Focke-Wulf Fw 190

 

Developing nation: Germany.
Manufacturer/designer: Focke Wulf Flugzeugbau AG/Kurt Tank.
Production: 1941 – 1946.
Number built: 20,000 +.
Type aircraft: Fighter.
First flight: June 1, 1939 D-OPZE.
First delivery: 1941.
Retired:1945 (Luftwaffe); 1949 (Turkey).

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Wurger was a German single-seat, single-radial engine fighter aircraft.The aircraft was ordered by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium in 1937 as an addition to the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Kurt Tank (the desinger) submitted two proposals for a single-seat fighter equipped on the one hand with a liquid-cooled Daimler Benz DB 601 engine, and on the other, the new air-cooled BMW 139 radial engine. The radial engine was selected in the summer of 1938.

The first prototype was flown on June 1, 1939 and soon proved to have good qualities for such a comparatively small craft including excellent handling, good visibility and promising speed (initially around 610 km/hr), its wide landing gear made it a more versatile aircraft than the Bf 109 and a safer one. It was the only German single-seat fighter powered by a radial engine and the only fighter of the war with electrically operated landing gear and flaps. The Focke Wulf Fw 190 saw action as an interceptor, day fighter, night fighter, conventional bomber, and as a torpedo bomber. It began service in 1941, was superior to all its opponents until 1942 43, and remained a successful fighter and fighter-bomber until the war ended. A total of over 20,000 Focke Wulf Fw 190 aircraft of all types were manufactured.

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 10.20 m (33 ft 5 1/2 in)
• Wingspan: 10.50 m (34 ft 5 in)
• Height: 3.35 m (11 ft 0 in)
• Wing area: 18.30 sq m (196.99sq ft)
• Empty weight: 3,490 kg (7,694 lb)
• Loaded weight: 4,350 kg (9,590 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 4,840 kg (10,670 lb)
• Powerplant: 1x Junkers Jumo 213 A-1 12-cylinder inverted-Vee piston engine, 1,287 kW, 1,544 kW with boost (1,750 PS / 2,100 PS)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 685 km/h at 6,600 m, 710 km/h at 11,300 m (426 mph at 21,655 ft / 440 mph at 37,000 ft (11,000 m))
• Range: 835 km (519 mi)
• Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,370 ft)
• Rate of climb: 17 m/s (3,300 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 238 kg/sq m (48.7 lb/sq m)
• Power/mass: 0.30 – 0.35 kW/kg (0.18 – 0.21 hp/lb)

Armament

• 2 x 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine guns with 475 rpg
• 2 x 20 mm MG 151 cannons with 250 rpg in the wing root
• 1 x 500 kg (1,102 lb) SC 500 bomb (optional)

Variants:

