The review will be very difficult. I think, night fighters - it is the strangest category aircraft of the time.
You should start with the fact, that during the war it was deliberately created and released a series of one night fighter. Targeted - it means, it is designed specifically as a night fighter, and nothing else. All the rest of his colleagues - alteration products.
Advanced and experts have already realized, that it was a "black widow" P-61, the plane is very difficult that the appearance, that the filling.
But about it in due time has been described, so that we are "Widow" leave to stand aside, and comparisons going to do in the TV series "Weapons of WWII". And it is not necessary here to put Ne.219, he as a "nightlight" was not created.
Plaine F-61 «Black Widow»
We'll start right off the Luftwaffe night air. It is the "lamp" of Germany were the fiercest fighting. And from the very beginning of the war, because the day the pilots quickly explained to the British, bombed German cities, who is the owner of the sky. As well as the British quite normally won the Battle of Britain. Parity has developed to 1940 year.
Generally, British realized, that turn to dust German cities, coupled with a population of a little more comfortable at night. Not least because, that you can navigate easily and stars, and if they strayed from the route, It could dump bombs on the first available town. Germans, for the sake of fairness, we note, We acted in exactly the same.
Night fighter aircraft of the Luftwaffe was much smaller in size, than the day, Kammhuber but somehow I managed to usurp and to adapt all the technological advances in the field of electronics, radar, guidance systems and identification systems «friend or foe».
by the way, many people find understanding, that the level of training letchikov- "night-light" was so high, that "Victorious" Hartman type there is nothing shining. It was a real elite Luftwaffe. And personal mastery does not play a special role, more important was the team work with the radar operator, Guidance stations on the ground and aircraft in the group.
Well, plus almost "blind" flying in the night sky, so even with the battle scenes.
Can, probably, not to speak, that represented the time locators, and whether they were accurate.
radar «Wurzburg-Giant»
Nevertheless, all this progressive Electronics how to cope with the tasks for defense, along with anti-aircraft batteries, and fields searchlights and night fighters claimed ...!
the, that could make the Germans, It can be called a small technological feat, because they dealt with the issue of night fighter.
so, what properties I had to have a normal night fighter?
1. Speed. Even at the expense of maneuverability, because the night fighter is unlikely to fight with colleagues. But catch the bombers - yes.
2. Distance / duration of the flight.
3. Maximum protection in front of the fire shooters bomber.
4. Minimum protection rear hemisphere.
5. Space for tracking equipment.
At all, officially the first night fighter, according to documents, He considered "Arado-68", but this completely outdated biplane with armament of two machine guns was fit only for training, no more.
So that was the first still "Messerschmitt» Bf.110
«Messerschmitt» Bf.110
He had a more or less decent speed, enough, to catch up with the "Blenheim" or "Whitley", possessed sufficient weaponry, but with the discovery of the 110th were all sad. It was only in 1942, in the 110th modification G still installed radar "Liechtenstein" and added a third member of the crew - a radar operator.
In general, from the C-1 modifications, C-2 and C-4 "Messerschmitt" designers have done much, because modifying G-4 / R-3, it was already a very serious opponent.
Model C had a crew 2 man, It is flown at a rate 510 km / h on 5 000 m, the ceiling was 9600 m, offensive weapons consisted of two 20 mm cannons and four 7.92 mm machine guns.
Model G had a crew of 3 human, at an altitude of speed 550 kmh, ceiling in 11 000 m, range about 1000 km, offensive weapons 2 30mm cannon and two 20 mm cannon. And radar, which increased the chances of finding the enemy.
realizing, that the twin-engine aircraft with radar - this is, that we should, the Germans broke in earnest. And there were night fighters, converted from bombers.
«Junkers» Ju-88C-2
The first night, "Junkers" remade, not very straining. The nose is made all-metal, nasal compartment separated from the pilot's 11 mm armor plate, which served not so much protection, as a support for the attachment arms. Well placed in the nose of a 20-mm cannon and three 7.92-mm machine gun.
Aircraft could continue to take up the front bomb bay 500 kg bombs, but instead of bombs placed in the rear compartment additional fuel tank.
In general, it turned out slightly weaker in arms, than the Bf.110, but a converted bomber could fly a much greater distance. Plus for an aircraft produced field kits arrestors on exhausts, whereby the Ju-88C-2, it was very difficult to detect.
by the way, cunning Germans almost immediately began to draw on the safe side glazing in the nose, to the crews of enemy aircraft mistook them for ordinary bomber.
Maximum Ju-88C-2 rate was 488 km / h and at altitudes 5300 m, service ceiling 9900 m, range of flight 1980 km.
Latest creation "Junkers" from the model 88 stood modification Ju.88 G. The aircraft received new engines, which accelerates it to a height of 640 km / h and allowed to raise a rather impressive pack:
Forward: four guns MG-151/20 200 shells on the barrel.
