Me 264

Me 264

He 111 H-16

Do 217 E-2

Me 264

He 111 H-16

Do 217 E-2

Germany

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.3	5.0	5.0

Class:

Bomber

Long Range bomber

Research:18 000

Purchase:47 000

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Description

The Me 264 is a rank III German bomber with a battle rating of 4.3 (AB) and 5.0 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.89 "Imperial Navy".

General info

Flight performance

The first thing the player will notice is the plane's similarity to the famed B-29, as it shares a similarly designed fuselage and glazed nose, but a different twin tail instead of the large single tail on the B-29. Despite being a heavy bomber, the Me 264 is quite responsive and manoeuvrable. However, you are still a heavy bomber and you shouldn't try to turn with anyone. It is also quite speedy for its rank and classification, able to out-speed some of the planes at its BR when at altitude.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 6,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
496	487	10000	38.1	39.1	1.2	1.2	2,600
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 6,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
545	519	10000	35.9	37.0	6.7	3.5	2,600

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flaps (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
0	309	380	~6	~3

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 340	< 350	< 290	> 290

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
2,600 m	1,750 hp	2,074 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
6,800 m	1,540 hp	1,825 hp
Setting 3
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
9,700 m	1,230 hp	1,458 hp

Survivability and armour

• 7 mm steel behind and to the left of pilot
• 9 mm steel to the right of pilot
• Self-sealing fuel tanks located throughout the wings
• Unarmoured pilots (can be knocked out in head-ons)

Despite not being well armoured, the Me 264 Amerikabomber can take quite a beating and has a knack for surviving fires. Due to its four engines, it can lose one or two and still make it back to base for repairs. However, it is one of the largest planes in the game and thus is impossible to miss, so while you can take a lot of damage, you will be receiving a lot as well.

Although it doesn't have a lot of armour, it has the guns to make up for it. With 3 x MG 151/20's that have access to the dreaded Minengeschoß high-explosive incendiary round complemented by another 3 x MG 131 heavy machine guns, as a few well-placed shots will make short work of any attacker that recklessly tails you.

Armaments

Suspended armament

The Me 264 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 9 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs (2,250 kg total)
• 6 x 500 kg SC500K bombs + 3 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs (3,750 kg total)
• 4 x 1,000 kg SC1000L2 bombs (4,000 kg total)
• 2 x 1,800 kg SC1800B bombs + 3 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs (4,350 kg total)

With a massive 4,000 kg payload, the Me 264 has the second-best payload of any non-premium German bomber and one of the best payloads at its battle rating. Ideally, you should use the 2 x 1,800 kg bombs + 3 x 250 kg bombs for destroying bases, as in Arcade Battles this payload can destroy a base in one pass (or get close depending on if you up-tier it) and in Realistic Battles, the 4 x 1,000 kg bombs, as each can just barely destroy a base. It is also good for ground pounding.

Defensive armament

The Me 264 is defended by:

• 1 x 13 mm MG 131 machine gun, nose turret (750 rpg)
• 1 x 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon, front dorsal turret (450 rpg)
• 1 x 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon, rear dorsal turret (450 rpg)
• 1 x 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon, ventral turret (750 rpg)
• 1 x 13 mm MG 131 machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (500 rpg)

Usage in battles

When flying as:

The Me 264 plays like your typical heavy bomber: a slow and lumbering beast that has amazing defensive armament and a good payload. While you may have one of the best defensive armaments in the German bomber line (or out of bombers in general), it is best to avoid engagements all together to minimize potential damage due to your massive size. However, if an enemy gets on your tail, they're as good as dead thanks to your superb defensive armament that can shred through planes like paper. Never allow a plane to head-on you. Be sure to face your tail towards the attacker, as more than half of your guns face towards the back and your glazed nose makes it easy to snipe your pilot out.

Notable enemies include any heavily armed interceptor that has at least semi-decent performance, but notably the P-61, P-38J, Mosquito and the P-47D's, as all of these planes can climb to your altitude and destroy you with their heavy armament.

The P-61 and P-38J are some of the most deadly, as their powerful armament can tear you in half, especially the P-61 with its quad AN/M2 20 mm cannons. Focus fire on the cockpit in order to snipe the pilot.

The Mosquito is a sort of push-pull. While you can down it easily due to its wooden construction, it can do the same to you with its quad Hispano Mk.II's. Aim for a centre mass near the cockpit, as this is the most vulnerable area or aim for the wings where the fuel tanks are stored and can cause fires.

You can deal with the P-47D's in a similar fashion as the P-61 and P-38J, but you should focus fire on the engine and wings as this can result in fires, broken engines and snapped wings. Watch out for its 8 x .50 cals, as most of the pilots run the Tracer belt which is entirely API-T and is known for starting fires.

