Prototypes
Development of the new Bf 109F airframe had begun in 1939. After February 1940 an improved engine, the Daimler-Benz DB 601E, was developed for use with the Bf 109. The engineers at the Messerschmitt facilities took two Bf 109 E-1 airframes and installed this new power plant.
V21 (Werksnummer (Works number) or W.Nr 5602) and
V22 (W.Nr 1800) kept the trapeziform wing shape from the E-1, but the span was reduced by 61 cm (2 ft) by "clipping" the tips. Otherwise the wings incorporated the cooling system modifications described below.V22 also became the testbed for the pre-production DB 601E. The smaller wings had a detrimental effect on the handling.
V23,Stammkennzeichen (factory Code) CE+BP, W.Nr 5603, was fitted with new, semi-elliptical wingtips.
V24 The fourth prototype, VK+AB, W.Nr 5604, flew with the clipped wings but featured a modified, "elbow"-shaped supercharger air-intake which was eventually adopted for production, and a deeper oil cooler bath beneath the cowling.
On all of these prototypes the fuselage was cleaned up and the engine cowling modified to improve aerodynamics.
V21 (Werksnummer (Works number) or W.Nr 5602) and
V22 (W.Nr 1800) kept the trapeziform wing shape from the E-1, but the span was reduced by 61 cm (2 ft) by "clipping" the tips. Otherwise the wings incorporated the cooling system modifications described below.V22 also became the testbed for the pre-production DB 601E. The smaller wings had a detrimental effect on the handling.
V23,Stammkennzeichen (factory Code) CE+BP, W.Nr 5603, was fitted with new, semi-elliptical wingtips.
V24 The fourth prototype, VK+AB, W.Nr 5604, flew with the clipped wings but featured a modified, "elbow"-shaped supercharger air-intake which was eventually adopted for production, and a deeper oil cooler bath beneath the cowling.
On all of these prototypes the fuselage was cleaned up and the engine cowling modified to improve aerodynamics.
Variants
- F-0 (Pre-production aircraft built from E series airframes, Adolf Galland was one of the few to fly one operationally)
- F-1 (Armed with 1 × 20 mm MG FF/M Motorkanone cannon and 2 × 7.92 mm/.312 in MG 17 machine guns)
- F-2 (Armed with 1 × 15 mm (.59 in) MG 151 cannon and 2 × 7.92 mm/.312 in MG 17)
- F-2 trop (tropicalized version, only as field conversion)
- F-2/Z (high-altitude fighter with GM-1 boost, cancelled in favour of the F-4/Z)
- F-3 (As F-1 but with 1350 PS DB 601E engine, produced in limited numbers)
- F-4 (As F-2 but with DB 601E engine, 20 mm MG 151/20 "Motorkanone" cannon replacing the 15 mm MG 151)
- F-4/R1 (capable of mounting two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons in underwing gondolas)
- F-4/R2 (dedicated recon version, 5 built)
- F-4/R3 (dedicated recon version, 36 built)
- F-4/Z (As F-4, high-altitude fighter with GM-1 boost)
- F-4 trop (Tropicalized fighter)
- F-5 (Recon version of F-4, only one prototype known)
- F-6 (planned but not built)