Tank Busting Armaments... Whats The Best Setup???

[cheddar cheese]

15 Rocket propelled Grenades?

[the lancaster kicks ass]

rounds per gun.......................

[cheddar cheese]

I know...it was a lame joke...

[the lancaster kicks ass]

indeed................

[cheddar cheese]

Hey thats my phrase...

[lesofprimus]

In terms of tank busting, the Stuka is the only airframe that has the #'s of tanks destroyed on official record..... Im sure the Il-2 was a close second, but I have been unable to find stats regarding how many tanks the Shturms destroyed....

[cheddar cheese]

What was the deal with the Fw-190 F series that ive heard of somewhere...?

[cheddar cheese]

Damn now my post doesnt make sense Ah well

[lesofprimus]

The F Series Focke Wulf Fw 190

The F Series Focke Wulf 190 The F series was a natural evolution of the type to suit ever-expanding mission requirements, in this case for ground support, with the increasing obsolescence of the famous Stuka.

F-1 through F-8 versions had been designed, but only the F-1, F-2, F-3, and F-8 were built in any quantity, with the largest share consisting of F-8's. In all, around 550 of the F series were built. Approximately 385 were the F-8 variant.

F-8 production began around March 1944. Defining features are typically based upon the A-8, with 115 liter fuselage tank, outboard pitot, FuG16ZY or ZS and possibly an FuG 25 radio, ETC 501 center fuselage stores rack, and the added ETC 50 or later ETC 71 under wing stores racks, with either standard or later style bubble canopy. Outboard cannon were deleted.

F-8's served well in the ground attack role. The armored cowling, the Panzer ring, helped to protect the air-cooled BMW engine, and armor plate added further protection for the pilot. Self-sealing fuel tanks were also standard equipment. Some aircraft could also be equipped with the Rustsatze consisting variously of MG 151/20 20mm cannon, MK 103 30mm cannon, or MK 108 30mm cannon.

Many additional roles for the F-8 were explored such as extended range versions, trainer versions, and types equipped for delivery of Bomben-Torpedo, Panzerblitz missiles, the Ruhrstahl missile, and the Hagelkorn glide bomb.

The F series was a dedicated ground attack aircraft. These were fitted with armor around the cockpit sides, under the fuselage and the engine cowling. This armor, however, was in the form of thicker skinning. It was NOT the external appliqué armor fitted to the A-6/7/8. The F series did not carry the outer wing cannon, but did carry the cowling guns. Remember, these aircraft were fitted with armor that made them true F- series machines, but this was not externally visible. All carried a small, rectangular panel in the cockpit below the main instrument panel. This panel contained the bomb arming switches and status lights.

F-1

As previously mentioned, this was based on the A-4/U3. Supposedly less than thirty were made. I’ve never seen a verified photo of one. I’m not even sure what the WNr block might have been. They had the centerline ETC rack, but no wing racks.

F-2

This was based on the A-5/U3. It is difficult to distinguish, visually, from an A-5/U3. WNr. are the only reliable way.
It had the centerline rack and bomb carrier, but no wing racks.

F-3

This was based on the A5/U17 variant which had wing racks. However, the decision was made to mate this with the new wing design of the A-6. The result was the F-3. Some A-5/U17s may have served operationally, but these cannot be distinguished from a genuine F-3 except by WNr.

It had the centerline rack which could carry bombs or a fuel tank.
It had wing racks which carried small bombs.
You frequently see F-3 aircraft without a full bomb-load. This was usually dictated by operational requirements. I.e., small, HE or frag bombs on the wings, but no centerline bomb, or vice-versa. It is extremely rare to see and F-3 or F-8 carrying bombs on all carriers.
There was no F-4 through F-7, although experiments went on with each variant based on the A series.

F-8

This was the variant used by so many SKG and SG Geschwadern in the last year of the war. It was based on the A-8 so it had the same panel lines.

As per the F-3 it had wing and fuselage racks.
Late in 1944 and into 1945, some began to carry the Pb 8 and other types of air to ground rockets.
Remember, these also had the Mk 108 bulges in the top wing, but flat panels underneath the wing over the ammunition loading locations.
Some were retrofitted with the bulged canopy and accompanying armor. This was not a "standard" fitting on the F-8.

F-9

They did exist, but photos are rare and not totally verifiable. This was the parallel version of the A-9 but fitted with the F equipment of bomb racks, etc.

[cheddar cheese]

Thanks Ive wondered about the F series for ages and now I know

[lesofprimus]

Ur Welcome...

[Tony Williams]

The Fw 190 was only equipped experimentally with the big 30mm MK 103 cannon (the only gun it could carry which was capable of penetrating tank armour). The installation was not a success and this variant didn't enter service.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum

[lesofprimus]

The above statement is true.. The Fw-190A8/R3 was designed to carry the Mk.103 cannon, but tests proved it was not a viable weapon.....

Not so sure on Tonys statement concerning the Mk.103 being the only cannon that could penetrate tank armor.... The armor on a Sherman was not that thick...

[cheddar cheese]

He did say it was the only one it was capable of carrying that could penetrate it...

[lesofprimus]

I dont believe that the engine compartment armor on a Sherman could withstand a 20mm HE round, let alone a 30mm round from the Mk.108.....