The new aircraft that Okumiya Masatake is the Zero Combat 32 that has just been modified and delivered in the summer of Japan, and after more than half a month of hard work, the Messerschmidt company has built the first prototype, which is equipped with an engine made by BMW with German technology (parameters mentioned above). Due to time constraints, the German designers, who did not have time to verify the air supply tunnel, did not make changes to the airframe, but simply strengthened the airframe structure (eliminating a large number of punches), added bulletproof armor and replaced the Japanese design with Germany's own self-sealing fuel tank. On the premise of an increase in weight of 170 kg, the overall maximum flight speed increased to 582 km / h due to the increase in thrust of the German engine, and they gave this demonstrator the designation Bf-119.

The technicians swore that if they continue to improve the aerodynamic structure and engine, they can guarantee that the flight speed will exceed 600 km/h or even a little faster, which makes the Japanese advisory group almost fall headlong, the Zero aircraft is the most familiar model they are most familiar with, Japan has continued to develop, produce, and improve for 10 years, so far it is only the maximum speed of 564 km/h, if the German standard is weighted and the protection is strengthened, it will not be able to fly so fast.

In the technical exchange within Japan, it was believed that the Zero Combat 32 was a failed modification, and the performance was not improved much, but the range was greatly reduced, so its own production quantity was also very small, and Germany was very happy to give it when it asked for a full set of technical drawings. But the Germans didn't think so at all: the Bf-119 had a maximum range of more than 1,600 kilometers (1,100 kilometers + 30 minutes at full speed by Japanese standards) with normal armament and without auxiliary fuel tanks, while the Navy's own Bf-109T had a meagre 650 kilometers. Not even a fraction. Although the maximum speed of the Bf-119 is slower than that of the Bf-109, its low-altitude maneuvering and hovering performance is particularly outstanding. All the pilots who had flown the test said that this aircraft could at least be used as a carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft because of its long range (the Japanese thought that the Germans had never seen the world). Zero 21 proper 2200 km) can also go to the Eastern Front to deal with the Soviets' Yak-7 fighter - this low-altitude dog fighter has always made the Bf-109 unhappy. Considering the range and the advantages of air-cooled engines on board, the pilots agreed that if the improved Bf-119 could reach a speed of 640 km/h, it would be possible to replace the Bf-109T or even the Me-155.

Messerschmitt technicians were overjoyed, and if these claims were true, Messerschmitt would have at least a thousand more orders, and the eastern market would have a bright future -- and now they finally understood why the company's top brass was stalking about this copying opportunity.

The reason why Messerschmidt is so nervous about the small market of carrier-based aircraft is because they have heard that the Bf-109's biggest rival, the Fw-190 carrier-based version, which has not been able to be used on ships, has also become more eyebrow-based. At the request of the Führer, BMW copied the R2800 (Double Wasp) engine from the American Pratt & Whitney, an air-cooled engine that was removed from the crashed American P47 and completely clone 1:1. After the successful manufacture, the output power reached more than 2000 horsepower, and it is said that after installing this 2000 horsepower metamorphosis engine, not to mention the Fw-190, even a brick can fly. Think about how the 5-6 ton F4U and F6U of the United States Navy fly at every turn, and you will have an intuitive feeling of the performance of this engine. Of course, the R2800 and Fw-190 are currently in different JUMO213 sizes, but there is no pressure on the designer to do so – after all, the engine comes first. And even the improved Fw-190 will not be able to get on the ship. The benefits of optimizing engine power for combat are obvious – except for the engine. The shape and fuselage design of the Americans are so bad that it is estimated that many of these American planes will not be able to go to the sky with German engines.

This makes the Japanese trio feel like tears, Japan has copied the German DB601 series for many years, and the Germans have provided complete technical data, drawings and patents to go back to imitate, but the performance has not yet met the requirements, and the Germans have no information to learn from at all, and can only imitate through the channel of physical reverse mapping, and the effect is not bad. It is said that the Führer also ordered the imitation of the Merlin engine. Although it has not yet been successful, experts who know the inside know know that this is also an excellent product. Those technical indicators are very enjoyable to listen to.

