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Focke-Wulf Ta 400 (Amerika Bomber)

1945 SECRET WEAPONS OF THE LUFTWAFFE WORLD WAR 2 X-PLANE

History of the Focke-Wulf Ta 400 (American bomber)

In the middle and final stages of World War II (1939-1945), the early investment in fighter jets and medium bombers plagued German war planners. As the war in Europe progressed, and the United States and other nations made ever-increasing material commitments, the Air Force was under pressure to fight over enemy cities to dent morale on the front lines. So the Germans developed a program called "American Bomber" to create a long-range heavy strategic bomber capable of crossing the Atlantic. The design will travel approximately 3,600 miles and will eventually include some of Germany's leading wartime aerospace companies, including Focke-Wulf, Heinkel, Junkers and Messerschmitt.

None of the proposed submissions were successful, and only a few actually saw any significant completion/production - the main drawback being project costs and material requirements within the confines of the deteriorating German wartime situation.

The Focke-Wulf company, known for its famous wartime single-engine Fw 190 fighter, had already introduced a multi-engine long-range aircraft for the civilian airliner and military markets (known as the "Ta 300") in 1941 - 1942 . This model was also developed as a possible successor to another Focke-Wulf product, the Fw 200 Condor maritime reconnaissance bomber. Due to the need for a dedicated long-range bomber for the Luftwaffe, a civilian design for the Fw 300 was proposed and no actual work was done on the project.

Focke-Wulf, with a background in large multi-engine aircraft, responded to a new request from the Luftwaffe in January 1942. This specification calls for bomber platforms with considerable range and high reload capability for long-range bombing or reconnaissance missions. Focke-Wulf's famous engineer Kurt Tank revealed plans for such an aircraft when he drew the "Ta 400" based on his earlier Ta 300.

Tank envisioned a large aircraft powered by no fewer than six radial piston engines arranged along a straight monoplane wing assembly. The overall design form was very traditional for the time, including a streamlined, tapered fuselage, a remote-controlled cannon weapon station and a "split-T" twin rudder tail.

Design work on the Ta 400 began in 1943 and involved German and French engineers, the latter unfortunately captured on German soil following the fall of Paris during the French campaign (May-June 1940). Therefore, the work is carried out at the Focke-Wulf factory outside Paris. The engine of choice is a 14-cylinder air-cooled radial BMW 801D in a two-row configuration, producing 1,700 hp per row, six of which are used to power the aircraft.

For working at heights, all areas of the unit should be pressurized. Remote-controlled turret The turret allows heavy weapons to be mounted and the crew to remain within range of the pressurized hull section. In terms of bomb load, the aircraft is expected to carry up to 53,000 pounds, and the power provided by the engines has an estimated range of up to 7,500 miles. Over time, the idea of ??adding 2 x Junkers Jumo 004 auxiliary turbojets (2,000 lbs of thrust per unit) will improve performance - especially on takeoff.

The standard crew consists of nine crew members, mission specialists and dedicated gunners. One of the changing aspects of the Ta 400's design is the heavy glass shape of the cockpit canopy.

To reduce reliance on fighter escorts, the Ta 400 is equipped with a projected defensive armament of a 10 x 20mm cannon. Two small remote-controlled turrets are mounted under the nose, each holding 2 x 20mm MG 131/20 guns (four guns in total in this location). Two turrets are placed along the spine of the aircraft, each holding 2 x MG 151/20 guns. A single ventral turret was fitted with another pair of 20mm MG 151/20 cannons.

To protect the more vulnerable rear of the aircraft, a turret was placed with 4 x 20 mm MG 151/20 guns.

In addition to using traditional Luftwaffe bombs such as the SD and SC series, the Ta 400 is also intended to carry the more advanced "Frietz X" and Henschel Hs 293 and Hs 294 radio-controlled guided bombs/missiles. Given the expected maritime patrol role of the Ta 400, it is also possible to provide mines.

Ordnance can be secured either internally or via attachment points under the fuselage (3) and under the engine nacelles (16).

Entering 1943, the Luftwaffe began to favour competitive US bomber designs for the long-range bomber/reconnaissance role, until as the war situation in Germany worsened, even these were abandoned in favor of more defense sex fighter. This led the Air Force to drop official support for the Ta 400 in October, before a useful prototype had been implemented.

Undeterred, Focke-Wulf briefly tried to get the Italians interested in helping to realize the product - but the official surrender of Italy in September 1943 all but ended that brief venture.