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2,459 8.8 cm Flak 18/36 were not produced in 1939. They were on hand in 1939.
Flak 18 production started in 1928. Major production started during the Spanish Civil War.
In 1939 only 138 Flak 18/36 were produced, however the Germans already had 2,459 Flak 18/36 in the inventory when the war started on 1 Sept. 1939.
Actual Luftwaffe SEF strenght and servicibilty on the 28 September:
Single engine fighters - 28.09.40
1132 Bf 109s on establishment, 920 on strenght, 712 servicable (77,4%. Fighter command's servicibilty rates were around 65% at the same period).
So either Ellis and Deighton made a typo, or they were on some kind of mushroom when they wrote it.
But I suppose Ellis made a typo, and Deighton, who used only secondary sources, copied his mistake.
I also like the look of the Bf110 but even after reading this thread and some books and the internet I am still a little confused as to what the exact mission the Luftwaffe planned for the 110. I know what it ended up doing but what exactly was its original mission or werent things thought through so much in the days before accountants got there sticky fingers on the world.
Thank you Nikademus for those loss rates in several theaters. Along with those, we know from JoeB that the bf110 downed 78 British fighters during the Battle of France while losing 43. During this discussion only Delcyros mentioned bf 110 exchange ratios in the BoB of 340 victories for 196 loses, per Bergstrom. I take it that some are skeptical of these numbers. Are there generally accepted figures for bf110 exchange ratios during the BoB?
Also, occasional unpleasantness notwithstanding, this has been a very informative thread. Thank you all.
Thank you Nikademus for those loss rates in several theaters. Along with those, we know from JoeB that the bf110 downed 78 British fighters during the Battle of France while losing 43. During this discussion only Delcyros mentioned bf 110 exchange ratios in the BoB of 340 victories for 196 loses, per Bergstrom. I take it that some are skeptical of these numbers. Are there generally accepted figures for bf110 exchange ratios during the BoB?
Also, occasional unpleasantness notwithstanding, this has been a very informative thread. Thank you all.
Single engine fighters - 28.09.40
1132 Bf 109s on establishment, 920 on strenght, 712 servicable
The Hardest Day, by Price has a nice breakdown of losses for one day, 18 Aug 1940. On that day the Luftwaffe lost 17 Bf110 aircraft to fighters, although GF may have shared in two kills, while only 3 Hurricanes and no other types were lost to bf110s. Two Hurricanes were lost to bomber defensive fire and several RAF fighters were lost to fighters of unknown types.
I think Bf 110 loss rates were higher than that, per my post quoting Ellis and Deighton. I think Me 110 losses were in the ordrer of 260 to 300, for the three months July to October.
Again, you keep posting Single events without paying any attention
To the whole scope of interest. As Long as the BoB is a rather 4 Week Long Episode to your mind -concentrating on the for the FC Best missions and selling them as examples for the Bf-110's true capabilities they are worthless. Selective perception in my Limited View.
Parsifals Assessment is a very good one, mind to ASK Why?
Actual Luftwaffe SEF strenght and servicibilty on the 28 September:
Single engine fighters - 28.09.40
1132 Bf 109s on establishment, 920 on strenght, 712 servicable (77,4%. Fighter command's servicibilty rates were around 65% at the same period).