Junkers Ju 290

History

The Junkers Ju 290 was a large four-engine long-range transport, maritime reconnaissance aircraft and heavy bomber used by the Luftwaffe at the end of World War II developed from previous aircraft.

The Junkers 290 was developed directly from the Ju 90 airliner, a version that has been assessed for military use and was designed to replace the relatively slow Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, which became increasingly The more vulnerable the Luftwaffe aircraft; the Fw 200's fuselage clearly lacked sufficient strength to take on this role. The Ju 290 was also designed to meet the demand for large transport aircraft. A bomber version, the A-8, was planned but never built.

The design was led by Konrad Eicholtz.

The development program resulted in the Ju 290 V1 prototype BD+TX, which flew for the first time on July 16, 1942. It has an elongated fuselage, more powerful engines and a hydraulic rear loading ramp with elbow flaps. The V1 and the first eight A-1s produced were unarmed transport aircraft. Due to the large amount of transportation required, the A-1 was put into service immediately upon completion.

Several aircraft were missing in early 1943, including one participating in the Stalingrad airlift, and two flying supplies for German troops in Tunisia, and arming them became a priority.

The urgent need for the Ju 290 in long-range maritime reconnaissance missions is also now a high priority and has led to the Ju 290A-2. Three A-1 aircraft were converted to A-2 specification on the assembly line. Production was slow due to the necessary modifications and the installation of powerful defensive weapons.

The A-2 is equipped with a FuG 200 Hohentwiel search radar in the low UHF band and a dorsal turret with a 20mm MG 151 cannon. The Hohentwiel radar has been successfully used to detect Allied forces at a distance of 500 m (1,600 ft) or up to 80 km (50 mi) from 1,000 m (3,300 ft) or 100 km (62 mi) from 1,000 m (3,300 ft). convoy.

It allowed the Ju 290 to pursue convoys beyond the range of anti-aircraft fire and carrier-based fighter jets.

The

A-3 version followed, with additional navigation equipment and heavier defensive weapons. It is equipped with two hydraulically powered HDL 151 dorsal turrets with 20mm MG 151/20 cannons in a typical German Bola pod (almost all German bombers WWII) mounted directly below the front dorsal turret, aft There is a 20mm MG 151/20, operated by a prone gunner.

Two 13 mm (51 in) MG 131s are also mounted in the lumbar position (window car). The A-3 and A-2 also had large auxiliary fuel tanks in the fuselage. Both retain the rear loading ramp so that it can be used as a transport if necessary.

A-7 improvements appeared in spring 1944; 13 were completed and 10 entered service with Fernaufaufklarungsgruppe (FAGr) 5. Some A-7s and some A-4s were fitted with a detachable nose turret with a 20mm MG 151/20 for added defense against frontal attacks. As the A-5 and A-7 will be equipped with FuG 203 Kehl radio guidance systems to fire MCLOS-guided Fritz X and Hs 293 anti-ship missiles, they are not carrying any bombs.

The production line of fighter-type aircraft was established at the Letov Aircraft Plant in Prague, starting with the Ju 290 A-2, which carried the aforementioned Hohunterville maritime search radar for patrol purposes. Minor changes in armament differentiated the A-3 from the A-4 and led to the eventual A-5 variant.

The A-6 is a 50-seat transport aircraft.

The B-1, a heavy high-altitude bomber, was the last variant; a B-2 version was also in development.

Specification

Basics

Year of Service

1942

Origins

Nazi Germany

Crew

9

Production

65

Manufacturer

Junkers - Nazi Germany

Operators

Czechoslovakia (singleton, postwar); Nazi Germany; Spain (postwar)

Roles

Ground attack (bombing, strafing)

The ability to conduct air strikes against ground targets using (but not limited to) artillery, bombs, rockets, rockets, etc.

Transportation

General transport function for moving supplies/cargo or people (including casualties and VIPs) out of range.

Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), reconnaissance

Monitor ground targets/target areas to assess surrounding threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

94. 0 feet

(28.65m)

Width/span

137. 8 feet

(42.00m)

Height

22.5 feet

(6.85m)

Cured weight

72,753 lbs

(33,000 kg)

MTOW

99,142 lbs

(44,970 kg)

Wgt Difference

+?26,389

(+11,970kg)

Performance

Installed:

4 x BMW 801G/H 14-cylinder radial piston engines, 1,700 hp each.

Maximum speed

273 km/h

(440 km/h | 238 knots)

Maximum

19,685 feet

(6,000 m | 4 km)

Area

6,821 km

(6,150 km | 11,390 nautical miles)

Range (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: > 19030

Weapons

Standard: 2 x 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons in the front turret 2 x 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons in the rear turret 1 x 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon in the stern Position 1 x MG 151/20 cannon in ventral nacelle position 2 x 13mm MG 131 heavy machine gun in ventral nacelle position. Optional: Conventional ammunition up to 6,600 lbs.

Some of the airframes used in the delivery of Fritz X/Henschel Hs 293 radio-guided missiles.