The P-47 has a solid body, good armor protection, high engine power, and excellent vertical maneuverability. The FW-190 has excellent high-altitude performance and good hovering performance. The performance of the two is basically the same, but reasonable use must be used. In air combat tactics, if the P-47 is caught in a circling fight with the FW-190, it must dive out immediately, otherwise it will be easily shot down. If the P-47 has already occupied the altitude, the FW-190 must maneuver to avoid the P-47. For the -47's dive maneuver attack, you must try to reach the same height as the P-47 before engaging it. The FW-190 has many modifications. In the end, the D-type body was much larger and the engine was more powerful, which reduced the vertical height of the P-47. Advantages, but less production, and the United States has many fighter models, mainly developing the P-51. In the later period, Germany's excellent pilots were almost lost, and they had mastered the air supremacy in Europe. Although the performance of the P-47 was slightly worse than the FW-190 in the later period, It can basically suppress the German aircraft. Although the P-47 was improved to the D type, the improvement was smaller.
FW-190
As the successor to the BF109, the German F-190 Focke Wulf Flugzeugbau GmbH successfully developed a new generation of single-seat, single-engine piston fighter FW190 in the 1930s. The aircraft eventually became a main combat aircraft with superior performance in the middle and late stages of the war.
The FW190 is an all-metal cantilever up-and-down single-wing daytime fighter. Among many German fighters, it uniquely uses a 14-cylinder star-shaped air-cooled piston engine, so the nose looks a little bit... It is thick and sturdy, and the tail is very tapered. The arched part of the back of the fuselage is a transparent canopy that slides open. The back of the fuselage behind it slopes downward, giving good visibility downwards and backwards. The electrically retractable three-point landing gear is stable on the ground, and the main wheel column tilts forward and inward, which constitutes some of the appearance features of the FW190.
1] Cause
The Fw190 plan came from two needs. The first is the accelerated expansion of the German Air Force and the prediction of the German Air Force Ministry for future wars: more than one type of fighter aircraft will be needed in future wars. Relying solely on the existing Bf109 will not guarantee that the German Air Force will have a leading advantage in the foreseeable future. Secondly, according to intelligence analysis, the potential opponent's air force has at least pre-developed and equipped two or more modern fighter jets. Therefore, the German Air Force drafted a specification of combat technical requirements for the development of new fighter jets and issued them to various aircraft manufacturers at the end of 1937.
Under the leadership of Kurt.Tank and Rudolf.Blaser, a compact small fighter jet using a radial air-cooled engine was designed. However, the view dominated among the German Air Ministry that in-line liquid-cooled engines were the best power option for fighter aircraft. Officials believed that installing a radial air-cooled engine would increase the aircraft's windward area and increase flight resistance; due to the large cross-sectional area of ??the nose, the pilot's vision would be poor during takeoff and landing; at that time, the world's first successful And modern fighter jets under development generally have liquid-cooled engines. Due to this prejudice, the Fw190 program was shelved until two accidental reasons occurred:
1. The frustration of the He100 and He112 aircraft programs. He112Bs and He100D were used in small quantities by the German and Romanian air forces. The He100D was renamed He113 when it was equipped. For some unknown reason, the saying that the He113 was a "pilot killer" was widely circulated among German test pilots, which frustrated the formal production plan of the He113.
2. The production volumes of Junkers and Daimler-Benz, the main suppliers of in-line liquid-cooled engines, cannot meet the requirements of all aircraft equipment. It is already a problem for Daimler-Benz engines to meet the needs of Bf109 and Bf110 aircraft. Junkers' Jumo-211 engine must first ensure the production of He111.
[2] Test flight
The FW190 designed by Kurt.Tank is nicknamed "White Tongue" bird".
The initial model of the Fw190 was equipped with a BMW 13914-cylinder radial piston air-cooled engine. In the spring of 1939, the prototype Fw190V1 left the factory, equipped with a 1550hp BMW 13918-cylinder double-row radial air-cooled engine, which was 1/4 larger than the DB601 or Jumo211. June 1939 On March 1, Fokker's chief test pilot Hans.Sander conducted the first test flight. The test flight proved that the aircraft's speed reaches 595KM/h at an altitude of 4000M and its maneuverability is excellent. However, the engine had a tendency to overheat, with the temperature reaching 55 degrees even in the cabin. There was a problem with the cabin seal, and engine exhaust gas leaked into the cabin, forcing Sander to put on an oxygen mask to avoid suffocation. Immediately, the aircraft was improved, a ten-blade cooling fan was added in front of the engine, and the engine cowl opening was enlarged, which basically solved the problem. Except for the flight speed, the prototype's other performance indicators are better than those of the BF109, especially the acceleration performance, which left a deep impression on people.
