Editing Blohm & Voss BV 155 (section)

==Me 155==
The story of the BV 155 began at [[Messerschmitt]] in the spring of 1942. A requirement had arisen for a carrier-based single-seat [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]] to be based aboard the [[aircraft carrier]] {{Ship|German aircraft carrier|Graf Zeppelin||2}}, then under construction. In response, Messerschmitt proposed the '''Me 409''', later renamed '''Me 155'''. In the interest of economy and simplicity, it was to use as many [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]] components as possible, being basically a navalized version of the earlier Messerschmitt fighter.

The Me 155 was to be powered by a [[DB 605]]A-1 liquid-cooled engine of 1,475&nbsp;[[Horsepower#PS|PS]] (1,455&nbsp;hp, 1,085&nbsp;kW). The [[fuselage]] was more or less that of the standard Bf 109G, but with an entirely new wing. The [[Landing gear|undercarriage]] retracted inwards into wing wells, providing the wider track required for safe carrier landings. Standard naval equipment such as [[folding wing]]s, [[Aircraft catapult|catapult]] spools, and [[arrester gear]] were to be fitted. Proposed armament was an engine mounted 20&nbsp;mm [[MG 151 cannon]] and two 20&nbsp;mm MG 151 cannons and two 13&nbsp;mm (.51&nbsp;in) [[MG 131 machine gun]]s in wings. It had an estimated maximum speed of 649&nbsp;km/h (403&nbsp;mph). Three variants were worked out, the Me 155A with one Junkers Jumo 213, the Me 155B powered by a [[DB 605#Variants|DB 628]], which was basically a [[DB 605]]A with a two-stage mechanical [[supercharger]] with an induction cooler, and the Me 155C with one DB 605A.

Detail design of the Me 155 was complete by September 1942. However, the numerous delays in the ''Graf Zeppelin'' seemed to indicate that the completion of the carrier would be at least two years away. Messerschmitt was told to shelve the Me 155 project for the indefinite future. Work on the ''Graf Zeppelin'' carrier was eventually abandoned.

===Me 155A===
In order that all of that work on the Me 155 project not go entirely to waste, Messerschmitt adapted its design in November 1942 to match a ''Luftwaffe'' requirement for a fast single seat bomber. A single 1,000&nbsp;kg (2,210&nbsp;lb) [[SC1000 bomb]] was to be carried. All of the carrier equipment and most of the armament was removed from the aircraft. Additional [[fuel tank]]s were provided and an elongated, non-retractable tailwheel was added to provide ground clearance for the large bomb. The proposal was designated Me 155A in late 1942.{{Sfn | Munson | 1978 | p =  33}}

===Me 155B===
By the end of 1942, the increasing number of USAAF bombing raids and intelligence coming in about the new American B-29 [[bomber]] led the ''Luftwaffe'' to revive development of the Me 155B. The engine was to be the DB 628, which was basically a DB 605A with a two-stage mechanical supercharger with an induction cooler. A [[Cabin pressurization|pressurized cabin]] was to be provided. It was estimated that a service ceiling of 14,097&nbsp;m (46,250&nbsp;ft) could be attained.

A converted Bf 109G adapted to take the DB 628 engine flew in May 1942 and attained an altitude of 15,500&nbsp;m (50,850&nbsp;ft). However, the ''Technische Amt'' concluded that a [[DB 603]]A engine with an exhaust-driven [[Twincharger|turbosupercharger]] was more promising. The DB 603A provided 1,201&nbsp;kW (1,610&nbsp;hp) for takeoff and 1,081&nbsp;kW (1,450&nbsp;hp) at 15,000&nbsp;m (49,210&nbsp;ft). This engine change required that the fuselage be elongated in order to house the turbosupercharger aft of the pressure cabin. Exhaust gases were carried to the turbosupercharger via external ducts. Air was drawn in through via a ventral trough aft of the wing. Standard Bf 109G wings were to be fitted outboard of a new, long-[[Wingspan|span]], untapered wing center section. Other parts were scavenged from existing Messerschmitt designs – the vertical tail was from the Me 209, and the horizontal tail and the undercarriage were taken from the Bf 109G. The resulting revision of the Me 155B was designated '''P.1091''' by Messerschmitt.

In August 1943, the RLM realised that Messerschmitt was over-committed and transferred the design work to Blohm & Voss. The design team there came to the conclusion that the existing Messerschmitt design had too many weaknesses and a complete redesign would be necessary.<ref name="Amtmann63-4">Hans Amtmann; ''The Vanishing Paperclips'', Monogram, 1988, Pages 63-64.</ref>{{Sfn | Munson | 1978 | p =  33}}