Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
Few memories of war have endured more than the high-pitched scream of the Junkers Ju 87 'Stuka' swooping to strike its prey with claws of gunfire and bomb blast. This dive-bomber made its reputaion during the Polish campaign, where it excelled at close support of ground troops. The Ju 87 fought on every frontbetween 1939 and 1945. Adaptable and cheap, the 'Stuka' became a potent anti-tank machine on the Eastern Front.
Designed to work closely with the Wehrmacht, the Ju 87 could attack with deadly accuracy, acting as a kind of highly mobile artillery. Swarming down on Poland, Norway, France and the Low Countries, the 'Stuka' (from the word Sturzkampfflugzeug, or dive-bomber) left a trail of devastation and stuck terror even in the hearts of seasoned combat troops.
The Ju 87's invincible reputation took a hammering, however, when it came up against Hurricanes and Spitfires in the Battle of Britain. The distinctive aircraft with its gull wings and fixed landing dear proved slow and highly vulnerable to modern fighter opposition.
Even so, it remained a rugged and reliable machine and was used extensively on the Eastern Front. The Ju 87 destroyed more tanks than any aircraft except for Russia's Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik.
From 1939, every Ju 87 was made by Weser at Tempelhof. Improvements to the 'Stuka' saw it gaining more power and better protection, but it was never to overcome its vulnerability to fighters.
 |
 |
 |
| The 'Stuka' was a good ground attack aircraft but its success was totally dependent on having air cover. |
Ju 87Rs operating in the Mediterranean caused the Royal navy many casualties, severely damaging the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. |
In the hands of experts like Hans-Ulrich Rudel, the Ju 87G was lethal to tanks but it was also very vulnerable to fighters. |
|
Junkers Ju 87 Stuka (Technical Specification) |
| Role |
Two-seat dive bomber and attack aircraft |
| Manufacturer |
Junkers |
| Maximum Speed |
410 kmh (254 mph) |
| Maximum Range |
1,535 km (950 miles) |
| Ceiling |
7,290 meters (23,910 feet) |
Weight
Empty
Maximum Takeoff |
3,900 kg (8,580 lbs)
|
Dimensions
Wingspan
Length
Height
Wing Area |
213.80 meters (45 ft)
11.50 meters (38 ft)
3.90 meters (13 ft)
31.90 square meters (343 sq ft) |
| Engines |
One Junkers Jumo 211J-1 12-cylinder inverted Vee piston engines Which provides 1051-kW (1,410-hp) |
| Armament |
One 7.92 mm (0.31 in) machine gun in wings
Two 7.92 mm MG 81Z guns in rear cockpit
A bomb of 1,800 kg (3,960 lbs) beneath fuselage |
Photo Gallery
Click here to submit your photo
| Have A Passion For Aircraft? |
Subscribe to our 14 series FREE newsletter
delivered weekly on World War 2 Aircraft factfile... |
| NB:- We hate spam as much as you do, so your email address will NEVER be shared with or sold to anyone else. That's a Guarantee. |
|
|
