Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Achs
There was only one Ju 188 with BMW 801 and torpedo installation. Werknummer and STK are confirmed by several flight logbooks. The torpedo tests began in September 1943. Oddly, the plane in original documents was called A-3. The subtype E-2 was originally planned as a bomber with Jumo 213, as it was later built as A-2. Take a look in the programs 1942 and early 1943.
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Not wanting readers be let down, but time has been rather tight attending to this specific problem. Nothing is only black or white in Junkers 88/188/388 series, rather many shades of Grey. Having Jumo 213 engines in the Ju 188 E-2 looks strange to me, just as writing up an plane with BMW 801 as an "A-3". I have not yet traced these planned Ju 188 E-2´s (with or without Jumo 213 engines) in the RLM C-Amt Production Plans (
Lieferplane) or JFM pre-plan study´s (
Entwurf) from 1942 or 1943. These mostly (always) turning up as G-2, H-2, M-1, D/H etc. I even found the
Ju 88 N-1 (Jumo 213)
Nightfighters in one plan. Maybe I missed the correct one.
But there is one reference (below) with the "Ju 188 A-3" "Torpedo" (total 364 examples), but curiously these were split in two by
Anmerkung! (to 177 and 187 respectevely) ...
"Ju 188 A-3 (Jumo 213) Lt-Flg".
but appears "
struck out" (with pencil) over E-3 designation only
"Ju 188
E-3 (BMW 801) Lt-Flg."
Ref: Plan JFM
E 184, FTH-Pl 43 520, that dealt only with the Ju 188 and Ju 88, dated 3.12.43. (This was "Grundplane für LP 225 1.12.43") Only page for the Ju 188 is shown below.
http://i42.tinypic.com/rwjjw1.jpg
This likely is the (wrong) reference I remembered about "Ju 188 E-2 Torpedo-Bombers". I apologize not finding this earlier; There were lot of interim plans and pre-plans (Entwurf) that contained sub-variants that did not see much light of day. Cancelled in short. I even read somewhere, there was planned to re-engine some Ju 188 A-3 with BMW 801´s. If these then became E-3´s will not be stated. Maybe someone will pull the real E-2 or E-3´s out of his hat.
Regards
-Ed