Focke Wulf Ta.152

Kurt tank, the designer of the hugely successful Fw-190, wanted to improve the high altitude aspects of his aircraft. While the Fw-190 was a superb low to medium level fighter/interceptor/ground attack ( Fw-190 f-8 aircraft, it seriously lacked the ability to deal with the four engined heavy bombers of the allies. He constantly improved the design on his creation, by some considered the best german fighter/interceptor. His design, started out using a radial engine, instead of the typical at that time ( by german high command standards ) of using inline engines, with more capability for improvement in the future. But Tank was able to convinvce the higher ups that his design depended on the radial engine of BMW 801C-1, which was 14-cylindered, and was air-cooled, generating 1600hp at 18,045 ft, or 5,500m. However, when designing the Ta.152, he switched the engine type to Junkers Jumo 213 E-1, which had 12 cylinders, was liquid cooled, and could generate 1750 hp at 41,118 ft, or 12,500m. Thats more horsepower than the original had at 18,000 ft, at 41, 118 ft! That excellent Hp rating gave this remarkably different looking ( when compared to Fw-190's of earlier series ) a top speed of 471 mph. Thats very high for piston powered aircraft, almost unheard of. Along with this very high speed, the aircraft had an unusually large wingspan of 47ft8in. It was also very maneuvarable, had good pilot vision, and had good armament for intercepting high altitude bombers. It had one 30mm cannon, and two 20mm cannon, most likely a 30mm mk-108, and Mg 151/20 20mm cannon. Mounted the 30mm in the propeller hub, and one 20mm in each wing root. Few of these aircraft were used for the role intended, and that was to intercept the bombers, and most were used to defend the landing fields as Me-262 jet fighters took off and landed. The allies, even those flying the P-51D mustang came to fear this aircraft. Kurt Tank himself, piloting this aircraft came across to P-51's, and left them in the dust by accelerating. It had a good range, at 745 miles, which is an improvement compared to early Luftwaffe fighters.

[Nick Beale]

I recommend reading Willi Reschke's "JG 301/302 Wilde Sau" (available in English and German). He flew the Ta 152 in action. The English version came out quite recently from Schiffer in the USA.

Other books that have accounts by some of the very few pilots to fight in a 152 are Lorant and Frappé's "Le Focke-Wulf 190" (Editions Docavia: only in French) and Geoff Ethell's "Close Up: Ta 152" (Monogram Aviation Publications). The second of these is especially good but would be difficult to find now.

[Erich]

JG 301 never defended any Me 262 airfields and was not involved in high altitude bomber interception. what resrouces are you using ? the net..... ?


E ~

[PhilippeDM]

If the rumor is right and the updated website gives us the right info, Thomas Hitchcock should publisch his Monarch volume covering the Ta 152 soon....http://www.monogramaviation.com/inde...d=14&Itemid=29

Best regards,

Philippe

[Ruy Horta]

Thanks Philippe for bringing this to our attention, I've taken the opportunity to place a sticky notice.

Should be an especially nice addition to the Monogram Monarch series!

[John P Cooper]

Is this an updated version of the 1st Ta 152 book?

[Zamex]

I think this will be a new publication, different from the Close-up book.

[FalkeEins]

.. fyi I've added a translation of 'Jupp' Keil's account of his 10 April 1945 sortie to the Ta 152 page on my site (courtesy J-Y Lorant)

Neil

(link available via avatar)

[O.Menu]

Hi Neil,

Perhaps my fault but cant find the link to Keil's acount,... And Willy Reschke link doesnt work for me tonight.

[FalkeEins]

Olivier,

there's a new link via the homepage address which is
here
http://www.members.aol.com/falkeeins.../contents.html