Me 264

Annotated image of Britain air RB map, showing optimal route-to-target. Works with pretty much any air RB map.

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

Show in game

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	Max Speed (km/h at 6,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	495	478	10000	38.4	39.4	1.2	1.2	2,600
Upgraded	546	519		35.8	37.0	6.6	3.5

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	309	380	380	290	~6	~3

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 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, in all battle types. You should either destroy as many bases as possible, and then return to base, or loiter and save your payload for the airfield, after the other bombers have dealt with the bases. My advice, especially when you are uptiered, is to flank ridiculously wide and do the latter, as it will keep you safe from enemy interceptors.

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

Usage in battles

My advice for playing the 264 is to spawn in at altitude, and flank round the sides of the map, taking a very indirect route to your target. Climb at a shallow angle as you go but don't impair your speed. By the time you reach the target, you should be at around 6000 metres (around 20,000ft). An escort is preferable but not esential. Don't rely on your defensive armament to save you, but you can get a few hits in if cornered. Drop your payload and return to base. You can take a more direct route home because by this time, most fighters will be dead (usually), but you will need to watch out. Most of my deaths in the 264 are during the rtb (return to base) stage. Cut your throttle and glide back to base. I implore you: DO NOT RUSH YOUR LANDING. It will only result in your death. Of my 6 deaths in a 264, 4 have been while returning to base, and the other 2 have been on landing (6 deaths out of hundreds of games, I assure you). The 264 is my favourite vehicle in WT, and hopefully you will find is as joyful to play as I do.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Auto control available	Not controllable Not auto controlled	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
• Good manoeuvrability
• 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