- Bf.109E-0: The pre-production version, derived directly from the V14 prototype. It was powered by the Daimler-Benz DB601A engine rated at 1085hp (809Kw) that would power all sub-variants. It was armed with two 7.92mm (0.312in) MG17 placed in a cowl above the nose, and one 20mm MGFF placed in each wing.
- Bf.109E-1: The production version of the E-0. It kept the MG17s above the engine and the other ones in the wings. Later they were modified to the E-3 armament standards. There was a small batch called E-1/B, which became the first Jagdbomber (fighter bomber), with a rack under the fuselage to carry either one 250Kg (550lb) bomb or four 50Kg (110lb) bombs. It was also fitted with the Reflexvisier gunsight and the FuG 7 Funkgerät short range radio. A total of 1183 E-1s were built with 110 of those being part of the E-1/B.
- Bf.109E-2: A very limited sub-variant based on the V20 prototype. It was armed with the wing mounted MG FF plus one motorkannone gun firing through the propeller hub plus the ones mounted above the engine. It was troublesome when in combat and in August 1940 only a handfull of them were in service with the II./JG.27 Squadron.
- Bf.109E-3: In order to improve the performance of the E-1, two more prototypes were built, V16 and V17, which received some structural improvements and more powerful armament. This variant was armed with the two MG17s above the engine and one MG FF cannon in each wing. A total 1276 E-3s were built among them 83 E-3a export version built for Yugoslavia.
- Bf.109E-4: This was a revised variant with armoured canopy and new MGFF/M which could fire a new type of explosive shell called Minengeschoss. The cockpit canopy was also revised to be easier-to-produce "square design" improving also the field of view. It was retrofitted to many E-1 and E-3s and remained unchanged until Autumn 1942 with the introduction of the G sub-variant. This sub-variant was the basis for every further development of the Bf.109 and some of them were fitted with the DB601N engine rated at 1159hp (864Kw) those being called Bf.109E-4/N. However, as it was the standard engine of the Bf.110, a very few of them were converted. In fact only one fighter group had some of them in service in July 1940. It was also available in the fighter-bomber version with a rack for either one 250 Kg bomb or four 50Kg bombs. These fighter-bomber variants were known as Bf.109E-4/B or Bf.109E-4/BN depending on the engine they were powered by. A total of 561 E-4s were manufactured.
- Bf.109E-5 and Bf.109E-6: Both were reconnaissance variants with a photographic camera placed behind the cockpit. The E-5 variant was the reconnaissance version of the E-3 while the E-6 was the reconnaissance variant of the E-4/N. A total of only 29 E-5 were built and just 9 E-6s.
- Bf.109E-7: The next major production variant. It entered into service in late August 1940 and, as the original E-3 and E-4 had a limited range due to its conception as an interceptor, it was the first sub-variant to feature a 300L (80 US Gals, 66 Imperial Gals.) drop tank placed on a rack under the fuselage. Thanks to the drop tank, the range increased to 1325Km (820 Milles). It was possible to replace the drop tank with a 250Kg bomb or four 50Kg bombs. From October 1940 many of the previous sub-variants were retrofitted with the drop-tank. Early E-7s were still powered by the DB601A engine while the later ones were fitted with the DB601N high altittude engine. A total of 438 E-7 were built.
- Bf.109E-8: An E-1 retrofitted with the 300L drop tank.
- Bf.109E-9: A recon version of the E-7/N with a photographic camera and the drop tank.
Apart from that many of the sub-variants, specially the E-4 and E-7 were fitted with sand filters to be used in tropical areas and were designated as E-4/Trop or E-7/Trop.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_109_variants#Bf_109E
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
3. Signal Squadron - Aircraft In action 44 - Messerschmitt Bf-109 in Action Pt.1
4. Osprey - Air Vanguard 23 - Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-F series
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