https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka (from Sturzkampfflugzeug, "dive bomber") was a German
dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft. Designed by Hermann Pohlmann, it first
flew in 1935. The Ju 87 made its combat debut in 1937 with the Luftwaffe's
Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War and served the Axis forces in World
War II.
The aircraft was easily recognisable by its inverted gull wings and fixed
spatted undercarriage. Upon the leading edges of its faired main gear legs were
mounted the Jericho-Trompete (Jericho trumpet) wailing sirens, becoming the
The Stuka's design included several innovative features, including automatic
pull-up dive brakes under both wings to ensure that the aircraft recovered from
its attack dive even if the pilot blacked out from the high g-forces.
The Stuka operated with considerable success in close air support and
anti-shipping at the outbreak of World War II. It spearheaded the air assaults
in the invasion of Poland in September 1939. Stukas were crucial in the rapid
conquest of Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and France in 1940. Although
sturdy, accurate, and very effective against ground targets, the Stuka was
vulnerable to contemporary fighter aircraft, like many other dive bombers of the
war. During the Battle of Britain its lack of maneuverability, speed and
defensive armament meant that it required a heavy fighter escort to operate
effectively. After the Battle of Britain the Stuka operated with further success
in the Balkans Campaign, the African and Mediterranean theaters and the early
stages of the Eastern Front where it was used for general ground support, as an
effective specialized anti-tank aircraft and in an anti-shipping role. Once the
Luftwaffe lost air superiority, the Stuka became an easy target for enemy
fighter aircraft on all fronts. It was produced until 1944 for lack of a better
replacement. By the end of the war ground-attack versions of the Focke-Wulf Fw
190 had largely replaced the Stuka, but Stukas remained in service until the end
of the war.
An estimated 6,500 Ju 87s of all versions were built between 1936 and August
1944.
Role
Dive bomber
Manufacturer
Junkers
Designer
Hermann Pohlmann
First flight
17 September 1935
Introduction
1936
Retired
1945 (Luftwaffe)
Primary users
Luftwaffe
Regia Aeronautica
Royal Romanian Air Force
Bulgarian Air Force
Number built
Estimated 6,500
Diving procedure
Ju 87 diving procedure
Flying at 4,600 m (15,100 ft), the pilot located his target through a bombsight
window in the cockpit floor. The pilot moved the dive lever to the rear,
limiting the "throw" of the control column. The dive brakes were activated
automatically, the pilot set the trim tabs, reduced his throttle and closed the
into a dive. Red tabs protruded from the upper surfaces of the wing as a visual
indicator to the pilot that, in case of a g-induced black-out, the automatic
deployment, which increased the accuracy of the Ju 87's aim.
When the aircraft was reasonably close to the target, a light on the contact
altimeter came on to indicate the bomb-release point, usually at a minimum
height of 450 m (1,480 ft). The pilot released the bomb and initiated the
automatic pull-out mechanism by depressing a knob on the control column. An
elongated U-shaped crutch located under the fuselage swung the bomb out of the
way of the propeller, and the aircraft automatically began a 6 g pullout. Once
the nose was above the horizon, dive brakes were retracted, the throttle was
opened, and the propeller was set to climb. The pilot regained control and
resumed normal flight. The coolant flaps had to be reopened quickly to prevent
overheating. The automatic pull-out was not liked by all pilots. Helmut Mahlke
later said that he and his unit disconnected the system because it allowed the
enemy to predict the Ju 87's recovery pattern and height, making it easier for
ground defences to hit an aircraft.
Physical stress on the crew was severe. Human beings subjected to more than 5 g
forces in a seated position will suffer vision impairment in the form of a grey
veil known to Stuka pilots as "seeing stars". They lose vision while remaining
conscious; after five seconds, they black out. The Ju 87 pilots experienced the
visual impairments most during "pull-up" from a dive.
Towards the end of the war, as the Allies gained air supremacy, the Stuka was
being replaced by ground-attack versions of the Fw 190. By early 1944, the
number of Ju 87 units and operational aircraft terminally declined. For the
Soviet summer offensive, Operation Bagration, 12 Ju 87 groups and five mixed
groups (including Fw 190s) were on the Luftwaffe's order of battle on 26 June
1944. Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey, a mixed aircraft unit, which included large
numbers of Stuka dive bombers, was rushed to the Finnish front in the summer of
1944 and was instrumental in halting the Soviet fourth strategic offensive. The
unit claimed 200 Soviet tanks and 150 Soviet aircraft destroyed for 41 losses.
By 31 January 1945, only 104 Ju 87s remained operational with their units. The
other mixed Schlacht units contained a further 70 Ju 87s and Fw 190s between
them. Chronic fuel shortages kept the Stukas grounded and sorties decreased
until the end of the war in May 1945.
In the final months of the WW2 the ground attack groups were still able to
impose operational constraints upon the enemy. Most notably the aircraft
participated in the defence of Berlin. On 12 January 1945 the 1st Belorussian
However, the Soviets eventually outran their air support which was unable to use
forward, quagmire-filled, airfields. The Germans, who had fallen back on air
bases resplendent with good facilities and concrete runways, were able to mount
uninterrupted attacks against Soviet army columns. Reminiscent of the early
years, the Luftwaffe was able to inflict high losses largely unopposed. Over 800
vehicles were destroyed within two weeks. In the first three days of February
1945, 2,000 vehicles and 51 tanks were lost to German air attacks. The
Belorussian Front was forced to abandon its attempt to capture Berlin by
mid-February 1945. The Ju 87 participated in these intense battles in small
numbers. It was the largest concentration of German air power since 1940 and
even late as February 1945 the Germans were able to achieve and challenge for
air superiority on the Eastern Front. The air offensive was instrumental in
saving Berlin, albeit only for three months. The effort exhausted German fuel
reserves. The contribution of the Ju 87 was exemplified by Hans-Ulrich Rudel,
who claimed 13 enemy tanks on 8 February 19.
Specifications (Ju 87 B-2)
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 11.00 m (36 ft 1.07 in)
Wingspan: 13.8 m (45 ft 3.30 in)
Height: 4.23 m (13 ft 10.53 in)
Empty weight: 3,205 kg (7,086 lb)
Loaded weight: 4,320 kg (9,524 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 5,000 kg (11,023 lb)
(1,184 hp (883 kW))
Propellers: Three-blade Junkers VS 5 propeller, 1 per engine Propeller diameter:
3.4 m (11 ft 1.85 in)
Performance
Never exceed speed: 600 km/h (373 mph) (373 mph)
Maximum speed: 390 km/h @ 4,400 m (242 mph @ 13,410 ft)
Cruise speed: 198 mph
Range: 500 km (311 mi) with 500 kg (1,100 lb) bomb load
Service ceiling: 8,200 m (26,903 ft) with 500 kg (1,100 lb) bomb load
Rate of climb: 2.3 m/s ()
Armament
machine gun to rear
(110 lb), two bombs underneath each wing.
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