When the new Junkers Ju 288 - a design meant to replace the Junkers Ju 88 series of bombers - ran into developmental issues with its engines, Junkers set about producing an in-between utilizing the Ju 88's airframe. The Ju 88B and Ju 88E were converted test frames (with an increased wingspan and new fuselage) that would eventually lead up to the development of the Ju 188 Racher (or "Avenger") series - a high performance aircraft that differed little in the aircraft it was meant to replace. Production would be limited to just over 1,000 examples.
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.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓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.
✓Special-Mission: Anti-Ship
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
Length
49.2 ft (15.00 m)
Width/Span
72.2 ft (22.00 m)
Height
14.4 ft (4.40 m)
Empty Wgt
21,826 lb (9,900 kg)
MTOW
31,967 lb (14,500 kg)
Wgt Diff
+10,141 lb (+4,600 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Junkers Ju 188E-1 Rache (Avenger) production variant)
Installed:
2 x BMW 801D-2 14-cylinder radial engines developing 1,730 horsepower each and driving three-bladed propeller units.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Junkers Ju 188E-1 Rache (Avenger) 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:
1 x 20mm MG 151/20 autocannon in nose position.
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 6,608lb of external and internal stores.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 2
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.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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France; Hungary; Nazi Germany; United Kingdom
