Focke-Wulf FW-190A-8/R3 Wurger

From The Air Combat Wiki

Contents 1 Fighter Ace Screenshots 2 Fighter Ace Ratings 3 Fighter Ace Performance 4 Historical Statistics 5 Strengths 6 Weaknesses 7 History 8 Sources 9 See Also

Fighter Ace Screenshots

Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ	Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ	Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ	Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ
Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ	Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ	Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ

Fighter Ace Ratings

Durability: 5

Speed: 7

Maneuverability: 4

Firepower: 9

Climb Rate: 5

Ground Attack: 4

Fighter Ace Performance

Top Speeds						Climb Rates
	Sea Level	4921' 1500m	9843' 3000m	19685' 6000m	Best Speed	Best IAS	to 1000m	to 3000m	to 6000m
mph	331	351	349	391	393@ 20341'	186 mph	1:16	3:31	7:12
mph WEP	352	351	363	398	398@ 20013'
kph	533	564	562	629	633@ 6200m	300 kph
kph WEP	566	565	584	640	641@ 6100m

Historical Statistics

Service Date: March 1944

Primary Guns: 2x MG131 13 mm machine guns with 400 rpg in cowl and 2x MG151/20 20mm cannon with 250 rpg in wing roots

Secondary Guns: 2x Mk103 30mm cannon with 35 rpg in underwing pods

Ordnance: 4x 121 lb (55 kg) or 1x 551 lb (250 kg) bomb or 1x 475 lb (215 kg) drop tank

Engine(s): 1x BMW-801D-2 radial rated for 1,700 hp at sea level (1,850 hp with WEP)

Int Fuel Capacity: 1,010 lbs (458 kg)

Ext Fuel Capacity: 475 lbs (215 kg)

Maximum Speeds: 355 mph (571 kph) at sea level, 408 mph (657 kph) at 20,670 ft (6,300 m)

Ceiling: 33,800 ft (10,302 m)

Loaded Weight: 9,660 lbs (4,382 kg)

Wing Area: 197 sq ft (18.3 sq m)

Wing Loading: 49.0 lbs/sq ft (239.4 kg/sq m)

Strengths

Firepower: The 30mm Mk 103 guns can take out bombers and tanks with ease, but the 35 rpg is expended quickly.

Weaknesses

Turn Rate: With its high wing-loading the Würger can’t turn with planes like Spitfire or La-7.

History

The 190 was the dominant plane in the skies of Europe in 1942, but further refinements were in order. With each increase in weight, the center of gravity of the plane had shifted and now it became apparent that it was too far aft. To alleviate this problem, the engine mount was extended forward about six inches in the A-5 model. Several A-5s were shipped to Japan in 1943 for evaluations and although the Japanese didnít adopt it into service, the Allies spotted it and gave it the code-name "Fred".

By now the 190 was weighing in at over 9,000 lbs. and in an effort to reduce weight somewhat, Kurt Tank redesigned the wing. This new wing was mounted to an A-5 test bed, then was introduced into service with the A-6 in late 1943. While the new wing's appearance was virtually identical to the previous one, it was able to mount MG-151/20 cannon in the outboard positions previously occupied by the MG-FF. Fed by 125 round belts, these new guns greatly increased the firepower available to the pilot.

The A-7 was originally intended to be a high-speed photo reconnaissance version, but the needs of combat units changed those plans. Nothing more than an interim version, only 80 A-7s were produced, but it was the first version to replace the 7.92mm machine guns in the cowl with 13mm MG-131s with 400 rpg.

The A-8 was soon introduced with a host of minor refinements and changes, including the addition of removable fuel cells behind the pilotís seat as an alternative to the MW50 methanol injection system. By this time, the system of Umrüst Bausätze factory conversion kits had been completely replaced by the Rüstätz field conversion kits.

The /R3 kit involved removal of the outboard MG-151s and the installation of a 30mm Mk 103 gun pod with 35 rpg under each wing. Although it had a low rate of fire, the Mk 103 had a very high muzzle velocity, allowing it to be used as a stand-off weapon against bomber formations.

After the war, 64 Fw 190 A-8 were produced by the French until 1946 with the designation NC 900. Some of these were delivered to GC III/5 Normandie-Niemen which operated these fighters for a brief period.

Sources

Filley, Brian; FW 190A, F, and G In Action; Squadron/Signal Publications, Carrollton, TX; 1999.

Green, William; Warplanes of the Third Reich; Doubleday and Company, Garden City, NY; 1970.

See Also

Fighter Ace Planes Inventory

Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau G.m.b.H.

Aircraft Manufacturers During World War II