Daimler-Benz DB 603

DB 603
	Preserved Daimler-Benz DB 603 with cutaway sections.
Type	Piston V12 aircraft engine
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Daimler-Benz
First run	1940s
Major applications	Messerschmitt Me 410; Dornier Do 217; Focke-Wulf Ta 152
Developed from	Daimler-Benz DB 601

The Daimler-Benz DB 603 engine was a German aircraft engine used during World War 2. It was a liquid-cooled in-line 12 cylinder inverted V12 enlargement of the DB 601, which was in itself a development of the DB 600. Production of the DB 603 commenced in May 1942.^[1]

The DB 603 powered several aircraft, including the Do 217 N&M, Do 335, He 219, Me 410 and Ta 152C.

Design and development

The Mercedes-Benz T80 land speed record car, designed by aircraft engineer Josef Mickl with assistance from Ferdinand Porsche and top German Grand Prix racing driver Hans Stuck, incorporated the third prototype DB 603. It ran on pure alcohol with MW injection and was tuned to 3,000 hp (2,200 kW) — enough, it was believed, to propel the aerodynamic three-axle T80 up to 750 km/h on the Dessau autobahn in January 1940 during Rekord Woche (Record/Speed Week). Due to the outbreak of the war in September 1939, the T80 (nicknamed Schwarz Vogel, "Black Bird") never raced. The DB 603 engine was removed from the vehicle for use in fighter aircraft.

Variants

Production versions

DB 603A, rated altitude of 5.7 km, B4 fuel

Power (max): 1287 kW (1750 PS) at 2700 rpm at sea level

Combat power: 1162 kW (1580 PS) at 2500 rpm at sea level

DB 603AA DB 603A with rated altitude of 7.3 km, B4 fuel

Power (max): 1228 kW (1670 PS) at 2700 rpm at sea level

Combat power: 1162 kW (1580 PS) at 2500 rpm at sea level

DB 603E rated altitude of 7.0 km, B4 fuel

Power (max): 1324 kW (1800 PS) at 2700 rpm at sea level

Combat power: 1158 kW (1575 PS) at 2500 rpm at sea level

Prototypes and other versions

DB 603D, a DB 603A with propellers rotating counter-clockwise; production unknown
DB 603F, a DB 603E with propellers rotating counter-clockwise; production unknown
DB 603G (production cancelled)

Power (max): 1397 kW (1900 PS) at 2700 rpm at sea level

Combat power: 1147 kW (1560 PS) at 2700 rpm at sea level

DB 603L/LA (prototype with two-stage supercharger, B4 fuel)

Power (max): 1471 kW (2000 PS)

DB 603N (prototype with two-stage supercharger, C3 fuel)

Power (max): 2059 kW (2800 PS) at 3000 rpm at sea level

Continuous: 1420 kW (1930 PS) at 2700 rpm at sea level

DB 603S (DB 603A with experimental TK-11 turbo-supercharger)

Power (max): Not known.

DB 613 Series of experimental "power system" coupled side-by-side twinned DB 603s, arranged as the DB 606 and DB 610 had been previously, and meant to replace the 606 and 610, in prototype form only from March 1940 through 1943.

Power (max): Not known.

DB 614 a 2000hp development.
DB 615 Coupled DB 614 engines
DB 617 A long-range derivative of the DB603
DB 618 Coupled DB617 engines
DB 622 A DB 603 with a two-stage super charger and single stage turbocharger
DB 623 A DB603 with twin turbochargers
DB 624 A DB 603 with a two-stage super charger and single stage turbocharger
DB 626 A DB603 with twin turbochargers and intercooler
DB 627 The DB603 fitted with a two-stage supercharger and after-cooler.
DB 631 An abandoned three stage supercharged DB603G.
DB 632 A projected development of the DB603N with contra-rotating propellers.

All power data is given in metric horsepower as stated per manufacturer. Power (max) is Takeoff and Emergency power (5-min-rating), combat power is climb and combat power (30-min rating), continuous is without time limit.

Applications

Blohm & Voss BV 155
Blohm & Voss BV 238
Dornier Do 217
Dornier Do 335
Fiat G.56 - two prototypes flown
Focke-Wulf Ta 152
Heinkel He 177B - prototype aircraft series
Heinkel He 219
Heinkel He 274
Macchi MC.207 - experimental installation, not flown
Messerschmitt Me 410
Reggiane Re.2006- experimental installation, not flown

Specifications (DB 603A)

Data from Jane's^[2]

General characteristics

Type: 12-cylinder liquid-cooled supercharged inverted Vee aircraft piston engine
Bore: 162 mm (6.38 in)
Stroke: 180 mm (7.09 in)
Displacement: 44.52 L (2,716.9 in³)
Length: 2610.5 mm (102.8 in)
Diameter: 830 mm (32.7 in)
Dry weight: 920 kg (2,030 lb)

Components

Supercharger: Gear-driven centrifugal type supercharger
Fuel system: Direct fuel injection
Cooling system: pressurized water cooling

Performance

Power output:
1,287 kW (1,750 PS) for takeoff
1,111 kW (1,510 PS) maximum continuous
Specific power: 26.7 kW/L (0.59 hp/in³)
Compression ratio: 7.5:1 left cylinder bank, 7.3:1 right cylinder bank
Specific fuel consumption: 0.288 kg/(kW·h) (0.474 lb/(hp·h))
Power-to-weight ratio: 1.29 kW/kg (0.79 hp/lb)

References

Notes

^ Gunston 1989, p.48.
^ Jane's 1989, p.290.

Bibliography

Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9
Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London. Studio Editions Ltd, 1989. ISBN 0-517-67964-7
Neil Gregor Daimler-Benz in the Third Reich. Yale University Press, 1998

External links

Aviation History.com, DB 600 series page

[1] Gunston 1989, p.48.

[2] Jane's 1989, p.290.

[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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