Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


General information
Type	High-altitude fighter/interceptor ('H' variants) Ground attacker ('C' variants) Aerial reconnaissance ('E' variants)
National origin	Germany
Manufacturer	Focke-Wulf
Designer	Kurt Tank
Status	Retired
Primary user	Luftwaffe
Number built	69
History
Introduction date	January 1945
First flight	1944
Retired	May 1945
Developed from	Focke-Wulf Fw 190D

The Focke-Wulf Ta 152 is a German high-altitude fighter and interceptor aircraft designed by Kurt Tank and produced by Focke-Wulf. It entered production too late and in insufficient numbers to have a significant role in the Second World War. The Ta 152 was developed from the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter. It was intended to be produced in at least three versions—the Ta 152H Höhenjäger (high-altitude fighter); the Ta 152C designed for medium-altitude operations and ground-attack, using a Daimler-Benz DB 603 and with smaller wings and the Ta 152E fighter–reconnaissance aircraft with the engine of the H model and the wing of the C model. The first Ta 152H entered service with the Luftwaffe in January 1945; one month later production of the Ta 152 had ceased due to Germany's declining position in the conflict. Japan acquired material from Germany towards establishing domestic production of the Ta 152, but no aircraft are believed to have been completed.

Operational history

By October 1944, given the disastrous course of the conflict, RLM realised the urgency of Germany's situation and pushed Focke-Wulf to quickly put the Ta 152 into production. As a result, several Ta 152 prototypes crashed early into the test program. It was found that critical systems were lacking sufficient quality control. Problems arose with superchargers, pressurised cockpits leaked, the engine cooling system was unreliable at best due in part to unreliable oil temperature monitoring and in several instances the landing gear failed to properly retract. A total of up to 20 pre-production Ta 152 H-0s were delivered from November 1944 to Erprobungskommando Ta 152 to service test the aircraft. It was reported that test pilots were able to conduct a mere 31 hours of flight tests before full production started. By the end of January 1945, only 50 hours or so had been completed.

Surviving aircraft

Only one Ta 152 survives, a 152 H-0 variant flown by III./Jagdgeschwader 301, a Luftwaffe Wilde Sau unit. The aircraft is housed at the National Air and Space Museum Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility in Suitland, Maryland, United States, where it is expected to be restored.

The aircraft is believed to be Werk-Nummer (serial number) 150020, which was a pre-production H-0 model transitioning to full production Ta 152H-1 series aircraft. It was probably built at Focke-Wulf's production facility at Cottbus, Germany, in December 1944, and delivered to Erprobungskommando Ta 152 at Rechlin, Germany, for service testing

Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG

Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG
Focke-Wulf Ta 152 Höhenjäger
Introduction date January 1945 First flight 1944

General Info

Crew: One
Length: 8.95 m (29 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 10.506 m (34 ft 6 in)
Height: 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 18.3 m² (197 sq ft)

Powerplant

Empty weight: 3,200 kg Gross weight: 4,417 kg Max takeoff weight: 4,900 kg Fuel capacity: 639 L 169 US gal) Powerplant: 1 × BMW 801D-2 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine 1,700 PS (1,677 hp; 1,250 kW) and up to 1,980 PS (1,953 hp; 1,456 kW) at 1.65 ata for up to 10 minutes of emergency powe

Performance

Maximum speed: 652 km/h (405 mph, 352 kn) at 5,920 m
Range: 900–1,000 km (560–620 mi, 490–540 nmi)
Combat range: 400–500 km (250–310 mi, 220–270 nmi)
Ferry range: 900–1,000 km (560–620 mi, 490–540 nmi) ~1800–2000 km with droptank.
Service ceiling: 10,350 m
Rate of climb: 15 m/s (3,000 ft/min)

Armament

- Guns:
- 2 × 13 mm (0.51 in) synchronized MG 131 machine guns
- 2 × 20 mm (0.79 in) MG 151/20 E cannons, synchronized in the wing roots
- 2 × 20 mm (0.79 in) MG 151/20 E cannons in mid-wing mounts
- Bombs: 1 bomb under fuselage or four bombs under wings.

Special Links Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG

Links to Youtube & Others

The Fw 190 D-9 is definitely in the top 3 list for Germany's piston-engine fighter lineup. Thanks to the new inline engine, this Fw has a massive power upgrade from the radial versions of the Fw 190. The Fw 190 D-9 has a unique and powerful list of traits that set it apart from the pack and have solidified it as one of the deadliest battle rating fighters in the game.

Focke-Wulf Ta 152 Höhenjäger

The Fw 190 D-9 carries a strong weapon set with two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons in the wing roots and two 13 mm MG-131 in the cowling.

Youtube Link

The Fw 190 D-9 carries a strong weapon set with two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons in the wing roots and two 13 mm MG-131 in the cowling.

Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG
Focke-Wulf Ta 152 Höhenjäger
Introduction date January 1945
First flight 1944