Messerschmitt Me 329

Me 329
Role	Zerstorer
Manufacturer	Messerschmitt
Status	Mock up only
Primary user	Luftwaffe
Number built	0
Developed from	Messerschmitt Me 265

The Messerschmitt Me 329 was a design project for a heavy fighter and ground-attack aircraft developed towards the end of World War II. It was a competitor and possible successor to the Me 410.

Like the Me 265, the Me 329 used an advanced flying wing design. Other advanced touches included the pilot and navigator sitting tandem in a broad bubble canopy, and a remote-controlled rear gun in the tail.

In spite of the futuristic design, the improvement in performance over the Me 410 was marginal. Development received a low priority, and while a full-scale glider mock-up was tested in the winter of 1944/5, work on the project was cancelled shortly after.

Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 7.715 m (25.312 ft)
• Wingspan: 17.50 m (57.41)
• Height: 4.74 m (15.55)
• Wing area: 55.00 m² (592 ft²)
• Empty weight: 6,950 kg (15,322 lb)
• Loaded weight: 12,150 kg (26,786 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Daimler-Benz DB 603G, 1,397 kW (1,874 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 685 km/h at 7,000 m (426 mph at 22,966 ft)
• Range: 2,520 km (1,566 mi)
• Service ceiling: 12,500 m (41,000 ft)

Armament

• Guns: 2 × 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons,
• 4 × 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannons,
• 1 × MK 114 forward firing in fuselage nose
• 1 × 20 mm MG 151/20 rearward-firing
• Bombs: internal bomb load of up to 1,000 kg (2,205 lb)

See also

Related development

• Messerschmitt Me 265

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Messerschmitt Me 210
• Messerschmitt Me 410

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of Germany

References

• Luftwaffe Secret Projects - Ground Attack & Special Purpose Aircraft, D. Herwig & H. Rode, ISBN 1-85780-150-4
• www.luft46.com on Me 329