Daimler-Benz DB 601

DB 601
	Preserved Daimler-Benz DB 601.
Type	Piston V12 aircraft engine
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Daimler-Benz
First run	1930s
Major applications	Messerschmitt Bf 109
Developed from	Daimler-Benz DB 600
Developed into	Daimler-Benz DB 603 ; Daimler-Benz DB 605

The Daimler-Benz DB 601 was a German aircraft engine built during World War II. It was a liquid-cooled inverted V12, and powered the Messerschmitt Bf 109, among others. The DB 601 was basically an improved DB 600 with direct fuel injection.

The DB 601Aa was licence-built in Japan by Aichi as the Atsuta and Kawasaki as the Ha-40 to be used in the Kawasaki Ki-61 and in Italy by Alfa Romeo as the R.A.1000 R.C.41-I Monsone for use in the Macchi C.202.

Development

F4

Based on the guidelines laid down by the Reichswehrministerium (Imperial Ministry of Defence), in 1929 Daimler-Benz began development of a new aero engine of the 30-litre class: a liquid-cooled inverted-Vee 12-cylinder piston engine.^[1] This was designated F4, and by 1931 two prototypes were running on the test bench.^[1] These were followed by the improved F4 B, which became the prototype for the DB 600.^[1]

DB 600

In 1933, Daimler-Benz finally received a contract to develop its new engine and to build six examples of the DB 600.^[1] For the year after, the DB 600 was the only German aero engine in the 30-litre class.^[1] In total, 2281 DB 600s were built.^[1]

The DB 601A-1 was a development of the DB 600 with direct fuel injection. Like all DB 601s, it had a 33.9 litre displacement.^[1] The first prototype with the direct fuel injection, designated as F4E, was test run in 1935, and an order for 150 engines was placed in February 1937.^[1]

Serial production begun in in November 1937, and ended in 1943, after 19,000 examples of all types were produced.^[1]

Variants

DB601 A-1: Up to 1,100 PS (809 kW) at sea-level with 2,400 rpm, up to 1,020 PS (750 kW) at 2,400 rpm and 4.5 km altitude, B4 fuel
DB601 Aa: Up to 1,175 PS (864 kW) at sea-level with 2,500 rpm, up to 1,100 PS (809 kW) at 2,400 rpm and 3.7 km altitude, B4 fuel
DB601 B-1/Ba: Same as DB601 A-1/Aa for use in Messerschmitt Bf 110 and/or bomber aircraft (different prop/engine ratio, 1:1.88 instead of 1:1.55)
DB601N: Up to 1,175 PS (864 kW) at sea-level and at 4.9 km altitude with 2,600 rpm, C3 fuel; Up to 1,270 PS (934 kW) at 2.1 km altitude with 2,600 rpm
DB601P: Same as DB601N for use in Messerschmitt Bf 110 and/or bomber aircraft (different prop/engine ratio, 1:1.88 instead of 1:1.55)
DB601E: Up to 1,350 PS (993 kW) at sea-level with 2,700 rpm, up to 1,320 PS (970 kW) with 2.700 rpm at 4.8 km altitude, B4 fuel; Up to 1,450 PS (1,066 kW) at 2.1 km altitude with 2,700 rpm
DB601F/G: Same as DB601E for use in Messerschmitt Bf 110, Messerschmitt Me 210 and/or bomber aircraft (different prop/engine ratio,1:1.875 (601F), 1:2.06 (601G) instead of 1:1.685)
DB606A/B: Two DB601F or G coupled to work on a single propeller shaft for use in early Heinkel He 177 - 2,700 PS (1,986 kW) at sea level

Applications

DB 601

Licensees

Aichi Atsuta

Alfa Romeo RA 1000 RC 41

Kawasaki Ha-40

Kawasaki Ki-61

Specifications (DB 601Aa)

Data from ^[2]

General characteristics

Type: Twelve-cylinder liquid-cooled supercharged 60° inverted Vee aircraft piston engine
Bore: 150 mm (5.91 in)
Stroke: 160 mm (6.30 in)
Displacement: 33.93 L (2,070.5 in³)
Length: 1,722 mm (68 in)
Dry weight: 590 kg (1,320 lb)

Components

Valvetrain: Two intake and two sodium-cooled exhaust valves per cylinder actuated via a single overhead camshaft per cylinder block.
Supercharger: Gear-driven single-speed centrifugal type supercharger
Fuel system: Fuel injection
Oil system: Dry sump with one pressure and two scavenge pumps
Cooling system: Liquid-cooled

Performance

Power output:
865 kW (1,175 PS or 1,159 hp) at 2,500 rpm for takeoff
787 kW (1,070 PS or 1,050 hp) at 2,400 rpm at 3,700 m (12,140 ft)
Specific power: 25.52 kW/l (0.56 hp/in³)
Compression ratio: 6.9:1
Specific fuel consumption: 270 g/(kW·h) (0.44 lb/(hp·h))
Power-to-weight ratio: 1.47 kW/kg (0.89 hp/lb)

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Mankau&Petrick, 2001. pp. 347-355
^ Tsygulev (1939). Aviacionnye motory voennykh vozdushnykh sil inostrannykh gosudarstv ([[:Template:Lang-ru]]). Moscow: Gosudarstvennoe voennoe izdatelstvo Narkomata Oborony Soyuza SSR. {{cite book}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)

Bibliography

Mankau, Heinz and Peter Petrick. Messerschmitt Bf 110, Me 210, Me 410. Raumfahrt, Germany: Aviatic Verlag, 2001. ISBN 3-92550-562-8.

External links

[autogenerated1-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Mankau&Petrick, 2001. pp. 347-355

[tsygulev-2] Tsygulev (1939). Aviacionnye motory voennykh vozdushnykh sil inostrannykh gosudarstv ([[:Template:Lang-ru]]). Moscow: Gosudarstvennoe voennoe izdatelstvo Narkomata Oborony Soyuza SSR. {{cite book}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)

[1]

[2]

v t e Daimler-Benz aircraft engines
Piston engines	DB 600 series DB 600 DB 601 DB 602 DB 603 DB 604 DB 605 DB 606 DB 607 DB 609 DB 610 DB 612 DB 613 DB 614 DB 616 DB 621 DB 622 DB 627 DB 628 DB 632
Turbofans	109-007 DB 730
Turboprops/Turboshafts	109-021 DB 720 DB 721

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