The Junkers Ju 188 was a German, twin-engine bomber used by the Luftwaffe during World War II. It was a reliable and very effective aircraft, which was preferred by crews for its superior handling with high weights. It was developed from the Ju 88 as an interim tactical bomber until the Ju 288 could enter service. A total of 1,076 aircraft would be completed, including a maritime reconnaissance and transport version. It was used both on the Eastern and Western Front, carrying out bombing raids along with the Heinkel He 111 and the Dornier Do 17.
The prototype of the Junkers Ju 188 (V1) first flew on April 28, 1942. In January 1943, a second prototype was in the air at the Bernburg plant. Both prototypes were powered by two BMW-801 piston engines. The initial production aircraft was the Ju 188A-0, which was a bomber capable of both level and dive bombing, with the BMW-801s being replaced by two Jumo 213 inline piston engines. It would finally be introduced into service in May 1943 as the Ju 188E-0, which began missions in the pathfinder role on October 20, 1943. The first operational unit to receive this bomber was the Gruppe I/KG-6. By the end of that year, production of the aircraft was in full swing, with 283 aircraft being delivered to the Luftwaffe in December.
Technical Characteristics
The Junkers Ju 188 was a twin-engine monoplane, with an all-metal fuselage. It was fitted with straight, cantilever, mid-wing, with dihedral angle; both leading and trailing edge tapered towards the tip. Like its predecessor, it was equipped with slatted dive-brakes and automatic pull-out gear. It had a conventional tail assembly, with large tail surfaces and a broad rudder. It featured retractable landing gear, which folded up backwards into the engine nacelles.
The maritime versions, the Ju 188E-2 and Ju 188D-2, were equipped with one FuG 200 Hohentwiel maritime radar. Both variants were powered by two Jumo 213A-1, 12-cylinder, inline, liquid-cooled piston engines, each being able to deliver 1,776 horsepower for take off, and 240 HP with MW-1 injection.
Specification (Ju 188D-2)
Length: 14.96 m (49 feet)
Wing Span: 22 m (72 feet, 2 inches)
Wing Area: 56 m2 (602 square feet)
Height: 4.44 m (14 feet, 6 inches)
Power Plant: two 1,776 HP, Jumo 213A-1, 12-cylinder, liquid-cooled, piston engines.
Maximum Speed: 539 km/h (335 mph)
Range: 3,395 km (2,200 miles), with drop tanks.
Service Ceiling: 10,000 m (32,800 feet)
Crew: 3
Armament: one 20-mm MG-151 cannon in dorsal turret; one 13-mm MG-131 machine gun firing aft from rear cockpit; two 7.92-mm machine guns firing aft; two 800-kg (1,763-lb) LT 1B torpedoes.
Below, the Ju 188A-0 in flight, the first version of the bomber.
The maritime version of the aircraft, the Ju 188E-2. It was fitted with a FuG-200 Hohentwiel radar and armed with two torpedoes.
Below, the Ju 188D-2 in 1945 at the end of the war.
