Focke Wulf Fw 190A
Conceived in 1937 as a complement to the Bf 109, Focke-Wulf's Fw 190s became a potent threat to Allied air power in every region where the Luftwaffe fought. Fw 190s inflicted cruel punishment on Flying Fortress and Liberator crews, and were almost impossible to defeat until the long range P-51 Mustang finally became available in 1944 to escort bombers to their targets. As a fighter bomber and anti tank aircraft, the Fw 190 was Germany's best air to ground fighter.
The Fw 190a-8 was used extensively in Defence of the Riech operations during 1944. Heavily armed with four cannon and two machine guns it wreaked havoc upon US daylight bombers. The long nosed Tank Ta 152 versions of the Fw 190 reached air speeds as high as 760 km/h (472 mph) and might have altered the outcome of the war if more than 93 had been built before hostilities ended.
No one who fought in the hotly contested skies of Europe will forget the feats of Fw 190 pilots such as Oberleutnant Otto Kittel, the Luftwaffe's fourth ranking ace, who scored most of his 267 victories in the type. It is truly one of the great fighters of all time.
Kurt Tank's superb Focke-Wulf Fw 190 first saw combat over the English Channel in September 1941. The new fighter was a shock to the RAF, being faster and more agile than the Spitfire. Known as the 'Butcher Bird', the Fw 190 went to become a dominant force in aerial combat in Europe, performing with equal distinction as a fighter and as the Luftwaffe's most important ground attack machine.
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| A squadron prepares to take on the RAF from its French base. The Fw 190 came as a very unwelcome surprise to the RAF and gave German pilots the edge over MK Spitfires in 1941 and early 1942. |
The Fw 190's compact and complex BMW radial engine could often be troublesome to service in the field. |
The Fw carried out many combat tasks. It even replaced the Ju 87 Stuka as the Luftwaffe's tank busting machine. |
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Focke Wulf Fw 190A (Technical Specification) |
| Role |
Single seat fighter and fighter bomber |
| Manufacturer |
Focke-Wulf |
| Maximum Speed |
654 kmh (406 mph) |
| Maximum Range |
800 km (497 miles) |
| Ceiling |
11,400 meters (37,400 feet) |
Weight
Empty
Maximum Takeoff |
3,170 kg (6,989 lbs)
4,900 kg (10,803 lbs) |
Dimensions
Wingspan
Length
Height
Wing Area |
10.50 meters (34 ft 5 in)
8.84 meters (29 ft)
3.96 meters (13 ft)
18.30 square meters (197 sq ft) |
| Engines |
One BMW 801D-2 14 cylinder radial piston engine which provides 1,567-kW (2,100-hp) |
| Armament |
Two 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 17 machine guns
Four 20 mm (0.79 in) MG 151/20 cannon
One 500 kg (1,100 lbs)
Two 250 kg (550 lbs) bombs
One 300 litre (67 gal) drop tank |
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