Ju 188A-3 Werk Nummer question

[Seaplanes]

I enclose a photo taken at Gardermoen airfield in Norway in the summer of 1945 with a Ju 188A-3 torpedo-carrier conversion of III./K.G.26. Part of the Werk Nummer is painted below the cockpit as 0326 (full number is 190326). My confusion is the other number underneath 5363 or 5383 followed by A3S or A35 ??? Is this the aircraft W.Nr. before conversion to an A-3. In case what was the aircraft designation before conversion. Surviving records show that a total of 62 Ju 188A-3 were completed by Siebel as new production aircraft with the first delivered in April 1944, i.e. no conversions.
Can someone explain ??

[edNorth]

ATG fuselage line number, where 5 (old "ATG number", in use since 1939), 363 is running number. It is NOT an Ju 188 / RLM W.Nr. as such. It has A3S along, the S standing for either the radar or Elektra Sonne position system (but this is just speculative on my part). Simple explanation be it was Siebel assembled.

Source: My research

-Ed

[edNorth]

Originally Posted by Seaplanes

... of 62 Ju 188A-3 were completed by Siebel as new production aircraft with the first delivered in April 1944, i.e. no conversions. Can someone explain ??

Series production by ATG and Siebel was Ju 188 A-2 (Bombers), and 157 Ju 188 A-3 LT were planned ([Lieferplan 226); some (1) in 160xxx and (4) are in 180xxx series.
Of these "62" only 53 (newbuilt) were delivered and distributed via 6 Abt. (July 44 - Mar 45). Planned were further (6) SFW conversions of A-3 with BMW 801 G (see Lieferplan 227 (Umbau)),
four were finished before 31.11.44 as Ju 188 K (LT) and two planned in December 1944!

Source: Own research.

-Ed

[Seaplanes]

Thanks for your comments Ed. First of all, the aircraft distribution lists from 6. Abt. are not complete, so there may be more than 53 Aircraft. Secondly, the LP 227 list the "umbau" (conversion) for Ju 188 as Ju 188A-3 and not KLT. KLT stands for Kampf Luft Torpedo and is only mentioned in the column for type of aircraft. Sorry I forgot to mention the six umbau aircraft from Siebel in my first posting. The Siebel series production of the Ju 188A-3 was 30 aircraft in July 1944, 24 aircraft in August and 8 in September 1944, a total of 62. However, some may have been damaged or destroyed before acceptance by Luftwaffe.

[RT]

Hello Bjorn,

Are you sure that 0326 stand for 190326 ,,,???Could be 160326 ..

One 0326 was at Leck with KG26 on dec. 44

Rémi

[edNorth]

Remi ! can not be 16xxxx (wrong factory to have S = Siebel painted on cockpit)

[edNorth]

Björn: "K LT" is the class, and losses after production are possible.

[Seaplanes]

I am pretty sure that the correct W.Nr. is 190326 as this is the W.Nr. listed in the inventory of all ex. Luftwaffe aircraft left in Norway after the capitulation. This list was put together by the Leitende Ingenieur beim Kommandierende General der Deutsche Luftwaffe in Norwegen (Abwicklungsstab). 26 Ju 188A-3 aircraft of III./K.G.26 was left at Gardermoen, 6 similar aircraft was left at Vaernes (Trondheim). A couple of aircraft were in the 160--- series, but most in the 180--- and 190--- series.
Finally, the six A-3 conversion aircraft made by Siebel were from Ju 188A-2 production.