Play styles

There are three playstyles the 264 can cater to, although the second one is very risky and is not recommended.

High-Altitude Strategic Bomber: The role the 264 was designed for, and the role it excels the most at. Firstly climb to altitude, anywhere from 6-7 km and then maintain that altitude through a level flight and gain some speed, as would-be attackers will struggle to catch you by keeping a constant speed of 400-435 kph or 250-270 mph. Make your way towards the bases and drop your bombs.

Gunship: While being significantly more dangerous to the player, the "Gunship" playstyle is infinitely more fun. It is only recommended to use this play style when the plane is spaded. Stay relatively low to the ground and attack ground troops, and if any player comes to attack you, focus your guns on them and let them tail you. The main bonus for flying in this way is that your extremely vulnerable belly is covered, preventing anybody from attacking you from there. The only reason this playstyle is viable is that the lower rank players you will encounter are more likely to make mistakes such as tailing you, allowing you to shoot them down for points.

Bomber Hunter: Climb to meet enemy bombers at high-altitude. While the enemy bombers will acknowledge the Me 264, they will rarely react against the Me 264 aside from keeping some air space. Deny their evasive manoeuvres and close-in to the enemy bombers. Once in range, use the 20 mm HEI-T belts and attack the enemy. Attempt to approach the target to make use of as many turrets as possible at a time for a quick end to the engagement. If the bomber's defensive is formidable, try to enter and exit the engagement as fast as possible to avoid significant damage to the Me 264.

When attacking:

"Never tail a Me 264". Tailing a 264 is basically suicide unless all of their gunners are knocked out. You can treat the 264 almost like a B-29 or B-17 as the planes are very similar in both design and defensive capabilities. It is best to head-on the bomber if you can as you can easily knock out the pilots due to its glazed nose while also taking minimal damage. However, the bomber lacks a ventral turret on its belly, making it easy to deal damage from below, but be wary of the downwards facing rear 20 mm cannon near the tail. When at a higher altitude, it is best to make a dive from an oblique angle and focus fire on the wings and nose.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Not controllable Auto control available	Controllable Not auto controlled	Combined	Not controllable 3 gears	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Turret 13 mm		ETC 500/II
II		Compressor	Airframe		Turret 20 mm	ETC 1000/I
III	Wings repair	Engine		New 13 mm MGs (turret)		ETC 1800
IV		Engine injection	Cover		New 20 mm cannons (turret)

The stock payload is quite poor, so pick up the ETC 500/II modification first, followed by the 20 mm belts to add more minengeschoß rounds, then the ETC 1000/I and ETC 1800. The rest of the modules are up to you, but survivability modules are recommended to withstand the beating you will be getting.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Deadly and accurate defensive armament
• Great payload, unmatched by any non-premium until the He 177 A-5
• Decent speed and acceleration for a bomber
• Maneuverability is good
• Solid RP grinder
• Surprisingly responsive

Cons:

• Gunners have a lot of deadzones
• Massive size, one of the biggest planes in the game
• Has troubles diving at high speeds
• Incredibly hard to land

History

Development of the Me 264 began in the late 1930s when Messerschmitt conducted work on developing a long-range reconnaissance aircraft, designated P.1061. In early 1941, six prototypes of the P.1061 were ordered and the aircraft received the formal designation of Me 264. However, the initial order for six prototypes would shortly afterwards be dropped to three.

Progress on constructing the ordered prototypes was slow at start, but development quickly picked up the pace with the start of the Amerikabomber project in spring 1942. The project called for new very long range strategic bomber designs, resulting in several designs being proposed, among them also the Me 264.

It soon became clear that despite all the advantages of the Me 264 the aircraft would not be able to demonstrate acceptable flight characteristics due to the lack of more powerful engines at that time. Apart from the Amerikabomber project, the Me 264 was also briefly considered by the Kriegsmarine as a possible replacement for the dated Fw 200 in the maritime reconnaissance role.

The first and only prototype of the Me 264 which saw completion, flew on 23 December 1942. While undergoing modifications, the Me 264 project had its further development halted, with the sole completed prototype being used as a transport machine. In 1943, the second prototype was destroyed during an allied bombing raid. The same fate also struck the first and unfinished third prototype in July 1944. After all prototypes were lost, the Me 264 project was officially cancelled in September 1944.

- From Devblog

Media

Images

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Videos

The Shooting Range #149 - Pages of History section at 05:10 discusses the Me 264.

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Avro Lincoln
• Boeing B-29 Superfortress
• Nakajima G8N1
• Piaggio P.108
• Tupolev Tu-4

External links

• [Devblog] Me 264: The Teutonic Superfortress
• [Rare Historical Photos] Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerika bomber