The early wartime commitment to fighters and medium bombers came back to haunt German warplanners during the middle and latter stages of World War 2 (1939-1945). As the war in Europe moved along and brought with it a growing material commitment from the United States and others, the Luftwaffe was hard pressed to bring the fight over enemy cities in an attempt to demoralize the homefront. As such, a program was devised by the Germans under the name of "Amerika Bomber" to bring about a long-range, heavy strategic bomber capable of making the Atlantic crossing. The design would have to cover some 3,600 miles and eventually involved some of Germany's top wartime aviation firms including Focke-Wulf, Heinkel, Junkers, and Messerschmitt. None of the proposed submissions were successful with only a select few actually seeing any notable completion/production - the primary detriments named were program cost and material commitment from within the confines of the deteriorating German war situation.
The Focke-Wulf concern, largely recognized by its famous Fw 190 single engine fighter of the war, had already entertained a multi-engine long-range aircraft for the civil airliner and military markets during 1941-1942 (as the "Ta 300"). The type was also being developed as a possible successor to another Focke-Wulf product - the Fw 200 "Condor" maritime patrol bomber. With the need for dedicated long range bombers by the German Luftwaffe, the civil-minded Fw 300 design fell to naught and no material work was committed to the project.
Design work on the Ta 400 began in 1943 and involved both German and French engineers, the latter unfortunate enough to be caught up in German territory following the fall of Paris during the Battle of France (May-June 1940). This work was therefore being undertaken at a Focke-Wulf facility stationed outside of Paris. The engine of choice became the BMW 801D air-cooled, 14-cylinder radial in a twin row arrangement whose output was rated at 1,700 horsepower each and six of these were to be used to power the aircraft. For high altitude service, the crew areas were all to be pressurized. Remote-controlled turret barbettes allowed for heavy armament to be fitted and the crew kept within the confines of the pressurized sections of fuselage. In terms of bomb load, the aircraft was intended to carry up to 53,000 lb and performance from the engines would net an estimated operational range out to 7,500 miles. In time, the idea of 2 x Junkers Jumo 004 supporting turbojet engines (2,000 lb thrust each unit) was added which would serve to help performance - particularly on take-off. The standard crew complement numbered nine to consist of flight crew as well as mission specialists and dedicated gunners. One facet of the Ta 400's design that changed consistently was the heavily-glazed shape of the cockpit canopy.
To reduce the reliance on fighter escort, the Ta 400 was outfitted with a projected defensive armament of 10 x 20mm cannons. Two small remote-controlled turrets were set under the nose and fitted 2 x 20mm MG 131/20 cannons each (for four total guns at this location). Two turrets were set along the spine of the aircraft and fitted 2 x MG 151/20 cannons apiece. A sole ventral turret fitted another pairing of 20mm MG 151/20 guns. To protect the aircraft's more vulnerable rear, a turret was placed which mounted 4 x 20mm MG 151/20 guns.
Beyond the use of traditional Luftwaffe bombs like the SD and SC series, the Ta 400 was also in line to carry the more advanced "Fritz X" and Henschel Hs 293 and Hs 294 radio-controlled guided bombs/missiles. Naval mine dispensing was also a possibility given the Ta 400's maritime patrol role envisioned. Ordnance could be held internally as well as across hardpoints found under the fuselage (3) and under the engine nacelles (16).
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STANDARD:
2 x 20mm MG 151/20 cannons in forward dorsal turret
2 x 20mm MG 151/20 cannons in aft dorsal turret
2 x 20mm MG 151/20 cannons in ventral turret
4 x 20mm MG 151/20 cannons in tail turret
2 x 20mm MG 131/20 cannons in remote-controlled chin turret.
2 x 20mm MG 131/20 cannons in remote-controlled chin turret.
OPTIONAL:
Up to 22,045 lb of internally-held conventional drop stores.
0 Hardpoints
Ta 400 - Base Series Designation
General Assessment
Firepower
Performance
Survivability
Versatility
Impact
Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.
Overall Rating
The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.
66
Rating is out of a possible 100 points.
Relative Maximum Speed
Hi: 400mph
Lo: 200mph
This entry's maximum listed speed (395mph).
Graph average of 300 miles-per-hour.
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
LON
LON
PAR
PAR
BER
BER
MOS
MOS
TOK
TOK
SYD
SYD
LAX
LAX
NYC
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).
Max Altitude Visualization
Design Balance
The three qualities reflected above are altitude, speed, and range.
Aviation Era Span
Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.
Unit Production (1)
1
36183
44000
Compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian).
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