Beauty under the Sky - Ta152. Part 1 - The Begining

Kurt Tank

Backround

From beginning of  British government held talks with the US government, bout joint military action by air (after joining the war) having the target - inflict heavy losses for armaments industry of the Third Reich. The Reich situation clearly deteriorated precisely from the moment when the British bomber fleet (operating mostly at night) joined by two US Air fleet. Yankees have started massive daily raids on the territory of the Reich. By 1944 industry of the German Reich was totally plagued by hundreds of Allied bombers. In addition to the progress of allied ground troops on each of the front, the sky was becoming to be the most threat affecting III Reich. As never before. From 1942/1943 for RLM ( Reichsluftfahrtministerium) became clear that to effectively combat with hundreds of bombers operting at high altitudes, Germany needed interceptor that operates at this same altitudes or higher.  In this challenge, Messerschmitts and Focke-Wulfs machines proved to be ineffective.

Two most important aircraft manufacturing corporation, producing the best fighters used by Luftwaffe: Messerschmitt Bf109  and Focke-Wulf Fw190, Messerschmitt AG and Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG as having created the worthy high-altitude successors of their most popular products. Messerschmitt finally cancelled  the project Bf109 marked with the letter H and focused to work with others projects. It is worth to mention about the project's Blohm und Voss Bv 155, which also had to serve as a interceptor operates at high altitudes.
Focke-Wulf, under the leadership of Kurt Tank gave for Germany, so beautiful successor of latest version of Fw190D - Ta152.

The beginning

Kurt Tank want to achieve better performance for Fw190D and create the idea of Ta152 and Ta153. The latter was built only as a development prototype. Ta153 was powered by a Daimler Benz DB603 engine, had a new high aspect ratio wing of increased span, together with revision of the fuselage structure, tail surfaces and internal

Comparision of view Fw190 and Focke-Wulf Ta153

Junkers Jumo 213E

systems. Anyway, finally cancelled to avoid disruption of existing production plants for the Fw 190. On the way to Ta152, Kurt Tank team, presented two proposal deriving directly from Fw190D, designated as Fw 190 Ra-2 and Fw 190 Ra-3. Both of proposals RLM accepted for further work and in honor of the designer, their code was characterized by the first two letters of Tank's surname: Ta . Project went to work on two levels. On the one hand built versions Ta152B - Begleitjdger of fulfilling the role of a fighter escort, on the other hand: Ta152H - Hohenjager,  high altitude intereptor fighter. In both machines drive entrusted engines Junkers Jumo 213 E "V-12".

Junkers Jumo 213E in museum

Two MK 108 autocannons, RAF Museum Cosford

The engine generated around 1,750 hp and provided with a three-speed two-stage compressor.  The cockpit was pressurized and the basic armament consisted of a 30 mm Mk 108 cannon in the propeller axis and two 20 mm calibre weapons (MG 151/20) in the wings.

Many of the aviation fans consider s Fw190 to be the best fighter during WW2. Definitely this machine represented extraordinary performance and was a mortal threat for allied pilots. Ta152 came directly from the model of its predecessor Fw 190 but finally, Kurt Tank created, despite the similarities, completely different plane. Through their achievements, especially speed and height at which he could operate, opened completely new possibilities of conduct the air combat under German skies. The H version could reach no less than 464 mph (748 km/h) at 30,098 ft (9,150 m) and 471 mph (759 km/h) at 41,118 ft (12,500 m). Fortunately for the final result of the WW2,  it was put into production too late to change the course of history.

MG-151/20 

Fw190V30/U1, WNr 0055, GH+KT with a Jumo213E engine, finished at 6/08/1944. the first copy of the experimental program
of Ta152. two picture below front aand rear view. (Monografie Lotnicze 21 - Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D,Ta 152 - Marian Krzyżan)

Ta152V3, WNr 150003,CW+CC, straight after finish assembly in Langenhagen, end of 1944  (Monografie Lotnicze 21 - Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D,Ta 152 - Marian Krzyżan)

Ta152V7, WNR 110007, CI+XM, fter finished ssembly on the beginning of January 1945. Flown by Hans sander 27/01/1945. Provide a model for Ta152C  (Monografie Lotnicze 21 - Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D,Ta 152 - Marian Krzyżan)