Daimler-Benz DB 601
| DB 601 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Preserved Daimler-Benz DB 601. | |
| Type | Piston V12 aircraft engine |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Daimler-Benz |
| First run | 1935 |
| Major applications | Messerschmitt Bf 109 |
| Developed from | Daimler-Benz DB 600 |
| Variants |
Aichi Atsuta Kawasaki Ha-40 |
| 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, by Kawasaki as the Ha-40, and in Italy by Alfa Romeo as the R.A.1000 R.C.41-I Monsone.
Based on the guidelines laid down by the German "Reichverkehrsministerium" (Ministry of Transport), in 1930 Daimler-Benz began development of a new aero engine of the 30 l (1,800 cu in) displacement class: a liquid-cooled inverted-vee 12-cylinder piston engine. This was designated F4, and by 1931 two prototypes were running on the test bench. These were followed by the improved F4B, which became the prototype for the DB 600.
In 1933, Daimler-Benz finally received a contract to develop its new engine and to build six examples of the DB 600. For the year after, the DB 600 was the only German aero engine in the 30-litre class. In total, 2281 DB 600s were built.
The DB 601A-1 was a development of the DB 600 with mechanical direct fuel injection. Like all DB 601s, it had a 33.9 litre displacement. The first DB 601A-1 prototype, designated as F4E, was test run in 1935, and an order for 150 engines was placed in February 1937.
Serial production began in November 1937, and ended in 1943, after 19,000 examples of all types were produced.
Data from
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Wikipedia