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Heinkel He 112

Fighter · Germany · Interwar (1919–1938)

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The Heinkel He 112 was a German single-seat fighter prototype that competed against the Messerschmitt Bf 109 in the 1935 Luftwaffe fighter competition and lost. About 103 He 112s were built between 1937 and 1939. The aircraft saw limited Luftwaffe combat use, more-large Japanese Navy in-service testing, and front-line combat with Spanish Nationalist, Romanian, and Hungarian air forces during WWII.

The He 112 used a Junkers Jumo 210Ea V-12 engine (700 hp). Maximum speed 510 km/h, range 1,100 km, service ceiling 9,500 m. Armament: 2 × MG 17 7.92 mm machine guns + 2 × 20 mm MG FF cannons (later production). The aircraft was an elegant elliptical-winged design from the Günter brothers (the same designers as the He 70 Blitz). Its performance was broadly comparable to the early Messerschmitt Bf 109B but lost the Luftwaffe competition due to higher production complexity and Willy Messerschmitt's political support.

He 112 export service was extensive given the small production. Japan ordered 30 He 112Bs (designated A7He1 in Japanese service) which served Imperial Japanese Navy land-based fighter units 1937-1940. Spain operated about 19 He 112s in the Spanish Civil War (1938-1939) with Condor Legion + Nationalist Spanish forces. Romania ordered ~30 He 112s; these flew on the Eastern Front 1941-1944. Hungary operated ~20. The aircraft was retired from Romanian service around 1944. About 1 He 112 airframe survives at the Romanian National Military Museum.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Heinkel He 112 was a German fighter prototype from the late 1930s. It competed against the Messerschmitt Bf 109 in 1935 and lost. About 103 He 112s were built between 1937 and 1939. While Germany did not use many He 112s, several other countries did.

The He 112 is 30 feet long with a 31-foot wingspan, smaller than a school bus. One Junkers Jumo 210Ea V-12 engine made 700 horsepower. Top speed is 317 mph, faster than most race cars. Later versions had two MG 17 machine guns plus two 20mm cannons.

The He 112 was made by the same brothers (Siegfried and Walter Günter) who designed the He 70 Blitz. The He 112 had elegant elliptical wings, like the He 70 and the British Spitfire. The Luftwaffe picked the Bf 109 instead because it was simpler to build and politics favored Willy Messerschmitt.

Japan, Spain, Romania, and Hungary all bought He 112s. The Japanese Navy ordered 30 He 112Bs (called A7He1 in Japan) for land-based fighter units from 1937 to 1940. Spanish Nationalists flew He 112s in the Spanish Civil War. Romanian and Hungarian He 112s fought in WWII.

Fun Facts

The He 112 lost the 1935 German fighter contest to the Bf 109.
About 103 He 112s were built between 1937 and 1939.
The He 112 is 30 feet long, smaller than a school bus.
Top speed is 317 mph, faster than most race cars.
The Günter brothers designed both the He 112 and He 70.
Japan, Spain, Romania, and Hungary flew He 112s.
The He 112 had elegant elliptical wings like the British Spitfire.

Kids’ Questions

Why did the Bf 109 win?

The He 112 was a good fighter but harder to build than the Bf 109. The Bf 109 had simpler construction and fewer parts. Willy Messerschmitt also had strong political support in Germany. The Luftwaffe picked the easier and cheaper Bf 109 for mass production. The He 112 was sold to other countries instead.

Why did Japan buy He 112s?

Japan's military was rapidly expanding in the late 1930s. Japan bought German aircraft to test and study advanced fighter designs. The Imperial Japanese Navy ordered 30 He 112Bs in 1938, calling them A7He1. The Japanese Navy used these to defend home airfields and to evaluate European fighter design. The He 112s flew until 1940 in Japanese service.

Where did He 112s fight?

Spanish Nationalists flew about 19 He 112s in the Spanish Civil War from 1938. After WWII began, Romanian and Hungarian He 112s fought against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front. Spanish He 112s were retired by 1947. Romanian and Hungarian He 112s flew until 1944 and 1945.

Variants

He 112A (initial production): Pre-production variant. ~13 built. Used in Luftwaffe evaluation programmes.
He 112B (export production): Main production variant. ~90 built. Exported to Japan, Spain, Romania, Hungary.

Notable Operators

Luftwaffe (evaluation 1937-1939): Limited evaluation use. Never entered front-line fighter service.
Imperial Japanese Navy (1937-1940): 30 He 112Bs as A7He1. Land-based fighter units. Replaced by Mitsubishi A6M Zero.
Spanish Air Force (1938-1947): About 19 He 112s. Spanish Civil War + postwar service through 1947.
Romanian Air Force (1939-1944): About 30 He 112s. Eastern Front fighter operations 1941-1944.
Hungarian Air Force: About 20 He 112s. Limited combat use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the He 112 lose to the Bf 109?

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 had simpler production tooling, easier maintenance, and Willy Messerschmitt's political advantage over Ernst Heinkel. The He 112's performance was actually competitive with the early Bf 109B (similar maximum speed, similar climb rate, slightly better turn rate) but the Luftwaffe procurement decision favoured the Bf 109's industrial advantages. Heinkel was forced to export the He 112 to recoup development costs.

Did Japan use the He 112?

Yes. Imperial Japanese Navy bought 30 He 112Bs in 1937 (designated A7He1) for evaluation as a land-based fighter while waiting for the domestic Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Japanese pilots flew the He 112s in in-service service 1937-1940 before replacement by the Zero. The He 112's modern monoplane design influenced subsequent Japanese fighter development.

How many He 112s were built?

About 103 airframes 1937-1939 at Heinkel Warnemünde. Production was small because the Luftwaffe selected the competing Bf 109; Heinkel built only what export customers ordered.

Sources

Wikipedia — Heinkel He 112