Well they could have done both.. sort-of as the first two fighter designs developed (280 and 262) were designed for class one engines. But I'll agree that He-162 type planes would have been much easier to field fast. But if the He-280 had taken a more conservative approach with the engines (at least intrim) it could have flown with 1,300 lbf HeS-6 engines in modified mountings (to maintain clearance) before the end of 1941.
Though I certainly agree light-weight singgle class-1 engined craft would have had the most effect for Germany. The HeS-30 (HeS 006) would have been even easier to convert the Me-163 to as it could have fitted into the existing fusalage. Pluss the HeS-30 would probably produced even more thrust than the 004B (at least 2000 lbf static) and was smaller and lighter than the BMW 003. Though the compressor was somewhat more complex than the 004's and 003's (not mechanically, but aerodynamically, as the rotors did about half the compession, instead of the stator's doing almost all, so the design could produce the compression in 5-stages, what a normal one could in 10). Thus the engine produced somewhat more thrust than the 004 but with little more than half the weight, length and frontal area. HeS-30 (like the Jumo 004) used simpler flame-cans, opposed to the 003's more-advanced (and problematic) annular one, so it would have had less combustion problems in development than the 003. IIRC the 003 also had to be tuned to syncronise the compressor to avoid vibration.
The HeS-30 also would have needed far less material to build, so high-temp alloys could be used more extensivly per engine than could be done with the other engines. (realitively small turbine and hot-section) Development struggled at first and improved little when Hirth was aquired as Muller (unlike Ohain) was unhappy to accept help from outside the design team. IIRC work was finally going smoothly somtime after Muller left Heinkel and was progressing so rapidly that the engine was nearing production quality and was about to overtake the development of the 004 and 003 when it was cancelled in '42, as it was thought that the 004 and 003 were ready to enter production. But the 004 was only ready in the A (pre-production) configuration and the 003 was having many difficulties and was scarcely producing more than 1100 lbf. These engines subsequently went into long delays, over 1 year befor the 004B was ready for production, and about another year after that for the 003. IIRC fuel efficience of the HeS-30 (006) was similar to that of later 003 models (and probably the uprated HeS-8) and better than the early A models with 1.4 [lb/lbf hr]
Deccyros, Do you have any better figures on SFC of these engines. I particularly havent seen any specific figures on the 004B, or HeS-30. The HeS-3b was supposed to have ~1.6 lb/lbf/hr, so the HeS 6 should be 30-40% less than this.
Can you immagine a He 162 with a fully developed HeS-006 powering it? At around 500 lbs lighter than with the 003 and with 2000+ lbf at SL (~2400 lbf at 500 mph) and with a far smaller target to hit the engine it would have been great. How about a Me-263, ~3000 lbs lighter, with longer range to boot! The He 162 may have even been able to carry MK-103's as these sidn't have the nose-damaging muzzel blast of the MK 108 and had far better performance, though the mountings may have needed strengthening. Recoil would have been high but as an interceptor firing verry short bursts it should have worked. Maby MK-103's with MK-108 cartrages, still higher velocity and accuracy than the 108 due to the longer barrel, but with much lower recoil and a higher ammo load. (You can't put a longer barrel on the 108 due tue pressure issues) The reduced muzzel flash is good too, though less important due to the under-nose mounting. Or maby Blast/Flash supressors could be fitted to the 108s so nose strenthening would be unnecessary.
A jet powered Me-163 (especially with 006 engine) would have been good too and already had the capabillity for Mk-108s. Plus it made a tiny target. Add some R4M's under the wings and you've got a killer! Again I wonder about Mk-103s being used as they had suppicient range to keep the pilot safe, though both the Mk 108 and R4Ms had similar trajectories, so the same sight could be used.
The R4M was simple and devistating. If it had been developed in '41 or '42 (which thecnology wise, it ceartainly could have) the US's day-time bombing missions would have likely ceased. Probably one of the best "wonder weapons" of the war. Simple, cheap, easy to manufacture and use operationally. To be honest though, if the British hadn't had the US to back them up later on they would have eventualy colapsed. Germany probably would have won... (not saying the US won the war, just that were were the biggest desiding factor, especially economically, Britain, a close second in industry, though less so due to their volnerabillity)
Had Germany severed ties with Japan at this stage, we may have stayed in the Pacific only too. Though if japan had struck with our carriers when they were at Pearl, we'd have been in much worse shape there too...
The whole Nazi rising and general situation of post WWI Europe could have been largely prevented if the 14-point plan had been used. (Which, in fact, was what Germany had thought were the terma when they suppendered and were a much more fair arrangemet) As the Central Powers (particularly Germany) really didn't deserve what happend after WWI, and they weren't really at fault. (just the whole stupid situation with secret treaties leading up to it) Besides, Germany could have destroyed Brittain's fleet with submarine warfare if they hadn't restricted them at the USA's request. (caused by Britain illegally transporting weapons supplies on a civilian ship, though the US hadn't known this...) This could have happened far earlier than Britain's advances in tank tech. But I Digress...
The only Jet fighter that could have been ready early enough to make a real difference though would have been the He 280. (Possibly the 262 with HeS 006 engines) If it were to take a more conservative engine approach and use HeS-6 as a stop-gap for better engines, they could be mud-wing mounted in modified wings with about 1/3 of the engine above the wing allowing clearsnce for both the ground and for the exaust under the tail. If well-streamlined nacelles were used and 1300 lbf engines were fitted (assuming thrust hadn't been improved further) the plane should have had a thrust/weight of over .28 if weight was limited to 9250 lbs and a top-speed of ~480+ mph. (so ~2900 lbs
load) And an endurance of ~1 hr (at 2000 lbf net thrust assuming 1.4 lb/lb/hr sfc, though it may have been even less) so, assuming a 400 mph cruise, range should be around 400 miles (up to 600 with more fuel efficient engines, even more with HeS-8s and more further with HeS-30's due to higher performance, increased load capacities and reduced drag) It should have been possible to fit 2 Mk 108s with decent ammo capacity (100+ rounds each) Maybe even Mk-103s with more powerful engines. Or maby a mixed armament of 2x MG 151/20s and a single 108 or 103. Larger numbers of MG 151/20s (perhaps 5) should also have been possible if 2 more were mounted further back and higher up in the nose.
These should have been ready for production by early 1942 and would have been devestating aganst daylight bombers. And, despite somewhat inferior high-speed performance then the Me 262 (as the 280 wasn't meant for much more than 500 mph at altitude and .79 mach limit), it had excelent low to medium speed handeling (below 500 mph, best fit for 350-450 mph maneuvers, though lowere speeds should be good too). Such maneuverabillity would allow easier evasion (or engagement) of escort fighters and would be harder for bomber's gunner's to hit.
Atmittedly after early 1943, the Me-262 should be a better choice (assuming the 280 hasn't been improved) and HeS 006 should be available. Though with the 280 already in service and production, it may have been easier (training wise, and production wise) to fit the 280 with HeS 006 engines.