          The Me410A-2/U4 "Hornisse" Zerstorer

VERSION 1.1 - Summary of changes:  New camoflage pattern,
direct access of .INT file (single file swap)

The Me410 series grew out of the disastrous Me210 series of
aircraft, which in turn were to replace the Bf110 as twin-
engined fighters and fighter-bombers.  Essentially, the Me410
is an Me210 with the bugs fixed.  The designation was changed
for political reasons.

The Me410A-2/U4 was a "zerstorer" (heavy fighter) as opposed
to the A-1 "schnellbomber" versions, which carried bombs.
Instead, the A-2/U4 had a 50mm BK 5 cannon with a 21 round
cylindrical magazine in addition to the normal 2 x MG 17
7.9mm and the 2 x MG 151 20mm cannon, all housed in the nose.
There were also two remotely controlled barbettes housing MG
131 13mm machine guns facing to the rear.
Top speed was 388 mph.

The "Hornissengeschwader", II/ZG 26, racked up a large tally
of bomber kills with the Me410A-2/U4 as they had received a
number of them.  However, on 13 May 44, the Gruppe was
bounced by some P-51D Mustangs on the way to intercept a
bomber raid on Poznan.  They suffered such heavy casualties
that they were stood down as a unit, later reforming with FW
190s.

The Me410B-2/U4 was very similar to the above, but had only 2
x MK103 cannon in addition to the 50mm BK 5.  Top speed was
slightly better, at 391 mph.  Reportedly one hundred of the
Me410B-2/U4 were built.

There were many other Me410 versions, one with 6 x MG151 20mm
cannon and two 7.9mm machineguns!

HOW TO USE THESE THREE MOD PLANES

1.  Copy the JU88A1.PAC and JU88A1S.PAC files, the
ME410A.EXP, ME410B.EXP, and the ME410BU2.EXP files into the
SWOTL\AC subdirectory.  Copy the ME410.INT into the SWOTL\CP
subdirectory.

2.  Then make a backup of your ME163B.SPC file, you must call
it ME163B.ORI for the batch files to work.

3. Run either the Me410a.bat, Me410b.bat, or Me410bu2.bat
files by typing the plane you want, followed by the letter of
the hard drive where swotl resides.  IE, type "ME410A C" and
the file will automatically load.  The game will give you a
Me410 in any mission calling for a Me163.

4.  The HORNISSE.MIS is a custom mission featuring this
    plane.  There is not a .TXT file to accompany it.

OR, MANUALLY:
Copy either the ME410A.EXP file, the ME410B.EXP file, or the
ME410BU2.EXP as the ME163B.SPC file, for example:
COPY ME410A.EXP ME163B.SPC <ENTER>
------------------------------------------------------------
To remove any one of the three versions, simply type
"NO410 C" for example, if your SWOTL was on the C drive.  The
NO410 will remove any of the three versions.

(The ME410A.EXP file will give you an Me410A-2/U4, while the
ME410B.EXP file will give you an Me410B-2/U4.
The ME410BU2.EXP file will give you an Me410B-2/U2, which had
4 x 20mm MG151 cannons and 2 x 7.9mm MGs in the nose in
addition to the 2 x MG131 13mm remotely controlled
barbettes.)

5.  To use the 2 x 13mm remotely controlled barbettes with
500 r.p.g. <Grin> simply push the "G" button, and then press
"2" to go to the tail position.  No other gun position is
active (ammo=0).  Then place the guns on autofire by pressing
"A".  Return to the piot's position with a "P".  Note that
this is all standard B17 instructions.  To manually fire the
guns would be unrealistic, so for maximum historical
enjoyment I would recommend placing the rear barbettes on
autofire and then leaving them alone.


If you are really feeling adventurous, make a backup of your
BGERMSTR.PAC file and type this DEBUG:

DEBUG BGERMSTR.PAC
E 300 20 32 31
E 30D 35
E 312 42 4B 20 35 20 20
W
Q
This will place the words "50mm BK 5, 21 rounds of ammo" in
the weapons menu. <Grin>

The hexing for the two remotely controlled barbettes was
discovered by Chris Rice, who found the way to bypass having
a B17 interior and still get gun positions.  Thanks, Chris!

Data from "Warplanes of the Third Reich" by William Green.

Created by Gregory M. "Sturmer" Smith