During the North African campaign, the Bf.110D (as well as many Bf.110Cs) acted supporting the Junkers Ju.87 Stuka. In fact, during 1941 almost the 20% of the Zerstörergeschwader's missions, were ground-attack oriented. Is in this context that we can find some modifications like the Bf.110C with an Mk.101 gun attached to the belly in order to increase its anti-tank capabilities. Many Bf.110s aces were lost in this campaign as their losses were considerable. In fact, during the night of 22-23 May the Bf.110D was pressed into night combat over the desert. Oblt. Alfred Wehmeyer managed to score three allied bombers in the space of a week. During a stalemate between Allied and Axis in August 1942, allowed the III./ZG.26 to escape to the island of Crete where they were assigned to convoy protection duties. During that time, a number of American B-24 Liberators were destroyed. On 29th September 1942 Oblt. Helmut Hauk, of the ZG.26 engaged a formation of 11 B-24s destroying two of them while patrolling alone. It was thanks to that excellence as night-fighter and its effectiveness, that it was assigned to the main European theatre as a night fighter.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_110_operational_history#North_Africa,_the_Mediterranean_and_Middle_East
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
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