Fw 200

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The prototype Focke Wulf Fw 200 Condor commercial transport first flew in 1937, followed by a few Fw 200A and the first major production version, the Fw 200 B. Work on a bomber conversion began in 1939 at the request of the Japanese Army Air Force, who were interested in such a project. This version introduced more powerful engines and was designated Fw 200 C. War had broken out, however, before the first one was ready, and the project was promptly adopted by the Luftwaffe for the reconnaissance role. Meantime, the airline Fw 200 B and the few pre-production Fw 200 C-O were pressed into service as transports. Production continued until early 1944 through sub-types Fw 200 C-1, -2, -3, -4 and -6.
Focke Wulf Fw 200 Condor made its mark during the Second World War. In this capacity, acting in co-operation with U-boat packs, it formed one of the most effective Luftwaffe combinations of the war, and many a convoy was to rue the moment it first spied a Condor above the horizon.
Number built: 276

Type

  • Four-engined long-range reconnaissance bomber, also used for U-boat co-operation.

Wings

  • Low-wing cantilever monoplane with three sections: center section supporting four engines and two outer sections.
  • All-metal two-spar structure, metal-covered to the rear spar, with fabric covering aft.
  • Two-piece ailerons extending along two-thirds of the outer wing trailing-edges, mass-balanced with geared tabs on each aileron.
  • Trim-tab in port aileron operated by electric motor.
  • Split trailing-edge flaps inboard of ailerons, two-spar construction covered with magnesium alloy sheet.

Fuselage

  • Semi-monocoque structure with flush-riveted smooth metal skin.
  • Bomb-bay beneath the main structure, offset slightly to starboard.

Tail Unit

  • Cantilever monoplane type with two-spar all-metal tailplane, incidence adjustable on the ground.
  • Single-spar elevators with the forward portion metal-covered and the remainder fabric-covered.
  • Geared and trim tabs on both elevators.
  • Two-spar fin, metal-covered forward of the main spar, remainder fabric-covered.
  • All-metal rudder with single-spar design, both geared and trim-tabs.

Landing Gear

  • Retractable type with main units having twin wheels, retracting forward into inner engine nacelles.
  • Hydraulic retraction with emergency lowering by electric motor.
  • Retractable tail-wheel with shimmy-damping device.

Power Plant

  • Four BMW 323 R-2 nine-cylinder radial air-cooled engines, each rated at 940 hp at 12,000 ft (3,660 m).
  • Three-blade VDM metal-blade airscrews.

Accommodation

  • Normal crew of eight: two pilots, radio operator, flight engineer, observer/forward dorsal gunner, rear dorsal gunner, two ventral gunners.
  • Pilot and rear dorsal gunner protected by armor plate.

Specifications:

