The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger (English: Shrike) was a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft, used during World War II alongside the Messerschmitt Me 109. The twin-row BMW 801 radial engine that powered most operational versions enabled the Fw 190 to lift larger loads than the Me 109, giving it more versatility in a variety of roles.
Background[]
Although the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter was a powerful fighter, Reich authorities were concerned that future designs might outclass it. The eventual winner of the competition, Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger (Shrike) was a single-seat, single-engine fighter designed by Kurt Tank in 1937. A veteran of World War I, Tank saw the punishment military equipment endured in the field and envisioned a plane that would not be a racehorse, like the Bf 109 and Spitfire, but a Dienstpferd, a rugged, powerful war mount.
His design was exactly that: Fast, well armored and armed, forgiving of mistakes, and capable of operating in the most adverse of conditions. It eschewed hydraulics in favor of the more reliable electric operation for most of the Fw 190's system, a system of pushrods and bearings instead of cables for controls, ensuring consistent operation, and generally increasing the pilot's comfort by reducing trim maintenance requirements and introducing a vacuum-formed bubble canopy that increased visibility. The end result was a powerful fighter that outperformed all contemporary aircraft at the time of its introduction in 1941. Together with the Bf 109, it became the backbone of the Jagdwaffe, Luftwaffe's fighter forces, adapted for a multitude of roles - day fighter, fighter-bomber, ground-attack plane, night fighter - and served until the end of the war.
Fighter Models[]
Fw 190 A[]
A-4[]
The A-4 was equipped with BMW 801 D-2 engine, which increased power to 1,700 PS (1,677 hp, 1,250 kW) at takeoff, an armament included two fuselage-mounted 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17s and two wing root-mounted 20 mm MG 151/20E cannon and two outboard wing-mounted 20 mm MG FF/Ms.
- FW 190 A-4/U4 (SD2): The U4 is the reconnaissance fighter of the FW 190 A4 subvariant. A4 got MW 50" water-methanol power boost system for the BMW 801 engine. This allowed the pilot to raised engine's redline limit for a short period of time. FW 190 A4/U4 had two cameras in the rear fuselage with two MG 17 guns in the cowling.
A-6[]
The A-6 was developed to address shortcomings found in previous "A" models when attacking U.S. heavy bombers. A structurally redesigned and lighter wing was introduced and the normal armament was increased to two MG 17 fuselage machine guns and four 20 mm MG 151/20E wing root and outer wing cannon with larger ammunition boxes.
A-8[]
The A8 variant production in February 1944, powered either by the standard BMW 801 D-2 or the 801Q/TU (unitized powerplant installation with an armored front cowling). It was also outfitted with a C3-injection emergency boost system, and the two fuselage-mounted 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131s, instead of two MG 17s.
- FW 190 A-8 Dogfighter (SD2): The fighter variant.
- FW 190 A-8/R6 Medium Rocket (SD2): The R6 suffix (Rüstsatz 6) indicating a modification mounting the Rheinmetall-Borsig Werfer-Granate 21 rocket launcher (Bordrakete in Luftwaffe parlance) introduced in 1943, as an airborne version of the 21 cm Nebelwerfer 42. Werfer-Granate 21 was a development of the 21 cm Nebelwerfer 42. These rockets were used in the anti-bomber role to have a weapon with a longer range then the defensive guns. Along with the Anti-bomber role, these were also used in the ground attack role.
Fw 190 D[]
The Fw 190 D (nicknamed Dora; or Long-Nose Dora ("Langnasen-Dora") was intended as the high-altitude performance version of the A-series.
D-9[]
The D-9 series was rarely used against heavy-bomber raids, as the circumstances of the war in late 1944 meant that fighter-versus-fighter combat and ground attack missions took priority. This model was the basis for the follow-on Focke-Wulf Ta 152 aircraft.
Ground attack models[]
Fw 190 F[]
The Fw 190F configuration was originally tested in a Fw 190 A-0/U4, starting in May 1942, fitted with centre-line and wing-mounted bomb racks.
F-3[]
Developed under the designation Fw 190 A-5/U17, which was outfitted with a centreline mounted ETC 501 bomb rack. The F-3 could carry a 66-Imp gal (300 liter) drop tank.
F-8[]
FW 190 F-8 was the revived in 1944 of the F series of the FW 190. The F series were designed for the Schlachtjaeger role as fighter bombers. FW 190 F-8 had an ETC 501 Bomb rack as centerline mount and four ETC 50 bomb racks as underwing mounts, a bomb-release system. The armament was two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon in the wing roots and two 13 mm MG 131 machine guns above the engine. The FW 190 F-8 was used as a fighter bomber.
- Fighters
- Rocket-equipped fighters
- FW 190 F-8 AT Rocket: The Panzerblitz I is a German anti-tank unguided aerial rocket developed during the Second World War. The missile was based on the R4M Orkan air-to-air rocket used by the Messerschmitt Me 262. It was fitted with an 80 mm (3.1 in)-diameter standard warhead.
- Fighter-bombers
- FW 190 F-8/R1 Light Bomber 50kg: Fighter-bomber with four underwing mounted ETC 50 bomb racks for 50 kg bombs, later replaced by ETC 71 dispensers for 70 kg bombs (e.g. AB 70 cluster bomb). There are planes known with both dispenser types mounted in pairs of the different types (2x ETC 50 + 2x ETC 71) under the wings.
- FW 190 F-8 Light Bomber 50kg
- FW 190 F-8 Medium Bomber 50kg (Hun)
Fw 190 G[]
The G series was a development of the successful F series, intended for use as long range attack craft (Jagdbomber mit vergrösserter Reichweite). Approximately 1,300 Fw 190G were produced across a variety of types and models.
G-1[]
The G-1 was a variant with most of its cannons removed in order to make a space for a single 250 kg (550 lb) or 500 kg (1,100 lb) bomb carried on the centerline.
G-3[]
The G-3 was a variant with most of its cannons removed in order to mount a rack of bombs on the wings, turning it into a versatile strike bomber.
- FW 190 G-3 Heavy Bomber (250+250kg)
- FW 190 G-3/R1 Dogfighter: The G-3/R1 replaced the V.Fw. Trg racks with a pair of Waffen-Behälter WB 151/20 conformal cannon pods; each mounting a pair of Mauser MG 151/20 autocannon, giving the G-3/R1 - with its existing pair of wing-root mounted, synchronized MG 151/20 autocannon, a total of six such ordnance pieces.
- FW 190 G-3/R5 Light Bomber (50kg)
- FW 190 G-3/R5 Medium Bomber (250+50kg)
G-8[]
The G-8 was based on the Fw 190 A-8, using the same "bubble" canopy as the F-8 and fitted with underwing ETC 503 racks that could carry either bombs or drop tanks.