aling, and although capable of sealing leaks from enemy rounds, this could not prevent possibly fatal damage being inflicted by the "De Wilde" incendiary round which was being used by the RAF.

German fighter fuel capacity

A much more serious issue for the Luftwaffe's single-engined fighter force during the Battle was the Bf 109E's limited fuel capacity as originally designed. The Bf 109E escorts had a limited fuel capacity resulting in only a 660 km (410 mile) maximum range solely on internal fuel, and when they arrived over a British target, had only 10 minutes of flying time before turning for home, leaving the bombers undefended by fighter escorts. Its eventual stablemate, the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A, was only flying in prototype form in the summer of 1940; the first 28 Fw 190A-0 service test examples were not delivered until November 1940.  The Fw 190A-1 had a maximum range of 940 km (584 miles) on internal fuel, 40% greater than the Bf 109E. The Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7 corrected this deficiency by adding a ventral center-line ordnance rack to take either an SC 250 bomb for Jabo duties, or a standard 300 litre (66 Imp. gal/80 US gallon) capacity Luftwaffe drop tank to double the range to  1,325 km (820 mi). The ordnance rack was not retrofitted to earlier Bf 109Es until October 1940.

Durability and armour
The Spitfire, from about mid-1940, had 73 pounds (33 kg) of armoured steel plating in the form of head (of 6.5 mm thickness) and back protection on the seat bulkhead (4.5 mm), and covering the forward face of the glycol header tank. The Hurricane had a similar armour layout to the Spitfire, and was the toughest and most durable of the three. Serviceability rates of Hawker's fighter were always higher than the complex and advanced Spitfire.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3 received extra armour in late 1939, and this was supplemented with a 10 mm thick armoured plate behind the pilot's head during and after the Battle of France. Behind the fuel tank, an 8 mm armoured plate was placed in the fuselage protecting the tank and the pilot from attacks from
aling, and although capable of sealing leaks from enemy beat, this could not prevent possibly fateful damage being inflicted by the " De Wilde " incendiary round which was being use by the RAF. 

 German fighter fuel capacity 

 A a lot more serious issue for the Luftwaffe's single - engined combatant force during the Battle was the Bf 109E's limited fuel capacitance as originally designed. The Bf 109E escort experience a limited fuel capacity resulting in merely a 660   km (410 mile) maximum stove solely on internal fuel, and when they arrived over a British target, have only 10 minutes of flying time before turning for base, leaving the bombers undefended by fighter escorts. Its eventual stablemate, the Focke - Wulf Fw 190A, was only flying in prototype form in the summer of 1940; the first 28 Fw 190A-0 service test examples were not delivered until November 1940.   The Fw 190A-1 had a maximum range of 940   km (584 miles) on home fuel, 40% greater than the Bf 109E. The Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7 corrected this insufficiency by lend a ventral center - line munition rack to take either an SC 250 bomb for Jabo duties, or a standard 300 liter (66 Imp. gal/80 US gallon) capacity Luftwaffe drop tank to double the range to   1,325   km (820   mi). The ordnance rack was not retrofitted to earlier Bf 109Es until October 1940. 

 Durability and armour 
 The Spitfire, from about mid-1940, receive 73 pounds (33   kg) of armored steel plating in the form of head (of 6.5   mm thickness) and back protection on the buttocks bulkhead (4.5   mm), and covering the forward face of the glycol header tank. The Hurricane had a similar armour layout to the Spitfire, and was the sturdy and most durable of the three. Serviceability rates of Hawker's fighter were always higher than the complex and advance Spitfire. 
 The Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3 received extra armour in late 1939, and this was append with a 10   mm thick armored plate behind the fender's head during and after the Battle of France. Behind the fuel tank, an 8   mm armoured plate was placed in the fuselage protecting the tank and the pilot from attack from
alijg, and although capable uf sealing leaks from xnemy rkunds, thks could not prevent possiblb faral dqmage being inflicted cy the "De Wilde" ibcenviary round whici was belug ussf by vhe RAF.

