https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focke-Wulf_Ta_152
The Focke-Wulf Ta 152 was a World War II German high-altitude
fighter-interceptor designed by Kurt Tank and produced by Focke-Wulf. The Ta 152
was a development of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft. It was intended to be made
Ta 152C designed for medium-altitude operations and ground-attack using a
different engine and smaller wing, and the Ta 152E fighter-reconnaissance
aircraft with the engine of the H model and the wing of the C model.
The first Ta 152H entered service with the Luftwaffe in January 1945. While
incorrectly estimated in one source at approximately 220 units, only some 43
production aircraft were ever delivered before the end of the European conflict.
These were too few to allow the Ta 152 to make a significant impact on the air
war.
Due to the difficulties German interceptors were having when battling American
heavy bombers at altitudes above 20,000 feet, and in light of rumors of new B-29
bombers with even better altitude capabilities, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium
(German Air Ministry, or "RLM") requested proposals from both Focke-Wulf and
Messerschmitt for a high-altitude interceptor.
Kurt Tank originally designed the Ta 152 using the 44.52 litre displacement
Daimler-Benz DB 603 engine as it offered better high-altitude performance and
also a greater developmental potential. The DB 603 had been used in the Fw 190C
with many problems and was considered too difficult to implement in the Ta 152
by RLM officials. With this in mind, Tank focused his efforts on the Junkers
Jumo 213E as the Ta 152H's power plant. However, he insisted that the DB 603 be
retained for the Ta 152C versions and as an option for later versions of the Ta
152H.
The Ta 152's fuselage was an extended version of the Fw 190 D-9 fuselage with
wider-chord fixed vertical tail surfaces (especially the top half), and
hydraulic rather than electrically controlled undercarriage and flaps. Due to
the changes in the center of gravity and overall balance, the nose was also
lengthened. Wingspan was changed from the Fw 190's 10.51 m (34 ft 5 in) for both
versions. The H had a span of 14.44 m (48 ft 6 in) and the C a wingspan of 11.00
m (36 ft 1 in).
To reach higher altitudes, a pressurized cockpit was added to the H models. The
canopy was sealed via a circular tube filled with rubber foam which was inflated
by a compressed air bottle, while the engine compartment was also sealed from
the cockpit with a rubber foam ring. A Knorr 300/10 air compressor provided the
pressure, maintaining the cockpit at 0.36 atmospheres (5.29 psi) above 8,000 m
(26,250 ft). To prevent fogging, the windscreen was of a double-glazed style
with a 6 mm (.236 in) thick outer pane and a 3 mm (.118 in) inner pane with a 6
mm (.24 in) gap. The gap was fitted with several silica gel capsules to absorb
any moisture forming between the panes.
Role
Interceptor
Manufacturer
Focke-Wulf
Designer
Kurt Tank
Introduction
January 1945 (service entry)
Primary user
Luftwaffe
Number built
43 identified, with six prototypes
Developed from
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
By October 1944, the war was going very badly for Germany, and the RLM pushed
Focke-Wulf to quickly get the Ta 152 into production. As a result, several Ta
152 prototypes crashed early into the test program. It was found that critical
systems were lacking sufficient quality control. Problems arose with
superchargers, pressurized cockpits leaked, the engine cooling system was
unreliable at best due in part to unreliable oil temperature monitoring, and in
several instances the landing gear failed to properly retract. A total of up to
20 pre-production Ta 152 H-0s were delivered from November 1944 to
Erprobungskommando Ta 152 to service test the aircraft. It was reported that
test pilots were able to conduct a mere 31 hours of flight tests before full
production started. By the end of January 1945, only 50 hours or so had been
completed.
The Ta 152 score at the end of the war was likely seven victories and four
losses in air combat, although a degree of uncertainty about those numbers
exists. Four victories were achieved by Josef Keil, from 1 March 1945 to 21
April 1945. The Ta 152 was delivered to JG 301 on 27 February 1945 and the first
Ta 152 combat action against American bombers happened on 2 March 1945, so his
victory against a B-17 on 20 February 1945 could not have been achieved flying
that type of fighter. Alternatively, this results from an incorrect reading of
published sources such as Lowe because JG 301 had the Ta 152 in service from
late January 1945 and individual missions such as Keil's could well have been
flown. At least three victories were achieved by Willi Reschke.
Specifications (Ta 152 H-1)
General characteristics
Crew: One
Length: 10.82 m (35 ft 5 63/64 in)
Wingspan: 14.44 m (47 ft 4 1/2 in)
Height: 3,36 m (13 ft 1in)
Empty weight: 4,031 kg (8,640 lb)
Loaded weight: 4,727 kg (10,470 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 5,217 kg (11,501 lbs)
PS with MW-50)
Performance
Maximum speed: 759 km/h at 12,500 m using GM-1 boost (472 mph at 41,000 ft using
GM-1 boost)
Range: 2,000 km (1,240 mi)
Service ceiling: 15,100 m using GM-1 boost (49,540 ft using GM-1 boost)
Rate of climb: 20 m/s to 25.4 m/s (3,937 ft/min at maximum weight of 5,217 kg to
~5,000+ ft/min at 4,727 kg)
Power/mass: 0.276 kW/kg (0.167 hp/lb)
Armament
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