Hitler looked down on British and American technology, and did not think that their engines were how, but Hoffmann obviously knew the market, and in his mind he believed that no matter what means were taken, the R2800 and Merlin engines must be obtained, and no matter what different opinions and ideas Mercedes-Benz had about it, they must not only count on their DB601\603\605 series. In response to this decision, BMW (a professional air-cooled engine manufacturer, currently producing the BMW 801 series, responsible for the imitation of the Pratt & Whitney R2800 engine), and Junkers (a professional liquid-cooled engine manufacturer, currently producing the JUMO213 series, responsible for the imitation of the Merlin engine) have expressed their support for the Führer's decision. Juncker has been having a good time lately, with the initial success of Dr. Tanker's JUMO213-engined Fw-190, a more slender aircraft with excellent performance and expected to be officially launched after New Year's Day. If Merlin succeeds in copying and overpowering Mercedes-Benz's DB603 series, Junckers will completely dominate the liquid-cooled market. As for the viability of Mercedes, Juncker believes that they can switch to tank engines.

Hoffman certainly did not have a grudge against Mercedes-Benz, but Mercedes-Benz's lack of promotion and application of new technologies, and a series of problems caused by the over-demand of the DB601 series in history told him that he must use multiple channels to ensure supply. Now that the general mobilization has been issued in advance, not guaranteeing the diversified supply of engines means a lack of sustained combat capability, which he cannot tolerate. Germany's aero engines must not be monolithic, at least three, and even in the jet age, this number must not be small.

"Sir, although I don't think our aircraft is very good, if we use your country's aircraft for aircraft carrier operations, there will definitely be problems." Jizaburo Ozawa, who had a say in this regard, said frankly to Richthofen, "According to the combat records of the Pacific theater, the distance between the aircraft carriers of the two sides is generally more than 200-300 nautical miles, which is too far for the current range of your Bf-109 to effectively cover the attack aircraft all the way, and the attack opportunity without fighter cover is shot down by the enemy without mercy." ”

"You're right, but it's not that the combat distance is too far, it's that our planes are too close." Richthofen sighed, "Someone ridiculed our planes as airport guards, which is a bit ugly, but it makes too much sense. If we hadn't gotten this Bf-119 during the Battle of Britain, we would have used it to cover the bombers against the British, instead of letting the clumsy Bf-110 be targeted by the British. As for whether it can become a fighter, it depends on the results of the Fw-190 on the ship, but I think it can at least become an excellent reconnaissance aircraft and can also take on combat missions on the Eastern Front. ”

"If you have follow-up improvements, I would like to be able to tell us that we are currently under great pressure from American aircraft."

"Of course, but ......," asked Richthofen, "I've seen your design, and the structure is too thin, and it doesn't even have the necessary protective measures, and from the point of view of an old pilot, it's very irresponsible to them, don't you try to improve it?" ”

"This ......" Ozawa showed an embarrassed look, "our engine technology is not as good as your country, if it is strengthened according to your country's protection standards, then the speed and maneuverability are too poor, on the surface, it is to strengthen the protection of pilots, but in fact, it is more dangerous for them to operate aircraft with unfavorable performance to fight, and our country has no choice but to do it." ”

Richthofen could not give a better opinion on this, and could only express his helpless understanding with silence.

In addition to carrier-based fighters, the two sides also have the same idea of carrier-based bombers (ship-based bombers), and they all agree that both the 99 shipbombers and the Ju-87C have begun to lag behind, but there is no particularly good replacement at present, the Japanese side is developing the Comet, but it is obvious that it will not be effective for a while, Ozawa did not expect this, but the level of German aviation inspired him, he introduced the new model to Richthofen and proposed: "Perhaps, we can jointly develop in the field of next-generation bombers." ”

Richthofen nodded, "It's completely possible, although the combat objects and methods of the two sides are different, but the relevant carrier-based aircraft can be tried to develop together, and after the development is successful, we will also use it on Italian aircraft carriers, and now the command and equipment of the German and Italian naval and air forces have been integrated." ”

"I'll tell the country right away."

"I have high expectations for this exercise, and you know that the Führer has given an operational order to carry out actual combat ...... once the exercise is successful?"

"Attacking land targets?"

"No, naval battles."

"Breaking the Relationship? But isn't your country's aircraft carrier not good yet? ”

"Fleet operations, the target is ......," Richthofen said, pointing into the distance, "Isn't the Red Army's Black Sea Fleet a good target?" (To be continued.) )