In the autumn of 1939, the second prototype Fw190V2 left the factory and conducted a test flight on October 31. On January 25, 1940, the Fw190V2 performed a flight demonstration for Goering, who was deeply impressed and immediately ordered the production of 40 Fw190A-0s. During this period, BMW developed a more advanced 14-cylinder air-cooled double-row radial engine BMW801, which increased its weight by 91kg. The diameter of the new engine is similar to that of the old engine, but it is longer and heavier. In order to use the new engine, it was verified that the structure of the prototype could withstand it; the cockpit was moved backward to avoid high engine temperatures and accommodate reconnaissance equipment; the volume was reduced after the cockpit was moved backward, and the cockpit design had to be optimized, etc. The later aircraft, the Fw190V5, flew in the early spring of 1940.
After the test flight, it was discovered that the weight gain caused by replacing the engine affected the flight characteristics of the aircraft. Therefore, the wing was redesigned, the wingspan was increased to 10.506M, and the wing area was increased to 18.30 square meters. The increase in wing area only reduces the maximum flight speed of the aircraft by 10KM/h, but the flight characteristics, especially the climb rate, have made great progress. Based on the Fw190V5, it was finalized as the Fw190A-0 pre-production model, and production began in October 1940. After that, the Fw190 was modified while being produced, forming the Fw190 series of aircraft.
At this time, the RLM (Deutsche Aviation Ministry) could not believe that a single-seat fighter equipped with a radial air-cooled engine would be successful, and planned to eventually install an in-line liquid-cooled engine on the Fw190. However, the air-cooled Fw190 proved in actual combat that it was not inferior to British fighters of the same era. Despite the doubts, the Fw190A is still a very widely used fighter aircraft. The Fw190 continued to be improved to adapt to new mission requirements until Germany's defeat. The FW190 is equipped with two 7.92 mm or 13 mm machine guns on the front fuselage and four 20 mm cannons in the wings. Various bombs or 300-liter auxiliary fuel tanks can also be hung under the wings or under the fuselage. Its firepower It was so powerful that it was rarely seen in fighter aircraft at that time. The use of power enhancement devices and new heavy cannons greatly improved its performance.
After the war, the Allied forces made the following evaluation after test flying the captured FW190D9: The aircraft skillfully balanced various tactical and technical performances and was the best piston aircraft in Germany during the war.
Three] Modifications
The total output of FW190 is 20,001 aircraft, and many modifications from A to S have been derived. The FW190A is the most produced and used variant. Starting from September 1941, it was mainly used for air combat and ground tactical support (ground attack) with the Royal Air Force. Among them, there are eleven sub-modifications from A-0 to A-10*** and more than one hundred more detailed modifications. Among the many improvements:
Fw190A-1: a BMW801C14-cylinder radial piston air-cooled engine, 1194kW (1600 horsepower). Wingspan 10.37m. Compared with the prototype wing, the A-1 can be equipped with MGFF or MG17 on the outer wing section.
Ordnance: 4 7.9mm MG17 machine guns, two installed above the nose engine cover (similar to the Bf109), the other two at the wing roots, and two MGFF 20mm cannon optionally fixed on the outside of the main landing gear shock absorber struts under the wing. The belly centerline pylon can accommodate a 250kg or 500kg bomb or a throwable auxiliary fuel tank.
Fw190A-2: The wingspan is increased to 10.5m, and the landing wheel connecting rod is newly designed. The wing root was replaced with a 20mm MG151/20 cannon. Otherwise identical to A-1.
For the first time, the A-3 changed from 2 guns and 2 guns to 2 guns and 4 guns, and added bulletproof steel plates. The engine power was increased to 1,700 horsepower, and the A-3AU became a ground attack weapon that can replace the Ju87. machine.
A-4 is equipped with a 1567kW BMW801D-2 water-injection afterburner engine, with a power of up to 2100 horsepower. The vertical tail was slightly modified and the radio equipment was modified. The A-4/U1 and A-4/U8 are the combat-bomber versions, which can carry 500kg of bombs. The A-4/U4 is a reconnaissance type. The A-4/Trop is a ground attack aircraft used in tropical areas.