Fw 190 V1  Prototype Model; fitted with BMW 139 engine of 1,550 horsepower.
Fw 190 A – Base production model
Fw 190 A-0  Preproduction Model Designation; 28 examples produced.
Fw 190 A-1 – Role specific optimized variant; appeared in June 1941; fitted with BMW 801C-1 engines of 1,560 horsepower; longer propeller; 4 x 7.92mm machine guns (2 in fuselage and 2 in wing roots) and 2 x 20mm cannons in outboard wings; bulged engine cowlings.
Fw 190 A-2 – Role specific optimized variant; appeared in October 1941; fitted with BMW 801 C-2 engine of 1,600 horsepower; redesigned exhaust system; upgraded gun sight; 2 x 7.92mm machine guns in fuselage and 4 x 20mm cannons (2 replaced original 7.92mm machine guns) in wings.
Fw 190 A-3 – Role specific optimized variant; appearing in spring of 1942; fitted with BMW 801 D-2 engines of 1,754 horsepower; centerline bomb rack.
Fw 190 A-3a  First appearing in fall of 1942; Turkish export versions; fitted with 4 x 7.92mm machine guns and 2 x 20mm cannons (same as A-1 model).
Fw 190 A-4 – Role specific optimized variant; appeared in July 1942; improved radio equipment; similar to A-3 in most respects (armament/engine).
Fw 190 A-4/U1  Centerline bomb rack fitted; MG 151 cannons retained but all other machine gun armament removed.
Fw 190 A-4/U3  Similar to U1 model; some converted to nightfighter duty; served as basis for Fw 190 F-1 ?assault? fighter version.
Fw 190 A-4/U4  Dedicated Reconnaissance Platform; fitted with photographic cameras; armament of machine gun and cannons fuselage mounted.
Fw 190 A-4/U7 High-Altitude Variant; compressor intakes implemented on side cowlings.
Fw 190 A-4/U8  Would later serve as basis for Fw 190 G-1 model.
Fw 190 A-4/R6  Fitted with underwing rocket mortar weaponry
Fw 190 A-5 – Role specific optimized variant; revised engine placement; fitted with BMW 801 D-2 engine of 1,700 horsepower; MW 50 power boost capable.
Fw 190 A-5/U2  Dedicated Nightfighter; 2 x 20mm MG151 cannons.
Fw 190 A-5/U3  Nightfighter with provision for fuel tanks and bombs; 2 x 20mm MG151 cannons.
Fw 190 A-5/U4  Dedicated Reconnaissance Fighter; fitted with cameras.
Fw 190 A-5/U8  Nightfighter fitted with underwing racks for centerline bombs and underwing fuel drop tanks; 2 x 20mm MG151 cannons; later to become the Fw 190 G-2 model series.
Fw 190 A-5/U12  Bomber Interceptor Variant; fitted with two underwing gun pods for array of 2 x 7.92mm machine guns and 6 x 20mm MG151 cannons.
Fw 190 A-5/U12  Prototype Model
Fw 190 A-5R11  Nightfighter Conversion Model; fitted with radar.
Fw 190 A-6 – Role specific optimized variant; new wing design; extra ammunition for 2 x 7.92mm fuselage machine guns and 4 x 20mm wing-mounted cannons; improved radio navigation system; streamlined centerline bomb/fuel rack fitting.
Fw 190 A-7 – Role specific optimized variant; based on the Fw 190 A-5/U9 prototype; fitted with BMW 801 D-2 engine of 1,700 horsepower; 2 x 20mm MG 131 cannons replacing standard MG17 7.92mm fuselage machine guns; upgraded gun sight.
Fw 190 A-8 – Role specific optimized variant; improved bubble canopy.
Fw 190 A-9  Final A-Series Production Models; fitted with BMW 801S engines of 1,973 horsepower; improved engine armor protection; improved radiator system.
Fw 190 A-10  High-Altitude Prototype Development
Fw 190 B – Wider wing span; higher altitude capability; pressurized cockpit; turbocharged BMW 801 engine.
Fw 190 C – High altitude capability; turbocharged Daimler-Benz DB 603 powerplant.
Fw 190 D Dora – Main service model by 1944; fitted with Junkers Jumo 213 supercharged engine.
Fw 190 D-0  Developmental Prototype; fitted with Jumo 213a engine.
Fw 190 D-1  Developmental Prototype
Fw 190 D-2  Developmental Prototype
Fw 190 D-9 – Role specific optimized variant
Fw 190 D-10 – Role specific optimized variant
Fw 190 D-11 – Role specific optimized variant; fitted with uprated Jumo 213E engines; 17 examples produced.
Fw 190 D-12 – Role specific optimized variant; based on D-11 model; Mk 108 30mm cannon in propeller hub.
Fw 190 D-13 – Role specific optimized variant; based on D-11 model; Mk 151/20 20mm cannon in propeller hub.
Fw 190 D-13/R11  All-Weather Development
Fw 190 E – Proposed reconnaissance fighter
Fw 190 F – Ground attack model based on Fw 190 A-4 powerplant.
Fw 190 F-1  Improved under-fuselage armor; centerline and wing bomb racks.
Fw 190 F-2  Based on Fw 190 A-5/U3; replaced F-1 series on production lines.
Fw 190 F-3 Based on Fw 190 A-5/U17; 432 examples produced.
Fw 190 F-4  Abandoned Strafing Design Variant
Fw 190 F-5  Abandoned Strafing Design Variant
Fw 190 F-6  Abandoned Strafing Design Variant
Fw 190 F-7  Abandoned Strafing Design Variant
Fw 190 F-8  Improved radio equipment; redesigned compressor for low-altitude boost in performance; 2 x 20mm MG151/20 cannons in wing roots and 2 x 7.92mm MG131 machine guns above engine housing; 3,400 examples produced.
Fw 190 F-8/U1  Long-Range Nightfighter; underwing and centerline provision for fuel tanks and/or bombs.
Fw 190 F-8/U2  Torpedo Bomber
Fw 190 F-8/U3  Heavy Torpedo Bomber
Fw 190 F-8/U4  Nightfighter
Fw 190 F-9  Based on the Fw 190 A-9; redesigned empennage as found on the Ta 152 development; 147 examples produced.
Fw 190 G  Long-Range Attack Model; based on the Fw 190 A-5 powerplant.
Fw 190 G-1  Based on the Fw 190 A-4/U8
Fw 190 G-2  Based on the Fw 190 A-5/U8
Fw 190 G-3  Based on the Fw 190 A-6
Fw 190 G-8  Based on the Fw 190 A-8
Fw 190 A8-U1  Original Designation for Trainer Fw 190?s.
Fw 190 S-5  Trainer Variant
Fw 190 S-8  Trainer Variant
Ra-2  High Altitude Development
Ra-3  High Altitude Development
Ta 152 – Ultra-high altitude fighter; Wider wing span; Jumo 213E powerplant; based on the Ra-3 development model.
Ta 152C  Low-Altitude Developmental Ta 152 Model; fitted with DB 603 engine; only two examples produced.
Ta 152H – Improved Ta 152; Only operational variant of the Ta 152.

Operators

France

• The French Air Force ordered 64 aircraft postwar from the SNCA aircraft company. The Fw 190 A-5/A-6 ( NC 900).

Germany

• Luftwaffe

Hungary

• Royal Hungarian Air Force received a total of 72 Fw 190 F-8

Spain

• The Spanish Air Force operated Fw 190 A-2,3,4 among Fw 190 A-8 and Gs

Romania

• The Royal Romanian Air Force received from Germany a number of Fw 190 A-8s

Turkey

• The Turkish Air Force, beginning in mid-1942, received 72 examples of the Fw 190 A-3a. The Fw 190 remained in service until 1948?49.