The Messerschmitt Me163 "Komet" was another of the Luftwaffe's secret wonder weapons which were supposed to help turn the tide of the war. A radical little fighter, it was developed from an experimental, high speed research aircraft. The Komet's rocket engine was the secret to its exceptional performance but it was also its foible. The rocket consumed great quantities of fuel giving it about 8 minutes of powered flight time despite the fact that the Me163 carried almost two and a half tons of fuel. Streaking up to 36,000 feet in a matter of minutes, and with an operating speed of 600mph, the Komet was almost invulnerable to interception. However, its armament of only two MK108 cannons with 60 rounds apiece made it somewhat ineffective against bombers. Because it required special serving, it was restricted to specific bases, which once identified by the Allies were easily avoided. Patrolling the fields with Allied fighters also worked well, and a number of Komets were shot down while slowed for landing.
TACTICS: Dogfight! Unlike other German high-speed aircraft, the Komet has good maneuver capability and sparkling acceleration.
STRENGTHS: Extremely fast with high rate of climb. Good maneuverability.
WEAKNESSES: Ammunition is quite limited. Tiny airframe cannot survive major damage. Volatile rocket fuel tank is vulnerable to damage and explosion.
