| Plane type & model |
Monoplane fighter (FW-190 A-8 ) |
When it appeared on September 1941 on the British Channel, the Spitfire pilots realized that this new german plane could easily surpass them in prestations. In fact the FW-190 was one of the best fighters ever appeared in the WW2, because of its small dimensions , heavy weapons and high velocity. Designed in 1939 by the famous engineer Kurt Tank, the FW 190 had its first fly in June 1939. The plane was perfect for a fighter role, but the Luftwaffe employed it especially for fighter-bomb missions ( despite of small dimensions, in fact the plane was able to carry a great payload quantity). The A version (employed mainly on the soviet front) was utilized in a ground attack role ( for example , the F version was able to deliver a 1000 kg bomb, while the G ver. could easily carry a 1500 kg bomb, a payoload quantity than many medim allied bombers couldnīt carry!); the F version was employed in the role that the Stuka couldnīt outfit because of itīs slow speed and vulnerability. From 1943 the FW190 was the most used fighter on russian front. In ground attacks the planes were provided with bombs and high-firing rate cannons; in addition it had at disposition such as 50 upgrades to outfit its Jabo role ( ex. Panzerblitz 88mm rockets -utilized with Panzerfaust launcher- , planing bomb BV 246 Hagelkorn, SG 113A Forstersonde 77mm double cannon -see Photo Gallery for the description- ). These powerful weapons were succesfully utilized also on Allied bombers when the raids on the Germany became a quotidian reality. In the 1944 summer , the Mustang and other allied planes arrived to perform better than the A model, so an improvement was designed. The adoption of on-line engines in place of radial engines on the D series greatly increased the performances when this model became operative at the end of 1944. The max speed touched 700 km/h ( 750 km/h in the last versions ) and the climbing rate was improved of 70%. The FW190D became the fastest piston-engine plane and with such an heavy armament (3 30mm cannons, 2 20mm cannons , 2 13mm MG ) it represented a formidable war machine. But it was already too late for the Third Reich and with the end of the war the brillant career of FW190 was finished . |
