The Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu was utilized in the tactical reconnaissance role but also found value as a night-hunter and ground attacker before the end of the war.
Even before World War 2 (1939-1945) gained a foothold in Europe, the need for dedicated tactical- and strategic-level reconnaissance platforms was apparent to the Luftwaffe. This led the Germans to employ all manner of aircraft for the role including converted types. In an effort to replace a fleet of newly-minted Henschel Hs 126 high-winged monoplanes, the German Air Ministry drew up plans in 1937 for a more advanced, dedicated reconnaissance design driven by a single engine and housing a crew of three. Both Arado and Focke-Wulf took up the charge (three prototypes from each concern were ordered) with the Focke-Wulf submission besting the preferred single-engine Arado approach (the abandoned "Ar 198").
Design of the Fw 189 is attributed to Kurt Tank, engineer of the excellent Fw 190 single-engine fighter and its high-altitude successor, the Ta 152. Tank also had a hand in many forward-thinking designs centered on jet-powered aircraft before and after the conflict. For the 1937 requirement, he went in the direction of a twin-boom arrangement which allowed the crew of three to be housed in a heavily-glazed centralized section of fuselage - giving the occupants excellent all-around vision. Beyond this, the twin-boom arrangement necessitated a twin-engine configuration which added cost and complexity but improved performance.
Propulsion came from 2 x Argus As 410A-1 V12 inverted air-cooled piston engines developing 459 horsepower each and driving two-bladed, variable pitch propeller units. This provided a maximum speed of 215 miles-per-hour with cruising closer to 197 mph. Range was out to 580 miles and its service ceiling reached 23,000 feet. As a tactical-level reconnaissance platform, the aircraft was not expected to conduct high-level sorties requiring all manner of amendments such as turbo- and super-chargers. Rate-of-climb was a useful 1,018 feet-per-minute.
Its design was wholly unique by 1930s standards: the aircraft was built around the centralized gondola-type fuselage which had a rather blunt forward section (unstepped) and tapering rear section. It sat at center, straddled by the mainplane members which exhibited sweepback along the leading edges and a straight line at the trailing edges. The tips were rounded. At each mainplane was fitted the Argus powerplant, the nacelle extending well-beyond the leading edge of the wing. Aft of these installations were the originations of the boom assemblies which tapered to the rear and shared a common horizontal plane. Bookending the plane were small-area, rounded tail fins.
Ground-running was accomplished by a conventional tail-dragger undercarriage, full-retractable into the design.
Even as the aircraft was intended for the reconnaissance role, it required defensive armament to survive. This arrived in the form of 2 x 7.92mm MG 17 machine guns seated at the wing roots in fixed, forward-firing mountings. At a dorsal position was a single 7.92mm MG 15 machine gun emplacement atop a flexible (trainable) mounting to cover the aircraft's upper rear quadrant if followed. An optional fitting was another 7.92mm MG 15 machine gun set up to fire rearwards from the aft-end of the fuselage - enhancing trailing defensive options for the crew.
The aircraft was designated Fw 189 "Uhu" ("Eagle-Owl") in service. Ten pre-series aircraft emerged as Fw 189 A-0 followed by initial-production, camera-capable Fw 189 A-1 models. The Fw 189 A-1TROP was its hot-weather variant. The Fw 189 A-1/U2 and /U3 were converted to the VIP transport role. The Fw 189 A-2 was given 7.92mm MG 81Z twin-gunned weapons over the original MG 15s. The Fw 189 A-3 was another hot-weather model and the Fw 189 A-4 was converted as a light ground attacker. The latter was outfitted with 2 x 20mm MG 151/20 automatic cannons at each wing root with armor protection at critical components to enhance survivability at low levels.
The Fw 189 B were thirteen airframes built as five seat trainers. The Fw 189 B-0 became three pre-series aircraft followed by ten Fw 189 B-1 forms.
The Fw 189 C was another ground attacker, though with a heavier attack role in mind to compete with the proposed Henschel Hs 129. As such, armoring was increased and two prototypes completed but neither impressed (the Hs 129 was selected instead).
The Fw 189 D followed as a proposed twin-float trainer but not furthered. The Fw 189 E was a one-off prototype carrying French Gnome-Rhone 14M radial engines of 690 horsepower each - it was not evolved. The Fw 189 F-1 was the Fw 189 A-1 with Argus As 411 series engines of 592 horsepower. The Fw 189 F-2 completed the line, being powered by twin Argus As 411 engines of 592hp, given additional fuel stores for increased ranges, additional armor protection, and electrically-assisted undercarriage.
For its time in the air, the Fw 189 operated in the intended tactical reconnaissance role but proved versatile enough to operate as an "Army Cooperation" solution and light bomber. Luftwaffe night squadrons utilized a small stock of Fw 189s in the night-bombing role during late 1944 while others were pressed into service as night-fighters (with limited success, but such was the need). Beyond carrying radar, night hunters were completed with obliquely-angled 20mm MG FF automatic cannons to slide up under unsuspecting bombers before engaging - by this point the combined British-American day/night bombing campaigns were taking its toll.
Total Fw 189 production yielded 864 units from 1940 until 1944 and these went on to stock the Luftwaffe as well as Axis-aligned Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia and a post-war Norway. Manufacture was had in German (Bremen) as well as German-held territories in France and in Czechoslovakia.
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
Bulgaria; Hungary; Nazi Germany; Norway (post-war); Slovakia
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
✓VIP Service
Used in the Very-Important-Person (VIP) passenger transport role, typically with above-average amenities and luxuries as standard.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
✓Training (General)
Developed ability to be used as a dedicated trainer for student pilots (typically under the supervision of an instructor).
✓- Training (Advanced)
Dedicated advanced training platform for student pilots having graduated from basic flight training.
Length
39.0 ft (11.90 m)
Width/Span
60.7 ft (18.50 m)
Height
10.2 ft (3.10 m)
Empty Wgt
5,952 lb (2,700 kg)
MTOW
8,818 lb (4,000 kg)
Wgt Diff
+2,866 lb (+1,300 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Focke-Wulf Fw 189 production variant)
Installed:
2 x Argus As 410A-1 V12 inverted air-cooled piston engines developing 465 horsepower each driving two-bladed propeller units.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Focke-Wulf Fw 189 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
STANDARD:
2 x 7.92mm machine guns at wing roots in fixed, forward-firing mountings (one gun per root).
1 x 7.92mm machine gun in dorsal gun position on flexible mounting.
OPTIONAL:
1 OR 2 x 7.92mm machine gun(s) in tail cone position.
Maximum bomb load of up to 440lb.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 2
Fw 189A - Base Production Model Designation
Fw 189A-2 - Improved defensive armament
Fw 189A-3 - Trainer with dual-control arrangement.
Fw 189A-4 - Tactical Attack Model with improved underside armoring and 20mm cannon.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.
Bulgaria; Hungary; Nazi Germany; Norway (post-war); Slovakia