variant
Fw 200 C-1
Fw 200 C-3
bomber
crew
7
wingspan (m)
32,84
32,84
lenght (m)
23,85
23,85
height (m)
6,20
6,30
wing area (m2)
118,00
118,00
gross weight (kg)
11000
12950
max take-off weight (kg)
20400
22700
bombs (kg)
1200-2000
2900
engines
BMW 132H, 830 hp
BMW Bramo 323R-2 Fafnir, 1000 hp for take-off, 1200hp at 3200 m, 940hp at 4000 m
fuel (l)
2570
max speed (km/h)
340
380 (at 5000 m)
cruising speed (km/h)
280
 335
economical speed (km/h)
270 (at 2000 m)
landing speed (km/h)
110
110
service ceiling (m)
5500
6000
range (km)
3000
3750
endurance
11h 30m
 12h 15m
armament
6 x MG15
 5 x MG15, 1 x MG FF
radio equipment
FuG 10, FuG 25, FuG N 101, Peil G V, FuBl 1
variant
Fw 200 C-3
reconnaissance
Fw 200 C-3/U4
reconnaissance – bomber
crew
7-8
7
wingspan (m)
32,84
32,84
lenght (m)
23,85
23,85
height (m)
6,30
6,30
wing area (m2)
118,00
118,00
gross weight (kg)
12950
12847
max take-off weight (kg)
22700
22520
bombs (kg)
1230
2100
engines
BMW Bramo 323R-2 Fafnir, 1000 hp for take-off, 1200hp at 3200 m, 940hp at 4000 m
BMW Bramo 323R-2 Fafnir, 1000 hp for take-off, 1200hp at 3200 m, 940hp at 4000 m
fuel (l)
8060
9310
max speed (km/h)
380 (at 5000 m)
380 (at 5000 m)
cruising speed (km/h)
335
335
economical speed (km/h)
270 (at 2000 m)
270 (at 2000 m)
landing speed (km/h)
110
110
service ceiling (m)
6000
6000
range (km)
3750
3560 – 4450
endurance
13h 35m
13h 35m
armament
2 x MG15, 3 x MG131, 1x MG151/20
radio equipment
FuG 10, FuG 25, FuG N 101, Peil G V, FuBl 1
FuG 10, FuG 25, FuG N 101, Peil G V, FuBl 1
variant
Fw 200 C-4
Fw 200 C-6
Fw 200 C-8
crew
7
7
6
wingspan (m)
32,84
32,84
32,84
lenght (m)
23,85
23,85
23,85
height (m)
6,30
6,30
6,3
wing area (m2)
118,00
118,00
118,00
gross weight (kg)
14100
14500
12950
max take-off weight (kg)
22700
24000
22700
bombs (kg)
1200-2100
1200-2100
2100 or 2 x Hs 293
engines
BMW Bramo 323R-2 Fafnir, 1000 hp for take-off, 1200hp at 3200 m, 940hp at 4000 m
BMW Bramo 323R-2 Fafnir, 1000 hp for take-off, 1200hp at 3200 m, 940hp at 4000 m
BMW Bramo 323R-2 Fafnir, 1000 hp for take-off, 1200hp at 3200 m, 940hp at 4000 m
fuel (l)
8600
8600
max speed (km/h)
360
340
360
cruising speed (km/h)
335
300
250
economical speed (km/h)
landing speed (km/h)
110
110
130
service ceiling (m)
5800
5000
5800
range (km)
4400
4100
3500
endurance
18h
18h
armament
1 x MG15, 3 x MG131, 2x MG151/20
5 x MG131, 1x MG151/20
4 x MG131, 1x MG151/20, 1xMG15
radio equipment

Bibliography:

  • Hans P Dabrowski – Focke-Wulf Fw 200 “Condor” – Von der Zivilmaschine zum Fernkampfflugzeug Waffen-Arsenal 131
  • Marek J. Murawski – Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, Kagero Monographs 32
  • Heinz J. Nowarra – Fw 200 – Condor. Kampfgefährte der U-Boote, Waffen-Arsenal Band 52
  • Heinz J. Nowarra Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor
  • Robert Forczyk – Fw 200 Condor vs Atlantic Convoy: 1941-43; Osprey Duel 25
  • Fw200 C3 Bedienvorschrift – Focke Wulf GmbH 1941
  • Fw 200 C1 C2 Flugzeughandbuch – Focke Wulf GmbH 1940
  • Christopher F. Shores – Luftwaffe Fighter, Bomber & Marine Camouflage & Markings 1940 Volume 2 – Bf110 – Ju87 – Fw200 – He59 – He115 – Do215 – Do18 – Do24 – Ar196; Osprey Aircam Aviation Series S11
  • Peter W. Cohausz – Deutsche Flugzeugcockpits und Instrumentenbretter Teil 2. Dreissiger Jahre – AGO – Gotha
  • Karl-Heinz Regnat – Focke-Wulf Fw-200. Teil 1-Zivile Ausfuhrungen (Vom Original zum Modell)
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 200 “Condor”, World War II Combat Aircraft Photo Archive 006
  • Richard Smith – The Focke-Wulf Fw 200, Aircraft Profile Number 99
  • Jerry Scutts – Focke Wulf Fw 200 Condor, Warpaint Series 13
  • Manfred Griehl – Deutsche Fernkampfflugzeuge der Luftwaffe. Do 19 – Ju 89 – He 177 – Ju 290 – Fw 200 – Me 264 u.a.; Waffen-Arsenal 139
  • Chris Goss – Sea Eagles Volume Two: Luftwaffe Anti-Shipping Units 1942-1945; Classic Publications Luftwaffe Colours
  • Richard Smith – Kampfflieger Volume 2: Bombers of the Luftwaffe July 1940 – December 1941, Classic Publications Luftwaffe Colours
  • Chris Goss – Focke-Wulf Fw 200: The Luftwaffe’s Long Range Maritime Bomber, Air War Archive
  • Jerry Scutts – The Fw200 Condor A Complete History
  • Peter C Smith – The Sea Eagles: The Luftwaffe’s Maritime Operations, Luftwaffe At War