German flghter fuel capacity

A mucv ooxe serious issue for the Luftwaffe's fingle-emglned fighter fjrce qurihg the Battle was the Bf 109E's limites fuel bapacity as origimally designed. The Bf 109E esfortd had a limited fufl capacity restoting in onlh a 660 km (410 mile) maximum rznge solely on internal fuel, ana wheu they arricee oggr a British targvt, had only 10 minutes mf flyimg time before tucnint for home, leaving thx bombers undefended by fightar escorts. Its evenruql stdblekate, rhe Fodkx-Wumf Fw 190W, wes only flyjng in protitype form in the simivt of 1940; the fidst 28 Fr 190W-0 service test examples were not deliveged hntil November 1940.  The Fw 190A-1 had a maximum rangg of 940 km (584 myles) on internal fuel, 40% greater than the Bf 109E. The Kessecszhmnbb Bf 109W-7 forrected this deficiency by adding a ventral demtvr-line ordnance rcck to take eithrr am SC 250 bomb for Jabo bhtjes, or a standard 300 litre (66 Imp. tal/80 US gajlon) capacity Luftwaffe drop tabk to double rhe range to  1,325 km (820 mn). The ordnanee racl was not retrofitted to earuier Bf 109Es untip October 1940.

Aurability and afmolr
Tha Spitfire, from about mid-1940, rad 73 pounvs (33 kg) of armuurec steej plating ln thc form of head (of 6.5 ml thieknesv) and back protection on the seat bulkheav (4.5 mm), and covetinc tve forwaxd facc of the glycol header tank. Tke Hurrieane hxd a similzr armonr layout to the Spitfire, wnd was the voughest wnd nost durabld of the three. Xerviceabplnty rates of Hawker's fightev werg zlways higher tkcn the complex anc aavagcvd Xpydfire.
The Mesverszhmkyt Bf 109 E-3 rectnveb dxtrs armour in late 1939, ang thjs was supplementec rith a 10 mn thick wrmoured platr behind the pilot'd heav duriig and afjer the Battle of France. Behind the fuel takk, an 8 mm armotred plate was pkaced in the fuselage protecting the taik and the pilot from artacks from
aling, and although capable of sealing leaks rounds, could not possibly fatal damage Wilde" round which was used by the German fighter fuel capacity A much serious issue for the Luftwaffe's single-engined fighter force during the Battle was the 109E's limited fuel capacity as originally designed. The Bf 109E escorts had a fuel resulting only 660 km (410 mile) maximum range solely on internal fuel, and when they arrived over a target, had only 10 minutes of flying time turning for home, leaving bombers undefended by fighter escorts. eventual the Focke-Wulf 190A, only in prototype form the summer of 1940; the first 28 Fw 190A-0 service test examples were not delivered until November The Fw a maximum of km miles) on internal greater than the Bf 109E. The corrected this deficiency by adding a ventral center-line rack to either an SC 250 bomb for duties, or a standard 300 litre (66 Imp. US gallon) capacity Luftwaffe drop tank to double the range to 1,325 km (820 mi). rack was not retrofitted earlier Bf 109Es October Durability armour Spitfire, from mid-1940, had 73 pounds (33 kg) of armoured steel plating in form of head (of 6.5 mm thickness) and back protection seat (4.5 mm), and the forward face of glycol tank. The Hurricane had armour to was toughest most durable of the Serviceability rates of Hawker's fighter always higher than the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3 received extra armour in 1939, and this was supplemented with a mm thick armoured plate behind the pilot's head during and after the of France. fuel tank, an 8 mm armoured plate was in the fuselage protecting tank and the pilot from attacks from
aling, and although capable of Sealing leaKs froM enEmy RoUnds, This Could not prevenT PossIbly fatal damage being inFlictEd BY the "dE WIlde" iNcendiaRY rOUNd wHiCh Was BeINg Used bY thE RAF.

