Junkers Ju 188

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Junkers Ju 188
Junkers Ju 188 E-1
Junkers Ju 188 E-1
Type: Bomber and reconnaissance aircraft
Design country:

German Reich NSGerman Reich (Nazi era) German Empire

Manufacturer:

Junkers

First flight:

1941

Commissioning:

1943

Production time:

1943 to 1945

Number of pieces:

1234

The Junkers Ju 188 was a fighter aircraft of the German Air Force during World War II . It was mainly used as a bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.

development

The Junkers Ju 188 was a twin-engined mid - decker with retractable landing gear and initially had a crew of three. The machine was a further development of the Junkers Ju 88. It was powered by two 12-cylinder V-engines Jumo 213A (A and D series) or by two 14-cylinder double radial engines BMW 801 G-2 (E and F series). The first flight of the Ju 88 V44 (Ju 188 V1) took place in 1941.

Compared to the original type, the pulpit, the tail unit and the wings have essentially been changed. A so-called combat head was created in which all crew members were grouped in close proximity to one another in the front fuselage area. But the power of the engines was also increased, the wings and general aerodynamics improved.

production

Series production of the Ju 188 ran from February 1943 to February 1945. A total of 1234 aircraft were produced. Production was distributed over the individual years as follows:

1943: 174 bombers, 109 reconnaissance planes
1944: 434 bombers, 484 reconnaissance planes
1945: 33 reconnaissance planes

Five different versions were built in series. A number of projects also emerged, some of which (J / K / L series) the further development of the Ju 388 was based.

Construction figures of the Ju 188 up to February 28, 1945 :

version Junkers ATG Siebel TOTAL production
E-1 263 263 February 1943 to May 1944
F-1 222 222 April 1943 to July 1944
A-2 71 72 140 283 September 1943 to September 1944
A-3 62 62 July to September 1944
D-2 45 139 220 404 February 1944 to February 1945
TOTAL 601 211 422 1234 February 1943 to February 1945

Of the total number, 125 were destroyed before delivery, so that only 1109 aircraft were taken over by the building supervision management (BAL) of the Reich Aviation Ministry . The Luftwaffe received only 874 aircraft between August 1943 and February 1945, which is why further destruction, but also extensive scrapping due to the extensive dissolution of the combat squadron, can be assumed after the BAL acceptance. Junkers converted 22 aircraft to the pre-series Ju 388 L-0 and K-0.

commitment

Ultimately, only Kampfgeschwader 2 , 6 and 26 received partial Ju 188s. Group II of Kampfgeschwader 2 took part in Operation Steinbock with 35 Ju 188E and Group I of Kampfgeschwader 6 with 41 Ju 188A .

Versions

Three-sided tear
  • Ju 188 A-2: Bomber with two 1750 hp Jumo 213A engines
  • Ju 188 A-3: Torpedo aircraft with two 1750 HP Jumo 213A engines
  • Ju 188 D-2: reconnaissance aircraft, a Ju 188 A-2 without bombs, with more fuel and photo equipment
  • Ju 188 E-1: Bomber with two 1700 hp BMW 801 G-2 engines
  • Ju 188 E-2: torpedo bomber, E-1 with appropriate design (only conversion)
  • Ju 188 F-1: reconnaissance aircraft, a Ju 188 E-1 without bombs, with more fuel and photo equipment
  • Ju 188 F-2: reconnaissance aircraft, like F-1 but with modifications of the E-2 (conversion only)
  • Ju 188 G: bomber, with floor pan and tail stand, no series production
  • Ju 188 J: Project for "Schnellnachtjäger", later realized as the Ju 388 J-1
  • Ju 188 K: Project for "Schnellnachtjäger", later realized as the Ju 388 K-1
  • Ju 188 L: Project for "Schnellnachtjäger", later realized as the Ju 388 L-1
  • Ju 188 R: night fighter, only project
  • Ju 188 S: high-speed bomber, project only
  • Ju 188 T: high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, project only
  • Ju 188 U: touring plane for Field Marshal Milk

Technical specifications

Crew of a Ju 188 before take-off
Junkers Ju 188 A-3, 2nd season of KG 6
Parameter Data of the Ju 188 A-2 (1943)
Intended use Horizontal bomber
crew 4th
length 14.95 m
span 22.02 m
height 4.45 m
Wing area 56 m²
Max. Takeoff mass 15,000 kg
Top speed 525 km / h
Service ceiling 10,000 m
Range 2,200 km (with half the bomb load)
Engines two Junkers Jumo 213 A V-12 engines, each with 1,750 hp starting power
Armament
  • two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons, two 13 mm MG 131 and up to four 7.92 mm MG 81
  • up to 3,000 kg of bombs or torpedoes

See also

literature

  • Wolfgang Wagner: Hugo Junkers aviation pioneer - his aircraft. From the series: Die deutsche Luftfahrt, Volume 24, Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Bonn 1996, ISBN 3-7637-6112-8 .
  • Heinz J. Nowarra : The German Air Armament 1933-1945. Aircraft types Henschel - Messerschmitt. Vol. 3, Bernard & Graefe, Koblenz 1993, ISBN 3-7637-5467-9 , pp. 106-110.

Web links

Commons : Junkers Ju 188  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ulf Balke: The aerial warfare in Europe 1939-1941 . Bechtermünz Verlag, Augsburg 1998, ISBN 3-86047-591-6 , p. 390 (1057 pp.).