Junkers Ju 188 Rache (Avenger) Reconnaissance / Medium Bomber (1943)
The Junkers Ju 188 Rache was a solid design and good performer, though appearing several years too late to make an impact.
With the prototypes ready and flying, it would only be a short time later before the production Ju 188s would see operational service in 1943. In an attempt to avoid previous issues with powerplant acceptability, the Ju 188 was specifically designed to take on both Jumo and BMW type engines without any modification needed to the airframe. The Ju 188 crew comprised of four personnel.
Design was of a typical Dornier twin-engine layout with the BMW or Jumo series engines fitted to the low-wing monoplane. The cockpit and nose were of the greenhouse type design with a 15mm autocannon protruding from the nose. A top turret featured a single 13mm machine gun while a 7.92mm machine gun was situated in a rear-facing ventral gondola. Some models carried an additional machine gun in a dorsal rear-facing gondola position as well. Internal and external bomb load was limited to around 6,600lbs of stores.
The Ju 188 was primarily a reconnaissance platform though it did fulfill the bomber and nightfighter roles to some extent. The Ju 188E-2 existed as a torpedo bomber while the Ju 188D-2 came on as a naval reconnaissance variant fitted with specialized radar in the nose. The nightfighter derivative was the Ju 188R-0, which were modified from the Ju 188E models and were given 4x 20mm or 2 x 30mm cannons along with the standard radar system. A series of high altitude performance models also appeared in the form of the Ju 188J, Ju 188K and Ju 188L that warranted an all new Ju 388 designation. These three additional were proposed designs that would have been comprised of a heavy fighter, bomber and reconnaissance type respectively. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Junkers Ju 188 Rache (Avenger)
Reconnaissance / Medium Bomber
Country of Origin: Nazi Germany
Manufacturer: Junkers - Germany
Initial Year of Service: 1943
Production: 1,076
Focus Model: Junkers Ju 188E-1 Rache (Avenger)
Crew: 5
Length: 49.21ft (15m)
Width: 72.18ft (22.00m)
Height: 14.44ft (4.40m)
Weight (Empty): 21,826lbs (9,900kg)
Weight (MTOW): 31,967lbs (14,500kg)
Powerplant: 2 x BMW 801D-2 14-cylinder radial engines delivering 1,730 horsepower each.
Maximum Speed: 310mph (499kmh; 269kts)
Maximum Range: 1,361miles (2,190km)
Service Ceiling: 31,168ft (9,500m; 5.9miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 0 feet per minute (0m/min)
Hardpoints: 2
Armament Suite:
STANDARD:
1 x 20mm MG 151/20 autocannon in nose
1 x 13mm MG 131 machine gun in dorsal turret
1 x 13mm MG 131 machine gun in trainable rear cockpit position.
1 x 7.92mm MG 81Z OR 13mm MG 131 machine gun in rear-firing ventral gondola position.
OPTIONAL:
Up to 6,608lbs of external and internal stores.
Variants:
Ju 88B - Prototype test bed of existing Ju 88 bomber.
Ju 88E - Prototype test bed of existing Ju 88 bomber.
Ju 188 - Base Series Designation developed from the Ju 88B and Ju 88E test bed.
Ju 188A - Fitted with Jumo series engines.
Ju 188A-1
Ju 188A-2 - Fitted with Jumo MW50 methanol-water injection engines.
Ju 188E - Fitted with BMW series engines.
Ju 188E-1
Ju 188E-2 - Torpedo Bomber
Ju 188C - Modified A-1 model; FA 15 powered turret fitted to tail with 2 x 13mm MG131 machine guns; single example produced.
Ju 188D-1 - Reconnaissance Version; similar to A-1 model.
Ju 188D-2 - Reconnaissance Version; fitted with nose radar for maritime reconnaissance.
Ju 188F-1 - E conversion models
Ju 188F-2 - E conversion models
Ju 188G-2 - BMW 801 engines; increased internal bomb bay; never produced; manned rear turret.
Ju 188H-2 - BMW 801 engines; reconnaissance platform version of the Ju 188G-2 model; never produced.
Ju 188R-0 - Modified E models as nightfighters; radar fitted along with 4 x 20mm OR 2 x 30mm cannons in nose; never produced.
Ju 188J - Proposed high altitude heavy-class fighter platform; sans bottom gunner position.
Ju 188K - Proposed high altitude bomber platform; sans bottom gunner position.
Ju 188L - Proposed high altitude reconnaissance platform; sans bottom gunner position.
Ju 188S - Longer wings; redesignated as Ju 388 series.
Ju 188T - "intruder" Variant; longer wings; redesignated as Ju 388 series.
Ju 388 - High-Altitude Variant Series; limited production quantity.
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