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Germany's Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Fighter1,2,3
Nickname: Wüger (butcher bird)
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter:
U.S. Army in World War II - Pictorial Record, 1951
Design
Designed in 1937 to be a compliment to the Messerschmitt Bf 109.1
Undercarriage
The undercarriage was wide and more stable than the Messerschmitt Bf 109.1
Flaps
A first for fighter aircraft the flaps were electrically operated.1
Fuselage
The fuselage was low and allowed the pilot to see better out the rear of the cockpit.1
Prototype
The first flight by the FW 190 was on June 1, 1939.1,2,3 Powered by BMW 139 radial engine (1,550 HP).3
Production
Variants
- Fw 190A-0: Pre-production models.2 Used BMW 801 engine.2
- Fw 190A-1:
- Fw 190A-3: Used BMW 801D-2 engine.2
- Fw 190A-4: Had water methanol power boosting.2,3 Better radio installed.3
- Fw 190A-4/R6: Had two 21cm mortars under wings.3
- Fw 190A-5: Had longer nose.2,3 This restored center of gravity.3
- Fw 190A-5/R6: Had two 21cm mortars under wings.3
- Fw 190A-5/U2:
- Fw 190A-5/U3:
- Fw 190A-5/U4:
- Fw 190A-5/U5:
- Fw 190A-5/U6:
- Fw 190A-5/U7:
- Fw 190A-5/U8:
- Fw 190A-5/U12: Had six 30 mm cannons.2
- Fw 190A-5/U14: Torpedo bomber.2
- Fw 190A-5/U15: Torpedo bomber.2
- Fw 190A-6: Had revised armament.3 Lighter wing structure.3
- Fw 190A-7: Used 13 mm MGs in nose instead of 7.9 mm.3
- Fw 190A-8: Introduced in late 1943.3 Increased internal fuel.3 Better radio installed.3
- Fw 190A-8/R8: Armored heavily to ram American bombers.1
- Fw 190A-8/U1: Two seat trainer.2
- Fw 190A-9: Only prototype built.3 Intended to ram American bombers.3 Had heavily armored wings.3 Had BMW 801TS turbo charged engine (2,000 HP).3
- Fw 190B: Prototype only.3 High altitude fighter.3 Extended wings.3 Pressurized cabin.3 BMW 801 engine with GM1 nitrous oxide boost.3
- Fw 190C: Powered by DB 603.3 Was developed along side Fw 190B but was cancelled when the Fw 190D arrived.3 Had annular radiator system that made it look like it used a radial engine.3
- Fw 190D: "Dora."1 Introduced in mid-1944.1 Lengthened nose.2 Used a Jumo 213 inline engine.2
- Fw 190D-0: Pre production.3 Had two 13 mm MGs in nose, four 20 mm in wings.3
- Fw 190D-9: Top speed 426 mph / 685 kph.2 Used Jumo 2213A with water methanol boost (2,240 HP).2
- Fw 190D-12: Had Jumo 213F-1 three stage supercharged engine (2,060 HP).3 Had 30 mm firing through propeller.3 More armor.3 Production started in February 1945.3 With MW50 boost it could go 453 mph / 729 kph.3
- Fw 190F: Fighter bomber.2,3 Could carry up to 2,205 lb / 1,000 kg bombs.2 Production version of the Fw 190A-5/U3.3 More armor for pilot, engine, and oil tank.3 Drop tanks could be carried.3
- Fw 190F-2: One piece canopy.3
- Fw 190F-3: Could carry two 30 mm cannons in under wing pods in place of bombs.3
- Fw 190F-8: Had longer tail wheel to allow for ground clearance.3
- Fw 190F-9: Had BMW 801TS (2,000 HP) engine.3
- Fw 190G: Fighter bomber with up to 2,205 lb / 1,000 kg bombs.2 Based on the Fw 190A-4/U13 and Fw 190A-5/U13.3
- Fw 190G-1: Based on Fw 190A-4 airframe.3
- Fw 190G-2: Based on Fw 190A-5 airframe.3
- Fw 190G-3: Had autopilot installed.3 On the wing leading edge were balloon cable cutters.3
- Fw 190G-3/Trop: Tropical version.3
- Fw 190G-4: Prototypes.3
- Fw 190G-5: Prototypes.3
- Fw 190G-6: Prototypes.3
- Fw 190G-7: Prototypes.3
- Fw 190G-8: Based on Fw 190A-8 airframe.3
- Fw 190G-8/R4: Had GM-1 nitrous oxide boost.3
Usage
The Fw 190A-1s joined the Luftwaffe in mid-1941.2
Until 1944, when the P-51 Mustang was able to escort the bombers, the Fw 190 decimated the B-17s and B-24s.1
A Top Ace
Oberleutnant Otto Kittel scored most of his 267 victories in a Fw 190.1
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