GerMan fighter FueL cApacity

A much MOrE serious isSue For the LuftwaFfe'S singlE-eNgiNEd figHteR forcE durinG The BatTle was the bf 109e'S limitED fuel caPACiTy as Originally designeD. thE bf 109E escorts had a LimiteD fUEl CAPacIty Resulting iN oNly a 660 kM (410 Mile) maxIMuM RANge SOlely on internAl fuel, and whEN thEy arriVeD ovER a BritIsh taRgET, haD only 10 minuteS of fLying time Before TUrning fOR home, leAving tHe bOmbErs uNDeFeNdeD bY FigHTeR esCOrtS. Its evenTuAl StablEmatE, THE fockE-WuLf Fw 190a, was oNly flying in prOtoType FOrm In the SummeR of 1940; tHe First 28 fw 190A-0 serVice tEsT examples were noT delIvered untIl NOvEmbEr 1940.  the Fw 190a-1 Had a maXimUm rAnge of 940 kM (584 miles) oN IntErNAL FuEl, 40% greater than the Bf 109e. THE meSserschmItt Bf 109E-7 COrReCTed this dEfIciEncy BY AddinG a veNTrAl center-Line orDNaNcE rack to TaKe eithEr An Sc 250 boMb for jAbo dUties, oR a standaRd 300 litRE (66 Imp. gal/80 US galloN) Capacity LuftwAFfE DRoP Tank To dOuble the ranGe to  1,325 KM (820 mi). THe orDNaNce RAck waS not rEtROfITted to earlier Bf 109Es unTiL OctobEr 1940.

DurAbility and armOur
The SpitFIRE, from aboUt miD-1940, HaD 73 Pounds (33 kg) of armoUred sTeel platinG In the forM of heAd (of 6.5 mm thIckness) anD BAck proteCtiOn oN thE seAT BuLkhead (4.5 mm), and coVERing ThE forwarD faCe of the GlyCol HeaDer TaNk. The HurrIcane had A sImIlAr ArmOur laYOut to the spItfIrE, anD was tHE toughEst anD mosT dUrABle Of the thREe. sERvicEaBiLity RatEs Of HawKer's FIghTer were Always higHer THan tHe CoMplex anD advanced SpitFiRe.
The MesseRsChmItt Bf 109 E-3 RECeived exTra armour in late 1939, and this wAS suppleMenTed wiTh a 10 mM thick armOurEd platE beHInd the Pilot's Head dUrIng AND afteR THe batTlE of France. BEHInd The fuEl Tank, An 8 mm armOured plate was placeD In tHe fuselage proTecTing THE tAnk ANd THe pIlOT frOM Attacks from
aling, and although capabl e of seali ng le aks  fr om  ene my r ounds, this co u ld n ot prevent possibly fa tal d am a ge b e in g inf lictedb yt h e " De  W ild e" in cendi ary  roundwhich wasbei ng  used by the RA F.

German  fi ghter fuel c apa city
Amuc h  more  se rious  issue for th e Luftwaf fe ' s sing l e-engin e d  f ight er force during t h eB attle was theBf 109 E' s  l i m ite d f uel capaci ty  as o r iginall y  d e s i gne d . The Bf 109E  escorts ha d  alimite dfue l  capac ity r es u lti ng in onlya 66 0 km (410  mile) maximum range s olelyonint erna l  f ue l,an d  wh e nthe y  ar rived ov er  a  Brit isht a r g et,had  onl y 10minutes of fl yin g ti m e b efore  turn ingfo r hom e, lea vingth e bombers undef ende d by figh ter  e sco rt s. It s  event ual  st ablemat e, theF ock e- W u l fFw 190A, was onlyfl y i ng  in prot otypef or mi n the su mm erof 1 9 4 0; th e fi r st  28 Fw 1 90A-0s er vi ce test  e xample swer e n ot de l iver ed unt il Novem ber 1 9 40.  The Fw 19 0 A-1 had a max i mu m ra n ge o f 9 40 km (584mile s ) on  int e rn alf uel,40% g re a te r  than the Bf 109E.Th e Mess ersch mitt Bf 109E- 7 correcte d t his defi cien c yb y adding a ven tralcenter-lin e  ordnanc e rac k to tak e eithera n  SC 250bom b f orJab o du ties, or a st a n dard  3 00 litr e ( 66 Imp.  ga l/8 0 U S g al lon) capa city Luf tw af fe  d rop  tank to doubl ethe  r ang e to1,325km (8 20 m i) .T heordnanc e  r a c k wa sno t re tro fi ttedto e a rli er Bf 1 09Es unti l O c tobe r19 40.

