https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinkel_He_177
The Heinkel He 177 Greif ("griffin") was a large long-range heavy bomber flown
by the Luftwaffe during World War II. In general terms, the He 177 had
payload/range capability similar to strategic bombers in the USAAF and RAF,
although it had much higher figures for its cruising and maximum speeds.
Designed to a 1936 requirement known as Bomber A, the aircraft was originally
intended to be a purely strategic bomber intended to support a long-term bombing
campaign against Soviet industry in the Urals. During the design phase,
to improve accuracy, and the design was extensively modified to allow
shallow-angle "glide bombing". This change, along with the demand that it use
only two fully nacelled "power system" engines, required to each be of over
1,500 kW (2,000 PS) output levels apiece to allegedly reduce drag for the
initially demanded "glide bombing" capability, created numerous problems for the
aircraft. Luftwaffe aircrew nicknamed it the Luftwaffenfeuerzeug ("Luftwaffe's
lighter") or the "Flaming Coffin" due to the serious engine problems on initial
versions. Many of these stemmed from the power plants' inadequately-designed and
poorly maintained installation in their wing nacelles, which caused cooling and
ventilation problems that were never completely solved.
of drag-producing engine radiators and planned on using a surface evaporative
cooling system instead. Before the design of the He 177 was finalized, it was
clear that such a system would be incapable of dealing with the vast amount of
heat generated by each of the twinned DB 601-based powerplants, forcing the
abandonment of the idea of using evaporative cooling systems, in favor of
conventional annular radiators fitted directly behind each propeller.
The inaccuracy of horizontal bombing during the Ural bomber program demonstrated
weaknesses in German bombsights and created doubts about the effectiveness of
the method. Some in the Luftwaffe believed that dive-bombing was a more
effective way to destroy targets. Technical data supported the accuracy of Stuka
bombing achieving greater target destruction over Dornier Do 17s or Heinkel He
111s.
Role
Long-range heavy bomber
Manufacturer
Heinkel Flugzeugwerke
Licensed to Arado
Designer
First flight
November 1939
Introduction
1942
Retired
1945
Primary user
Luftwaffe
Number built
1,169
Variants
Heinkel He 274
Heinkel He 277 Amerika Bomber
Beset by technical difficulties in development, the He 177 had a troubled
history in service. Overly demanding design requirements of long range, high
Although the He 177 entered service in 1942, it was far from operational. In an
assessment of the aircraft on 9 April 1942, the newly activated
Erprobungsstaffel 177 reported that the Greif had good flying characteristics,
but had unacceptable engine troubles and problems with its airframe strength. As
an emergency measure, it was used to supply the encircled 6th Armee at
Stalingrad, where it was found to be unsuited for the transport role, carrying a
little more cargo than the smaller, more reliable Heinkel He 111, and proving
useless for the evacuation of wounded. As a result, the He 177s reverted to
bombing and flak-suppression missions near Stalingrad. Only thirteen missions
were flown, and seven He 177s were lost to fire without any action attributable
to the enemy.
As the war progressed, He 177 operations became increasingly desultory. Fuel and
personnel shortages presented difficulties, and He 177s were sitting on
airfields all over Europe awaiting new engines or engine related modifications.
Of the fourteen He 177 sent out during Operation Steinbock, one suffered a burst
tire, and eight returned with overheating or burning engines. Of the four that
reached London, one was lost to night fighters. These aircraft were brand new,
delivered a week before the operation and not fully flown in, because the air
unit had moved to a new airfield the day before, and lacked sufficient
maintenance personnel and material. Constant attacks against Luftwaffe
long-range combat units in France made continuous operations difficult.
Specifications (He 177 A-5/R2)
General characteristics
Crew: 6
Length: 22 m (72 ft 2 in)
Height: 6.67 m (21 ft 10 in)
Empty weight: 16,800 kg (37,038 lb)
Loaded weight: 32,000 kg (70,548 lb)
twinned-pair of Daimler-Benz DB 605 inverted V12 engines, 2,900 PS (2,133 kW)
each
Performance
Maximum speed: 565 km/h (351 mph) at 6,000 m (19,685 ft)
Stall speed: 135 km/h (84 mph)
Combat radius: 1,540 km (957 mi)
Ferry range: 5,600 km (3,480 mi)
Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,246 ft)
Rate of climb: 190 m/min (623 ft/min)
Armament
dorsal turret
Bombs: Up to 6,000 kg (13,227 lb) of ordnance internally/7,200 kg (15,873 lb)
externally or up to 3 Fritz X or Henschel Hs 293 PGMs (w/FuG 203 Kehl MCLOS
lb total)
203 Kehl MCLOS transmitter installed)
Kehl MCLOS transmitter installed)
Kehl MCLOS transmitter installed)
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