Germany's Focke-Wulf Ta 152 high altitude fighter

Photos

Focke-Wulf Ta 152C high altitude fighter:

Focke-Wulf Ta 152H-1 high altitude fighter:

Design

Kurt Tank designed the Ta 152.^1,3 The Ta 152 was based on the abandoned Fw 190C high altitude fighter.²

Starting in 1940 Focke Wulf was working on different versions of the Fw 190.³ The main problem was finding an engine that would perform better at very high altitudes.³ Both Daimler Benz and Junkers worked on engine designs, even more urgently starting in 1942 when intelligence of the Boeing B-29 bomber that could fly even higher than the operational Allied bombers of the time.³ The Air Ministry asked Messerschmitt and Focke Wulf to submit designs.³ Focke Wulf submitted two designs of Kurt Tank, the Fw 190 Ra-2 and Fw 190 Ra-3 that were based on the Fw 190D.³

Cockpit

The cockpit was pressurized for the high altitudes it was intended to fly at.^1,3 The Ta 152C developmental prototype flew on November 19, 1944.¹ There was an autopilot as the plane was complex and stressful to fly at high altitudes.¹

Engine

There was an air intake on the right side that fed the supercharger.¹

Used Water methanol (MW 50) injection on take-off to boost the power up to 2,050 hp.¹

Tail Wheel

The Ta 152H-1e had the tail wheel fully retracted and stored behind two doors.¹

Prototype

At Cottbus, in October 1944, the first 20 pre-production Ta 152s flew.¹
The first prototype flew in November 1944.²

The Ta 152C developmental prototype flew on November 19, 1944.¹

The Erprobungskommando 152 conducted trials of the Ta 152 at Rechlin.¹

Production

• Focke Wulf Ta 152H-0: 20²
• Focke Wulf Ta 152H-1: ~150³, ~170²
  • Production: January 1945 - ?³
• Total: 200²
  • Manufacturer: Focke Wulf Flugzeugbau GmbH³

Variants

• Focke Wulf Ta 152A: Jumo engine.² Pressurized cabin.²
• Focke Wulf Ta 152B: Jumo engine.² Pressurized cabin.^2,3 Normal wing span.³
• Focke Wulf Ta 152C: Daimler-Benz DB 603 engine.²
• Focke Wulf Ta 152H: Jumo engine.² Longer wings.^2,3 Pressurized cabin.³
• Focke Wulf Ta 152H-0: Pre production.²
• Focke Wulf Ta 152H-1: Production.² Some had GM1 nitrous oxide boost.²
• Focke Wulf Ta 152E: Reconnaissance version.^1,2
• Focke Wulf Ta 152S: Two seat trainer.²
• ??: Photo reconnaissance version.¹ Never became operational.¹
• ??: Attack version.¹

Usage

Was intended to fly at high altitudes to intercept bombers, but often the Ta 152 pilots fought at low altitudes where the FW 190D-9 performed better.¹

The Ta 152s were used to protect Me 262s bases.^2,3

Outracing Mustangs

Two P-51 Mustangs intercepted Kurt Tank when he flew a Ta 152H from Lagenhagen and Cottbus in December 1944.³ To escape Kurt Tank opened up the throttle and sped away.³

Specifications

	Focke-Wulf Ta 1522	Focke-Wulf Ta 152C2	Focke-Wulf Ta 152H-11,2,3,4
Type	Fighterr2		Fighter3, High altitude fighter1
Crew	12		11,3
Engine (Type)	Jumo 213E/B4	Daimler-Benz DB 603LA2	Junkers Jumo 213E piston1,2, Junkers Jumo 213 E-33
Cylinders		Inverted V 122	Inverted V 121,2, V 123
Cooling			Liquid3
HP		2,1002	1,7501,3
HP with MW50 water methanol boost		2,3002	2,0502
Propeller blades		32	31,2
Dimensions
Span		36' 1"2 11 m2	47' 4"3, 47' 4.5"2, 48' 6"1 14.44 m2, 14.5 m1
Length			35' 1"3, 35' 1.5"2, 35' 5"1 10.71 m2, 10.8 m1
Height			11'3, 11' 1"2, 13' 2"1 3.38 m2, 4 m1
Wing area			253 ft2 1 23.5 m2 1
Weight
Empty			8,624 lb1, 8,887 lb2 3,920 kg1, 4,031 kg2
Loaded			10,450 lb1, 10,472 lb2,3 4,750 kg1,2
Maximum load			11,502 lb2 5,217 kg2
Performance
Speed	472 mph4 760 kph4
Speed at sea level			350 mph2 563 kph2
Speed @ 29,860' / 9,100 m with MW50 boost			465 mph2 748 kph2
Speed @ 30,000'			470 mph3
Speed @ 40,000'			475 mph3
Speed @ 41,000' / 12,500 m			471 mph1, 472 mph3 760 kph1
Speed @ 41,000' / 12,500 m with MW50 or GM1 boost			472 mph2 760 kph2
Cruising speed			311 mph2 500 kph2
Climb			3,445'/minute1,2 1,050 m/minute1,2
Service ceiling			48,550'1,3, 48,556'2 14,800 m1,2
Range			745 miles1, 755 miles2,3 1,200 km1, 1,215 km2
Range with drop tanks			1,250 miles2 2,011 km2
Armament
Propeller			30 mm Mk 1081 30 mm2,3 90 rounds1
Wing			2: 20 mm MG 151/201 20 mm2 2: 20 mm3 175 rounds1