A-5 redesigned the engine bracket to avoid engine overheating, resulting in the engine being moved forward by 152.5mm. Otherwise identical to the A-4. The A-5/R6 bomber version can carry a 21cm WfrGr21 rocket launcher under the wing. The A-5/U2 can carry one bomb while mounting two 300-liter throwable auxiliary fuel tanks. In addition, the external storage capacity of the A-5/U3 has been expanded to 1,000kg. The AU3 can carry one ton of bombs and is an excellent fighter-bomber. It was used in the Samirno anti-landing operations and the Mediterranean front in September 1943.
The A-6 outer wing section can optionally be equipped with a 20mm MG151/20 cannon. The A-6/R1 can mount two additional 20MM cannon pods under the wings. The outer wing section of the A-6/R2 can mount a 30mm MK108 cannon. The A-6/R6 can mount a 21mmWfrGr21 rocket launcher.
The A-7 is a weapon modification of the A-5. Starting from the A-7, the caliber of the two machine guns on the nose was changed to 13 mm, and the back skin was bulged, which became an identification feature.
Fw190A-8: Introduced in 1944, the inner-wing cannon was replaced by the twin 20mm gun pod or 30mm gun pod under the wing, becoming the most powerful basic modification among the FW190 types. model, a 104-liter fuel tank is installed on the fuselage. In addition, FuG16ZY radio equipment and GM-1 emergency power enhancement device are also installed on the Fw190 for the first time. The armament includes two 13mm MG131 machine guns in the nose and two 20mm MG151/20 cannons at the left and right wing roots. The outer wing section of the main landing gear can be optionally equipped with 20mmMG151/20 or 30mmMK108 cannon. Most of the sub-variant configurations of the A-8 are similar to the A-6, but the A-8/R7 is equipped with an armored cockpit; the A-8/U1 is a two-seat training type; and the A-8/R11 is an all-weather combat type equipped with Equipped with a special radio antenna and autopilot; the A-8/U11 was a torpedo bomber.
Fw190A-9: Replaced with a 1490kW (2000 horsepower) BMW801F engine. In other aspects, it is similar to the A-7, except that armor is added to the leading edge of the wing. Most of the sub-variant configurations are similar to the A-6, except that the A-9/R11 is equipped with a turbocharged 801TS engine... The A-9 has improved the high-altitude characteristics of the A-8, and the A-10 can be equipped with an external 1 . 7-ton bomb, the structure has been reinforced.
FW190B and C were trial-installed with DB603 liquid-cooled engines, but they were not put into production.
Fw190D: The original Fw190D was equipped with a liquid-cooled engine, first flew in 1941, and was discontinued in 1943. After fighting the Fw190D, Allied pilots said it was a "long-nosed" Fw190. The first one to develop actual combat capabilities was the Fw190D-9. The D type uses the standard Fw190A, F and G type wings and tail, but the fuselage is lengthened to 10.36m.
The vertical tail is widened by 140.3mm, which is 0.23m(2) larger than the "short nose" standard type.
The Fw190D is equipped with a Junkers Jumo231A-1 liquid-cooled opposed engine and comes with a MW-50 power enhancement device. Maximum speed 704km/h (11290m). The later model Fw190D-12 was equipped with a Jumo231E engine, and the maximum speed reached 725km/h (11290m) when using MW-50 afterburner. All D sub-models can mount a 30mm MK108 cannon (similar to the Bf109) on the propeller central axis.
FW190E is used for reconnaissance. The FW190F is a ground attack variant with well-protected fuel tanks and cockpits. The F-3 can carry 0.7 tons of bombs and is mostly used on the eastern front. The F-8 is a heavily armed version, and the F-9's engine is supercharged. It can carry multiple 50-500kg bombs and 80mm BLITZ-1 anti-tank rockets. There are 14 types of bombs that can be mounted on the FW190F, the largest weighing 1.8 tons, which was equivalent to the bomb load of a light bomber at the time.
FW190G is a derivative of Fw190A. The G series is mainly a combat bombing type. It can mount a 1800kg bomb, and the more typical solution is a 500kg or 1000kg bomb. A sub-model of the G model had an extended tailwheel strut, which increased the ground clearance for mounting torpedoes. It is equivalent to a dive bomber variant like the Ju87, carrying 0.7 to 1.8 tons of bombs. FW190S is a two-seat trainer variant, also used for liaison flights.
The body structure of FW190E, F, and G is the same as that of type A.
FW190A, E, F, G and S use BMW801 air-cooled engines; B and C models have tried DB603 water-cooled engines; D models have modified Junkers_Umo 213 water-cooled engines.