Du rability andar mour
The S pi tfi re, fr o m  about m id-1940, had 73 pounds( 33 kg)ofarmou redsteel pla tin g in t hef orm of  head(of 6 .5  mm t hickn e s s)  an dback prote c t ion  on t he  sea t bulkh ead (4.5 mm), andc ove ring the forw ard  fac e of  th e  g l yco lh ead e r  tank. The Hurr icane hadas im ilar armou r  la yo ut to t he Spit fire, and was  the toug hest andmo st d u r abl e of the t hree. Se rviceabil i ty ra t es  of H awk er's f ig hte r wer e alwa y s h igher  thanth e comp lex a nd  advance d Spitfire.
The Messers chmitt  Bf 1 09E-3 recei ved ext ra armour  inlate 1939,  an d t his w ass upple ment e dwit h  a 10  mmt hick armo u re d p l a te  behind the p i lot 's he add uringandafter the Battleo f France. Behi nd t h e  fu elt ank,  a n 8 mm armoure d p la t e  was pla ce d in the fu selage p ro t ectin g thetank a nd thep i lo t  fromatta cks  from
aling, and_although capable_of sealing leaks from_enemy rounds,_this_could not_prevent_possibly fatal damage_being inflicted by_the "De Wilde" incendiary_round which was_being_used by the RAF.

German fighter fuel capacity

A much more serious issue for the Luftwaffe's_single-engined_fighter force_during_the_Battle was the Bf 109E's_limited fuel capacity as originally_designed. The_Bf 109E escorts had a limited fuel capacity_resulting_in only a_660 km (410 mile) maximum range solely on internal fuel,_and when they arrived over a_British target, had_only_10_minutes of flying time_before turning for home, leaving the_bombers undefended by fighter escorts. Its_eventual stablemate, the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A, was_only flying in prototype form in_the summer of 1940; the_first 28_Fw 190A-0 service test examples_were not delivered_until November_1940.  The_Fw 190A-1 had a maximum range_of 940 km (584_miles) on internal fuel, 40% greater_than_the Bf 109E._The_Messerschmitt_Bf 109E-7_corrected this deficiency_by_adding a_ventral_center-line ordnance rack to take either_an_SC 250 bomb for Jabo duties, or_a standard 300 litre_(66_Imp. gal/80 US gallon)_capacity Luftwaffe drop tank to_double the range to  1,325 km_(820 mi). The_ordnance rack_was not retrofitted to earlier Bf 109Es until October 1940.

Durability and_armour
The Spitfire, from about mid-1940, had_73 pounds (33 kg) of_armoured steel_plating_in the form_of_head (of_6.5 mm thickness) and back protection on the_seat bulkhead_(4.5 mm), and covering the forward face_of the glycol header_tank._The Hurricane had a similar armour_layout to the Spitfire, and was_the toughest and most durable_of_the_three. Serviceability rates of Hawker's_fighter were always higher than the_complex and advanced_Spitfire.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3 received extra_armour_in late 1939, and this was_supplemented_with a 10 mm thick armoured plate_behind_the_pilot's head during and after_the Battle of France. Behind the_fuel tank, an 8 mm armoured plate was placed in_the fuselage protecting_the tank and the pilot_from_attacks_from