = 120 total)
• 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns (1,000 rpg = 2,000 total)

The two machine guns are arranged in the nose of the aircraft just in front of the pilot, while the two cannons are placed with one in each wing.

Suspended armament

The Bf 109 E3 can be outfitted with the following ordinance:

• Without load
• 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (200 kg total)
• 1 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb (250 kg total)

Usage in the battles

Click to enlarge

Just as the with the E-1, new players should adopt a hit and run tactic with the Bf 109s (also known as Boom and Run). While often called a BnZ aircraft, the 109s are not dedicated Boom & Zoomers, and many other aircraft such as the Fw 190 do it much better. While it is true that a pure Boom and Zooming approach can be used for the 109s, limiting oneself to this enormously undermines plane efficiency. That said, the 109s do build up speed quickly in a dive, and they have a respectable zoom climb that ends in a strong sustained climb at ~270 km/h (optimal climbing speed 260, and dash 280 km/h). Doing so will often give the player the maximum speed or altitude advantage they can have over their chosen target. A straight up bounce, with a short extend from the target and a slowly increasing climb leading into an Immelmann, tends to work best for rookie pilots. Remember to check your six and surroundings during the climb and just before diving back on your target.

With mounting experience on the side of the player, the energy fighting abilities of the Bf 109 E-3 come to the forefront. Fluid and speedy transitions between altitude and speed, together with well-timed uses of flaps, throttle and maneuvers, enable the Emil to quickly change an engagement in its favour.

When firing at enemies, be aware that your 20 mm cannons only hold a 60 round drum magazine each. They empty quick, and many a new pilot has seen themselves on pitifully low ammunition after only one attack run. Once you empty your cannons, the E-3 will be hard-pressed to secure a kill. In your own interest, do not waste your cannons on ground targets and when firing at planes, fire in short, controlled, and well-aimed bursts. Luckily, the E-3 holds 1000 rounds in each of its two MG 17s. Use these if you are inclined to spray and pray or are about to engage ground targets.

The E-3 can load either 4 x 50 kg or 1 x 250 kg either. Unless you like to fly at a severe disadvantage, do not use the bombs unless you have to in order to win a match, for example after refueling/restocking at the base. The bomb load is nowhere near large enough to make a fighter bombing trip worth it.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Separate	Not ontrollable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair, Radiator		Offensive 7 mm, ETC 50/VIIId
II	Compressor	Airframe	New 7 mm MGs
III	Wing Repair, Engine		Offensive 20 mm, ETC 500/IXb
IV	Engine Injection	Cover	New 20 mm Cannons

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good acceleration
• Good rate of climb
• Good continuous turn rate
• Good roll rate
• Good sustained turn rate
• Plenty of LMG ammo
• Can perform negative G maneuvers
• Better cockpit visibility than Bf 109Fs

Cons:

• Less than average instantaneous turn rate
• Control stiffening above 400 IAS (kph)
• Low cannon ammo
• Weak low-velocity cannons compared to Hispano, MG 151, etc.
• Relatively poor durability
• Harsh matchmaking

History

The Bf 109 E-3 became the mainstream fighter of the German Luftwaffe between 1940 to 1941. Seeing some action in 1939, the E-3 was the most produced aircraft of the Emil series and much appreciated by pilots. While pilot comfort was not what one might call outstanding, German pilots held the Emil in high regard, due to its performance and offensive bite. Its improvements over the Bf 109 E-1 were a strengthening of the structural integrity and the integration of two wing mounted MG FFs in the wings, replacing two MG 17s the earlier Emil carried. In order to save the 20 mm shell cases, the wing had a small empty container in which used casings were thrown into after firing of the weapon.

Powered by a DB 601 Aa with a performance of 1175 hp upon takeoff, the plane was initially regarded as a technological secret. This was due to the use of a direct petrol injection system that allowed the engine to run when experiencing negative Gs. The frequent use of a Split-S to evade earlier Spitfire and Hurricanes using carburetor engines shows the distinct advantage such a system gave. While it worked as a trump card for some time, the nature of war ensured that Allied forces soon had access to downed Bf 109 E-3s and their engine configuration. The first Bf 109 E-3 to fall into enemy hands happened as early as November 1939 near Woerth, France.

The E-3 was one of the first planes that saw widespread exportation. Bulgaria, Japan, Switzerland and Spain are some of the countries that purchased the Emil.

The E-3 was used extensively in the Battle of Britain, eventually being replaced by the Friedrich.

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

Camouflages & skins

Skins and camouflages for the "Bf 109 E-3" from live.warthunder.com.

Read also

Radinger, Willy & Otto, Wolfgang, Messerschmit Me 109 - Das meistgebaute Jagdflugzeug der Welt - Entwicklung, Erprobung, Technik - Bf 109A bis 109K, Aviatic Verlag, Oberhachingen: 2011

• "Falcon's Messerschmitt Bf 109 Hangar" Bf 109E subpage
• English Wikipedia: "Messerschmitt Bf 109 variants – Bf 109 E"
• "Performance Information Bf 109E"

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• page on aircraft encyclopedia;
• other literature.