Particularly worth mentioning is the high-performance variant FW190D that later re-enabled a water-cooled engine. Because the nose of the aircraft is greatly extended, it is commonly known as the "long nose". It entered service at the end of 1943 and flew at an instantaneous speed of 704 kilometers per hour, becoming the only fastest German military aircraft that can rival the US military's P-51. Among them, the D-9's fuselage is extremely slender and easy to identify. The D-11 is used for ground attack, so the outer wing cannon is changed to 30 mm; the D-12 is an all-weather fighter with a 30 mm cannon built into the propeller shaft, which is a good weapon against large targets and armored targets; the D-13 uses For ground attack.
Since 1944, the FW190D has been further developed, and the model is also marked with the name of the chief designer, called Ta152. The Ta152C, a small amount of trial production, flew at the ultimate speed of a piston aircraft of 740 kilometers per hour. The Ta152H is used for high-altitude escort, with a ceiling of 14,800 meters and a wingspan of 4 meters. The engine can spray water for boost; and it can fly at an altitude of 12,500 meters. An astonishing speed of 760 kilometers per hour! Only 67 of the above two modifications were produced, and the output was very small. It is said that Ta153 has also been developed. Like the BF109, the FW190 also serves as the daughter part of a mother-child combined bomber. It is flown by the unmanned Ju88 heavy bomber and becomes the command aircraft for the remotely controlled Ju88 to rush to the target.
[Four] Combat
The FW190 first participated in the war in the autumn of 1941. It was the first fighter that troubled the Royal Air Force, so it had to bring out the Spitfire 9 to fight it. .
In countless air battles to block large-scale Allied air raid formations, the FW190 pilots adopted a risky tactic pioneered by Captain Mayiya: approaching the enemy aircraft group head-on at the same altitude to minimize being hit. If you get the opportunity, concentrate your fire when approaching the target, and then use the large motor to pull the lever upward to disengage. From August to December 1942, the U.S. 8th Air Force conducted 27 air raids on the German mainland. The Japanese launched 1,302 sorties and were shot down. 154 aircraft. In the 10 air raids in July, the *** dispatched 2,829 sorties and 109 were shot down. The battle damage rate increased significantly. This situation also occurred in the British bombing force.
On the afternoon of August 17, 1943, the 229 U.S. B-17 bombers that bombed the Showa-Influt Bearing Factory in Germany had just separated from the escorting P-47 fighter jets when they were attacked by 200 FW190s. and a head-on interception by more than 100 BF109s. FW190 launched the W_Gr21 large air-to-air rocket for the first time. In an instant, dozens of B-17s fell to the ground. This anti-air attack air battle in which FW190 played the leading role caused the battle damage rate of Allied bombers to be as high as 20%. Allied air strikes against Germany were suspended for a month. Afterwards, American pilots recalled that the scale of this interception air battle, the cunning tactics, and the fiery atmosphere were all unprecedented.
In September 1943, the "wild tactics" designed by super ace Major Hermann began to be adopted by the 300th, 301st and 302nd Flying Regiments equipped with FW190 fighter jets. Under the radio guidance of the ground control station, the pilots used searchlights to assist with lighting and conducted night air combat, which to a certain extent weakened the effect of night air raids carried out by the Royal Air Force using metal chaff as electronic interference.
Due to the weakening of German fighter jets, by June 1944, on the first day of the mighty Normandy landing campaign, they faced thousands of sea-crossing ships on the sea and more than 5,400 escort aircraft in the air. The Germans only had two FW190s, Lieutenant Colonel Prila and his deputy from the 26th Flight Regiment, fly to the coast and fire a few symbolic bullets downwards.
In the second half of 1944, all fighter jets were transferred back to China for defensive warfare, and the new FW190D-9 "Long Nose" and BF109K were also sent to the front line for combat. The base camp formed an "Assault Flying Team" in an attempt to make a desperate attempt to resist. The FW190A-8AR-8 "Hurricane Box" fighter jet with strong firepower and thick armor was used to block the Allied four-engine large bombers coming for air attacks. Because the modified aircraft became quite blunt and heavy, in order to avoid counterattack by the Allied escort fighter jets, the BF109 had to be sent out to provide cover. As a result, the phenomenon of fighter jets escorting fighter jets appeared.
In December 1944, Hitler gathered the remaining defeated troops and organized a final counterattack in the Ardennes. 650 FW190s, 450 BF109s and a small number of Me262s raided 20 Allied frontline airports and destroyed the Allied ground forces. There are more than 300 aircraft.
In the war, many super ace pilots who personally shot down more than 100 or 200 enemy aircraft used the FW190.