Focke-Wulf Fw-200 Condor
The Fw 200 Condor flew in July 1937 in the form of the first prototype for a 26-passenger long-range airliner. In 1938 the type confirmed its potential by capturing several world records, and about 10 airliners had been delivered to Brazilian, Det Danske Luftfartselskab Danish and German airlines before the outbreak of the Second World War. A few VIP transports had also been delivered. The B version powered by four 648kW BMW 132H engines. With the outbreak of World War II, Luft-Hansa's Condors were impressed into the Luftwaffe as transports, while a small number being built for the Japanese Army (including a maritime reconnaissance conversion) were also taken over.
Thereafter, development was concentrated on the Fw 200C maritime version, starting with a small number of pre-production aircraft of basically commercial type. In this role the Condor’s long range was decisive, but there were constant problems with the integrity of the military version’s fuselage, which had a tendency to break in heavy landings.
The Fw 200C-1 introduced the long bomb-bay gondola beneath the fuselage, slightly offset to starboard. This contained a bomb aimer's position at the forward end and gun positions at both the forward and aft ends. The guns were placed on hemispherical mountings with restricted movement. Total defensive armament comprised, according to sub-variant, one 7.9mm machine-gun, 15mm or 20mm cannon in a power-operated turret above the pilot's cabin, one 13mm machine-gun in an aft dorsal position, two-four 7.92mm machine-guns for lateral fire, one 20mm cannon in the nose of the gondola and one 7.92mm or 13mm machine-gun or 20mm cannon in the tail of the gondola. Power was provided by four BMW 132H-1 engines in the Fw 200C-1 and C-2 versions and 700kW Bramo Fafnir 323R-2s in the C-3 and later aircraft.
Operated in small numbers against allied shipping during 1940, as well as for maritime reconnaissance and mine-laying duties, and from 1941 until the summer of 1944 it was used extensively against convoys and for U-boat cooperation. However, as early as 1943 purpose-designed maritime reconnaissance aircraft began replacing the Condor, whose activities had been curtailed by the introduction of Allied CAM merchant ships carrying expendable Hurricane fighters, long-range Beaufighters and Liberators.
Some Condors were equipped to carry the Hs 293 anti-shipping missile under the outer engines. Otherwise they carried up to 2100kg of bombs.
Total production was 276 aircraft. Principal versions - Fw 200A (pre-production airliner), Fw 200B (production airliner with 850- hp/634-kW BMW 132 radials), Fw 200C-0 (pre-production military model), Fw 200C-1 (production type with 3,757-lb/1,750-kg bombload), Fw 200C-2 (improved C-1 with revised nacelles and underwing bomb racks), Fw 200C-3 (first major version with BMW Bramo 323 Fafnir radials and different armament in several subvariants), Fw 200C-4 (definitive production model with search radar), Fw 200C-6 (model with two Henschel Hs 293 anti-ship missiles), and Fw 200C-8 (revised missile-carrier).
Interest by the Japanese Army in the bomber version of the Fw-200 followed a visit to Japan in 1938. The Fw-200K Kurier version was originally intended for Japan and the allied code ‘Trudy’ was allocated. No deliveries were made.
Focke Wulf FW 200 A Condor
Engines: 4 x BMW 132 G, 710 hp
Length: 78.248 ft / 23.85 m
Height: 19.685 ft / 6.0 m
Wingspan: 107.743 ft /32.84 m
Wing area: 1270.152 sqft / 118.0 sq.m
Max take off weight: 37485.0 lb / 17000.0 kg
Weight empty: 24089.6 lb / 10925.0 kg
Max. speed: 202 kts / 375 km/h
Landing speed: 58 kts / 107 km/h
Cruising speed: 181 kts / 335 km/h
Initial climb rate: 1377.95 ft/min / 7.00 m/s
Service ceiling: 24606 ft / 7500 m
Wing load: 29.52 lb/sq.ft / 144.00 kg/sq.m
Range: 956 nm / 1770 km
Crew: 4 + 26
Fw 200C-3/U4
Engines: 4 x Bramo 323R, 895kw
Max take-off weight: 24520 kg / 54058 lb
Empty weight: 17005 kg / 37490 lb
Wingspan: 32.85 m / 107 ft 9 in
Length: 23.45 m / 76 ft 11 in
Height: 3.3 m / 10 ft 10 in
Wing area: 119.85 sq.m / 1290.05 sq ft
Max. speed: 360 km/h / 224 mph
Cruise speed: 335 km/h / 208 mph
Ceiling: 6000 m / 19700 ft
Range: 3560 km / 2212 miles
Armament: 4 x 13mm machine-guns, 1 x 20mm cannon, 4 x 250kg bombs
Fw 200C-8 Condor
Engines: 4 x 1,200-hp (895-kW) BMW Bramo 323R-2 Fafnir
Maximum speed 224 mph (360 kph) at 15,750 ft (4,800 m)
Service ceiling 19,030 ft (5,800 m)
Range 2,175 miles (3,500 km)
Emptyweight 29,367 lb (12,950 kg)
Maximum take-off wieght 50,044 lb (22,700 kg)
Wing span 109 ft 1 in (33.25 m)
Length 78 ft 3 in (23.85 m)
Height 20 ft 4 in (6.20 m)
Wing area 1,270.2 sq ft (118.00 sq.m).
Armament: one 20-mm cannon, four 13.1-mm (0.52-in) machine guns, and one 7.92-mm (0.312-in) machine gun in nose, dorsal, beam and ventral positions, and two HS 293A missiles.