At an angle to the horizontal upwards: two guns MG-151/20 with 200 shells on the barrel.
Back to the mobile unit: MG-131 gun with 500 ammunition.
In general, from Ju.88 I got a very good heavy fighter. Radius of bomber planes allowed to meet the British away from protected sites and successfully hit the British and American bombers. Although the Americans have stopped at the end of the war to fly at night, their British allies continued the practice of night raids.
The last time the massive use of night fighters "Junkers" was held on the night of 4 Martha 1945 g. in Operation «Gisele», when 142 Ju.88G-1 and G-6 intercepted an armada of bombers over the sea and made slaughter in the air Shaped. Despite, that British radar spotted approaching "Junkers" and the British managed to raise fighters "Mosquito", The Germans shot down 35 four-engined "Lancaster" price 30 its aircraft.
"Dornier» Do-17Z-7
With "Dornier" it was like the "Junkers". properly, Why not? The same opaque nosecone, The same reference armored plate with fastening her arms, the same gun 20 mm and three 7.92-mm machine gun. And also preserved the possibility of a bomb, Only in the "Dornier", Unlike Ju.88 bomb left in the rear compartment, and the fuel tank placed in the front.
The crew consisted of a fighter 3 human: pilot, radio operator-gunner and flight engineer, which in future radar operator. Until you put the radar, the primary responsibility of a flight engineer was conditional control of motors and ... change in gun shops.
Do-17Z Maximum speed was 410 km / h, cruising speed 300 km / h. practical range 1160 km, service ceiling 8200 m.
Born at the same time with a fighter from the "Junkers", aircraft "Dornier" in fact lost the competition and to 1942 he was removed from the night squadrons.
But it does not mean, that "Dornier" throw up their hands. No, there began to remodel another bomber: Do-217.
"Dornier» Do-217J
to remake Do 217E-2 work in night fighter began in March 1941 of the year. The new aircraft received the designation Do 217J. From the bomber he differed only opaque pointed nose cone, inside which there were four 20-mm cannon MG-FF and four 7.92 mm machine guns MG.17. The defensive armament consisted of two 13 mm machine guns MG 131, one of which was at the top in an electromechanical turret, and the other - from the bottom in the usual bomber redane.
Aircraft, Like its predecessor Do-17, I kept the bomb racks for up to eight 50-kg bombs SC 50 in the rear part of the fuselage, in front of the same fuel tank placed on 1160 liters.
Once it became clear, that the aircraft did not succeed. Do 217J was so overwhelmed, that its maximum speed was on 85 km / h enlarge, than the "source code", Do.217E bomber and was only 430 kmh.
Furthermore, fighter had advantages in speed before the English heavies. true, in close combat formation British pilots have never flown at full speed.
Since the beginning of the war the night fighters have not yet had an onboard radar and planes within a common air defense system, They were directed at the target on command from the ground. Respectively, low-speed fighter just often do not have time to take a stand for the attack.
Not surprising, that Do.217J-1 most of the night fighters by the end of 1942 the year was in the training units.
With the advent of the working onboard radar FuG 202 «Lichtenstein» B / C, a following modification night fighter Do.217J-2.
From its predecessor it is characterized by the absence of unnecessary bomb bay and the advent of on-board radar in an airplane.
clear, that deficiencies remained unchanged. Do.217J-2 still remained the most severe night fighter Luftwaffe and differed at low speed and poor maneuverability.
But this is somewhat offset by the presence of airborne radar, allowing the pilot to automatically detect enemy aircraft and plan ahead for the attack.
Do.217J-2 Maximum speed was 465 kmh, service ceiling 9000 m, practical range 2100 km.
It is worth noting another attempt to rework bomber "Dornier". This Do-215B. properly, it's all the same Do-17, but with the DB-601A engines. Yes, a plane flew them better, than the original 17 th, but also showed outstanding results, wherefore he was released a meager series.
"Heinkel» He.219
Paradox, but this remarkable machine was created as anything, but not as a night fighter. noticed, that in those days it was a frequent occurrence, when the alteration resulted in remarkable results. Here is the "Owl" - the best example of, because it was designed as a scout, torpedo-boat, high-speed bomber, generally, as a universal plane.
Designers "Heinkel" created a truly advanced machine, with such real "excesses", as a pressurized cabin crew, nose wheel, catapults and remotely-controlled defensive armament. because, properly, the plane and did not go into series, while for it did not take Kammhuber he not proposed to alter in a night fighter.
AT 1940 Kammhuber was introduced Command Luftwaffe (read - Hering) memorandum, wherein substantiated creating more powerful fighter, than the available armed "Messerschmitt". Kammhuber noted, that Bf.110, effectively resist "Whitley", «Hempdenam» and «Vellingtonam», unlikely to be able to cope with the new British bombers "Stirling", Halifax and Manchester, as soon as they appear in sufficient numbers.
