FW 200 Condor

[imalko]

Structural weakness of Fw 200 design also must be considered. This aircraft was primarily designed as airliner and only later military version was developed as maritime recon-bomber. There was many times when Fw 200 broke her back on landing. I think that this is the main reason why this aircraft was never considered by the Luftwaffe as heavy bomber.

[davebender]

why FW 200 condor wasn't used during Battle of Britain

German aircraft production during World War II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
What Fw-200s would they use? Germany produced 1 x Fw-200 during 1939 and 36 x Fw-200s during 1940. That's not even enough for long range maritime recon.

[Erich]

correct Vikings pic is a late Ju 290A of FAGr 5, I have a couple of photos including full length fuselage shot in my base.

the maritime recon was a joke and it is interesting that KG 40 was able to kick out as much success as they had. FAGr 5 took over armed recee but was not really in the attack mode but in surveliance only allowing the KM to use it's U-Boot force to it's fullest, at least that was what was proposed in theory. This indeed was one of the worst blunders of the war for the Third Reich as little to no working capabilities between the Luftwaffe and the Kreigmarine.

Grame thanks for the schematics of the Kondor variants, although the C-6 depicted would of carried the FuG 200 "H" radar as standard

E ~

[Watanbe]

The biggest asset the Condor had was its range. It could track the convoys so the U-Boats and surface ships could attack.

[Erich]

but it was not enough this is reason why FAGr 5 although in too limited numbers replaced the KG 40 units Fw 200's on the maritime recon role

[carman1877]

Found a great video showing a bomb run out to a Britsh Convoy. Really shows how they used guns as offensive weapons and not just defensive. Also shows the bomb bay in the gondola, along with the gunners in the gondola.



German Condor Bomber - Captured Fim Titled Long Range Bomber Over the Atlantic

[davebender]

The biggest asset the Condor had was it's availability (albeit in tiny numbers) as the German Navy failed to purchase long range maritime patrol aircraft during the late 1930s.

[carman1877]

The Condor's most have used time delay fuses on bombs becuase in the video they drop bomb 50 feet over ship and it should have blown up the ship and the plane instead it took about 3-4 seconds to detonate. Just a thought, could be wrong.

[TenGunTerror]

I have a book with great pictures and specs on the planes which is one of my favorites. I will hopefully be uploading them soon.

[flakhappy]

Originally Posted by Erich

correct Vikings pic is a late Ju 290A of FAGr 5, I have a couple of photos including full length fuselage shot in my base.

the maritime recon was a joke and it is interesting that KG 40 was able to kick out as much success as they had. FAGr 5 took over armed recee but was not really in the attack mode but in surveliance only allowing the KM to use it's U-Boot force to it's fullest, at least that was what was proposed in theory. This indeed was one of the worst blunders of the war for the Third Reich as little to no working capabilities between the Luftwaffe and the Kreigmarine.

Grame thanks for the schematics of the Kondor variants, although the C-6 depicted would of carried the FuG 200 "H" radar as standard

E ~

Good observation. We in 15th AF bomber crews speculated repeatedly that the only reason we were winning the war was because the Germans made many more goofs than we did. It was instructive to watch.
Our enemy couldn't seem to wind a watch without poor results.

[Junkers88A1]

here is two Fw 200 Condor pics..one is from the invasion of Norway in 1940 ( F8+BH ) and the other is from one that emergencylanded in sweden at the end of the war in 1945 ( that is a C-5K version )

[Junkers88A1]

another shoot of a civilian Fw 200 Condor for Lufthansa

[Juha]

Hello
I liked most the 3rd picture Flyboy2 posted, looks like the old cover of the old Revell Fw 200C 1/72 scale model from early 60s.

Juha

[Deanimator]

Originally Posted by Soundbreaker Welch?

I wonder why the FW 200 condor wasn't used during the Battle of Britain. Did it not operate well at high altitudes?

Production statistics aside, it was not a particularly robust airframe. Even for maritime missions, it wasn't strong enough to carry the weapon loads attempted.

The relevant volume of the old Doubleday Aircraft of WWII series had a very pertinent picture that demonstrates why the FW-200 wasn't used as a general purpose bomber. It shows an FW-200 sitting on a runway with the trailing edge of its wing sitting on the tarmac,the wing spar(s) having failed before or during takeoff. There are unexploded bombs scattered all over the runway around the aircraft. There's another photo of one whose back broke for the same reason.

It was all the FW-200 could do just to fulfill its role as a maritime patrol aircraft.