BF109s - which is best and why?

[David603]

The E is the basic Bf109 model in the game. Rather slow compared to late war fighters, pretty average manoeuvrability, quite good climb rate and reasonably well armed with 2 wing mounted 20mm MG/FF cannon and 2 fuselage mounted 7.92mm MGs.

The F is the nicest Bf109 to fly. Its faster than the E, climbs and dives better and is more manoeuvrable too. On paper the armament of 1 20mm MG151 cannon and 2 7.92mm MGs looks worse than the E's armament, but all the guns are fuselage mounted which makes them more accurate and the MG151 cannon is better than the older MG/FF cannon the E has.

The G2 can be treated like an F but with slightly better speed and slightly worse manoeuvrability. Standard armament remains the same, but you can carry the 2 MG151/20 gun pods which gives the G2 a very heavy punch but reduces speed and manoeuvrability to a certain extent.

The G6 is no quicker than the G2, and manoeuvrability is down because of extra weight. Some of this extra weight comes in the form of a pair of 13mm MGs which replace the cowling mounted 7.92mm MGs, which gives a nice boost to the default firepower. Same option to add 2 M151/20s in gunpods, but the extra weight seems to affect the G6 more than the G2 because the G6 is heavier to start with.

The G10 gets a big boost in engine power over over the G6, and is faster. Climb rate is very good, and you get a 30mm Mk108 cannon instead of the 20 mm MG151 of the older G models. Same gunpod options, but with the 30mm gun you have more than adequate firepower without them and a G10 without gun pods is more agile and a good deal faster than a G6 with with the extra guns.

The K4 is the final step for the Bf109. Basically as per the G10 but a bit faster and slightly less maneuoverable. One of the fastest, in fact probably the fastest prop engined fighter in the game.

This information is drawn from reading up on the Bf109 and a lot of flying in Bf109s over the years in Il2 1946, and it should be valid in Birds of Prey.