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Germany's Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka", Stürzkampfflugzeug, dive bomber1,2,3
Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber: |
Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers in formation: |
Junkers Ju 87 C dive bomber for carriers: |
Junkers Ju 87 G-1 dive bomber: |
Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber: United States Army in World War II, Pictorial Record, The War Against Germany and Italy: Mediterranean and Adjacent Areas, 1951, pg 42 |
Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber, Italian plane captured by British: United States Army in World War II, Pictorial Record, The War Against Germany and Italy: Mediterranean and Adjacent Areas, 1951, pg 42 |
Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber, cabin: |
Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber: |
Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber: |
Design
The Junkers Ju 87 brought terror across Europe in the early years of World War II.3 It had a siren that wailed during its dive.3
Dive control
A device allowed the Ju 87 to pull out of a dive even when a pilot blacked out.1
Undercarriage
During the winters on the eastern front some had skis installed.1
Fuselage
To aid in mass production the fuselage was made in two halves and joined at the centerline by a metal frame.1
Wing
To allow for a short undercarriage and allow for a large bomb, the wings were of a cranked wing design.1
Prototype
The Ju 87 prototype had a Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine (640 HP) and first flew in the spring of 1935.1,2,3
Early prototypes had twin fins but this was replaced by a single fin.1,3
The next two prototypes had Junkers Jumo 210 engines.3 These had single tail fins.3
Production
Over 5,700 were produced until September 1944.1,3
Starting in 1939 all production of the Ju 87 Stuka was at Weser at Tempelhof.1
The Junkers Ju 87A first flew in November 1936.3 The Junkers Ju 87B first flew in August 1938.3
- Total: 5,7092,3
Variants
- Ju 87A-1: Flew in Spain.2,3
- Ju 87B-1: Flew in Spain.2
- Ju 87B-2: New radio equipment.3
- Ju 87B-2U2: New radio equipment.3
- Ju 87B-2U3: More armor.3
- Ju 87B-2U4: Ski undercarriage.3
- Ju 87C: Was to be used on the air craft carrier Graf Zeppelin.1,3
- Ju 87D: Had a Jumo 211 engine.2,3 Had streamlined nose and canopy.3 Coolant radiators were moved to under the wings.3 Entered service at the end of 1941 during the invasion of the Soviet Union.2
- Ju 87D-3: Increased armor protection.3
- Ju 87D-5: Dive brakes removed.3 Landing gear were jettisonable.3
- Ju 87D-7: Ground attack at night.3 Jumo 211P engine.3 20 mm cannons in wings.3
- Ju 87D-8: Night equipment removed.3
- Ju 87E: Revised Ju 87D.3
- Ju 87F: Revised version not built.3
- Ju 87G: Antitank version.2,3 Had two 37 mm guns under the wing in pods.2,3 Converted from Ju 87D-5.3
- Ju 87H: Dual control trainer.3
- Ju 87R: Had additional under wing fuel tanks for use in the Norwegian campaign.2,3
Usage
The Ju 87 was used by Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, and Slovakia.1
Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Romania.3
- Bulgaria: 323
- Croatia: 153
- Hungary: 703
- Romania: 1153
The Ju 87 Stuka was used on all fronts during the war.1 It was very vulnerable and relied on total air superiority to be used effectively.3
Typically a pilot would start their dive at 6,000' / 2,000 m and go down to 900' / 300 m before releasing their bombs.1 The dive angle was between 60° and 90°.1
Hans-Ulrich Rudel
Flying a Ju 87G, Hans-Ulrich Rudel destroyed over 500 / 5192 Soviet tanks.1 He also sunk a battleship, a cruiser, and a destroyer with his Stuka.2
Blitzkrieg in Poland
There were five Stukageschwader equipped with Ju 87s that were used in the invasion of Poland in 1939.2
| Junkers Ju 87B Stuka3 | Junkers Ju 87D-1 Stuka1,3 | Junkers Ju 87D-7 Stuka2,3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Dive bomber3 | Dive Bomber1,3 | Dive bomber2,3 |
| Crew | 23 | 21 Pilot, rear gunner1 |
22 |
| Engine (Type) | Junkers Jumo 211Da3 | Junkers Jumo 211J-1 piston1,3 | Junkers Jumo 211P pison2,3 |
| Cylinders | Inverted V 123 | Inverted V 121,3 | Inline2 |
| Cooling | |||
| HP | 1,1003 | 1,4003, 1,4101 | 1,5002,3 |
| Propeller blades | 33 | 31,3 | 32,3 |
| Fuel capacity | |||
| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 45' 3.25"3 13.8 m3 |
45'1, 45' 3.25"3 13.8 m1,3 |
49' 2.5"2 15 m2 |
| Length | 36' 5"3 11.1 m3 |
37' 8.75"3, 38'1 11.5 m1,3 |
37' 8.75"2 11.5 m2 |
| Height | 13' 2"3 4.01 m3 |
12' 9.25"3, 13'1 3.89 m3, 3.9 m1 |
12' 9.5"2 3.9 m2 |
| Wing area | 343 ft2 1 31.9 m2 1 |
362.7 ft2 2 33.6 m2 2 |
|
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 5,980 lb3 2,713 kg3 |
8,580 lb1, 8,600 lb3 3,900 kg1,3 |
8,686 lb2 3,940 kg2 |
| Loaded | 9,369 lb3 4,250 kg3 |
14,520 lb1, 14,550 lb3 6,600 kg1,3 |
14,550 lb2 6,600 kg2 |
| Performance | |||
| Speed at sea level | 211 mph3 339 kph3 |
||
| Speed @ 12,600' / 3,840 m |
254 mph1, 255 mph3 410 kph1,3 |
||
| Speed @ 13,420' / 4,090 m |
238 mph3 383 kph3 |
||
| Speed @ 15,750' / 4,800 m |
248 mph2 400 kph2 |
||
| Cruising speed | 175 mph3 282 kph3 |
||
| Climb | |||
| Climb to 6,560' / 2,000 m |
4.3 minutes3 | ||
| Climb to 16,400' / 5,000 m |
19.8 minutes3 | ||
| Service ceiling | 26,150'3 7,970 m3 |
23,910'1, 23,915'3 7,290 m1,3 |
27,885'2 8,500 m2 |
| Range | 490 miles3 788 km3 |
950 miles1, 954 miles3 1,535 km1,3 |
410 miles2 660 km2 |
| Range with maximum bomb load | 620 miles3 998 km3 |
||
| Armament | |||
| Wings | 2: 7.92 mm MG3 | 2: 7.92 mm MG3 2: 7.92 mm MG 171 |
|
| Forward firing | 2: 20 mm MG 151/202 | ||
| Rear cockpit | 1: 7.92 mm MG3 | 2: 7.92 mm MG3 2: 7.92 mm MG 81Z1 |
2: 7.92 mm MG 812 |
| Bombs | 3,960 lb1 1,800 kg1 |
||
| Bomb under fuselage | 1: 1,102 lb3 1: 500 kg3 |
3,968 lb3 1,800 kg3 |
1: 3,958 lb2 1: 1,800 kg2 |
| Bomb under wings | 4: 110 lb3 4: 50 kg3 |
1,102 lb3 500 kg3 |
2: 1,102 lb2 2: 500 kg2 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