It was very difficult to “push” He.219 even into testing, but when for 10 days of test flights in Holland Ne.219 shot down 26 british bombers, and, 6 «The mosquito», previously considered invulnerable.
He.219 proved easy to maintain, since from the very beginning easy access to all units was provided. In the field, even large units were easily replaced, and six fighters were generally assembled from spare units by maintenance personnel.
Sorry for the Germans, Heinkel was unable to build He.219 in sufficient quantities. There were built 268 cars of all modifications, which is clearly not enough. A car was pretty decent in all respects.
full speed 665 kmh, practical range 2000 km, service ceiling 10300 m. weaponry: 6 guns (2 x 30 mm + 4 x 20 mm or 6 x 20 mm) and 1 gun 13 mm.
"Messeršmitt" Me-262V
What is Me.262, We recently dismantled the rest of the world, so it remains to add only, that as a "nightlight" he also tried to use. Even installed radar. However, once it became clear, that fly, fire and stare at the small screen of the radar the pilot is unable to. This is not modern youth for you..
So the first full-fledged interceptor team, «Print command», was armed with Me.262A-1 and was aimed at targets by teams from the ground.
Later, full-fledged Me.262V interceptors appeared, in which instead of the rear tanks (their absence was compensated by pendant), extending by 78 see cab, organized a place for the operator-gunner.
Electronic weapons consisted of a FuG radar 218 «Neptune» and FuG direction finder 350 ZC «Naxos». Standard weapons consisted of two 30-mm guns.
Until the end of the war, the Germans managed to create only one air group of night interceptors on Me.262a-1 / U-1, respectively, no significant achievements.
And ending with a review of German night fighters, worth mentioning another "eagle owl", but from another company.
Fw.189 makeshift night jogger
At all, it turned out that there were two “eagle owls” on different fronts: H.219 and FW.189.
We are considering a special night fighter, developed by Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG for a highly specialized mission on the Eastern Front. I emphasize - ONE task.
The task was at least some distinct opposition to the armada of “sewing machines” Po-2, really messed up at night at the forefront of German defense, Yes, and the headquarters received regular greetings.
The use of the then-armed Ju.88C and Bf.110G night fighters was ineffective. And the Messerschmitt, and even more so, "Junkers" did not have sufficient maneuverability at low altitudes, on which Po-2 was usually used. Also, both aircraft had too high speed for this. The Germans even tried to use the already mentioned Arado-68 biplanes, but nothing good came of it either.
And then we decided to use the "frame". Especially, what by summer 1944 years, the aircraft became impossible to use. 189-th won such a tender "love" from the entire Soviet army, that to bring him down in spite of the cover was a matter of honor and further respect.
So from the beginning 1944 years, serial FW.189A-1 began to equip the FuG.212C-1 "Liechtenstein" radar with a conventional antenna group in the bow of the crew nacelle, which excluded the possibility of placing any effective fighter weapons there.
For air combat, the top pivot mount with a 7.92 mm MG.15 machine gun or with a coaxial 7.92 mm MG.81Z machine gun, and instead a fixed 20 mm MG.151 / 20 cannon was installed.
Sometimes even a 20-mm gun was considered too powerful a weapon to deal with Po-2 plywood-percale biplanes., and «Eagle owl» installed its counterpart MG.151 / 15 caliber 15 mm. To ensure blackout, exhaust flame filters were mounted on the engine exhaust pipes.
On these three improvements, the conversion of the reconnaissance aircraft into a night fighter ended. The plane was named FW.189 Behelfsnachtjoger - «Auxiliary night fighter».
Thus was converted about 50 aircraft. There are no documented successes in their work., I would suggest, that they were near-zero, because the locator of that time to detect the M-11 motor in space was unrealistic. And there were no more metal parts there.
Another plus in the karma of a small airplane, who made himself equal to the real bombers. agree, it’s one thing to develop a night fighter for the sake of the huge Lancaster, and completely different - to at least do something with Po-2.
This ends the first part of the story. It would be possible to add Ta-154 from Fokke-Wulf to this company., but the whole story of this plane was more than sad, and it was released in less than 50 pcs. But the main thing - the plane could not provide decent resistance to the British fighters.
But in general, despite some general mess and misunderstanding of the essence of the problem, Germans enormous work on the creation and production of night fighters was carried out. Especially «Junkers» and «Heinkel». Another question, that scarcity «night light» so she could not stop the British from making night raids on Germany. Well, what happened after 1944 of the year, everyone already knows. The need for night fighters virtually disappeared.
In the next part we will talk about those, who fought on the other side of the front, and then we’ll do comparisons and identify the best.
/Roman Skomorokhov, topwar.ru/
