The Ju 88G was a dedicated night-fighter based on the A-models but sans the drag-inducing ventral gondola. 4 x 20mm cannons were fitted along the belly in its place and the fuselage lengthened some. The airframe utilized the tail unit of the aforementioned Ju 188 offshoot. G-1 included BMW 801 radial piston engines of 1,700 horsepower as well as FuG 200 "Lichtenstein" radar. G-6 used Junkers Jumo 213A engines of 1,750 horsepower and FuG 218 "Neptun" or FuG 200 series radars. Aerials featured prominently in this design and some were fitted with oblique-firing (upwards angled) cannon armament. G-7 was based largely on the G-6 though with Jumo 213E engines for improved high-altitude performance.
Ju 88H was used in the long-range photo-reconnaissance role and relied on the G-model fuselage. H-1 was the over-water patrol model and H-2 a dedicated heavy fighter mark. H-3 was a long-range over-water patrol platform with H-4 another heavy fighter variant.
Requiring a heavy fighter to fulfill the tank-busting and bomber-destroyer role led to the Ju 88P line. P-1 fitted a sole 75mm BK cannon at the belly and the P-2 2 x 37mm BK 37 cannon in the same belly position. P-3 followed the P-2 design lines but added more armoring for improved survivability for the dangerous low altitude service expected of the attack-minded design. P-4 was finished with a sole 50mm BK 5 series cannon as its primary armament. P-5 outdid them all with its mounting of a single 88mm anti-tank/anti-aircraft field gun.
Night-fighters were also born through the Ju 88R mark which used C-model airframes outfitted with BMW 801 series engines.
The second to the end of the variant line became the Ju 88S which was developed along the lines of a high-speed bomber and born from the A-4 models. Again the ventral gondola was cut away for more aerodynamic efficiency and a new glazed-over nose section installed. Its BMW engines were further boosted for improved performance and speed at altitude. S-0 led the way with BMW 801G2 engines and provision for up to 14 x 145lb bombs. S-1 was similar though cleared for hauling 2 x 2,000lb bombs. S-2 featured turbocharged powerplants and S-3 was driven by Jumo 213A engines of 2,240 horsepower each with nitrous-oxide boosting.
The final Ju 88 form became the Ju 88T, a photo-reconnaissance platform based on the Ju 88S and featuring a crew of just three. Two subvariants were born as the T-1 and T-3 with the former born from the S-1 model featuring additional fuel stores for increased ranges and the latter formed from the S-3 production models of earlier.
Operators beyond the German Luftwaffe became wartime allies Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Italy, and Romania. Spain managed a modest collection of purchased aircraft and over a dozen airframes taken over during the war. French service was through captured examples during the war and some in service from post-war stocks. The British operated at least five Ju 88s actively during the war through Squadron No. 1426 of the Royal Air Force.
Beginning servicer in September of 1939, about a dozen Ju 88s were on hand for the assault on Poland but the line did not make a great impact until the subsequent invasion of Norway in the anti-ship bombing role. Again in the invasion of France, Ju 88s were available in number and engaged both land and sea targets as required though operational service here forced some revision to the wing design due to stability issues rising from increasing accidents. The Ju 88 was then pressed into action - along with Do 17s and He 111s - in the Battle of Britain (1940) where losses of medium bombers and fighters proved quite heavy for the attacking Germans. When the Germans committed to the Eastern Front in their invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941), the Ju 88 was pressed into further service in all manner of roles. Some stock of the aircraft was delivered to German ally Finland as they pressed against the Soviet line in the "Continuation War" of June 1941 to September 1944. Further action saw the type over France during the Allied advance from the Normandy beachhead, over Italy, and over the Balkans.
As with other German aircraft of prewar design, the Ju 88 fought nearly wherever the German Army was in action. By the end of the war, some Ju 88 airframes were stripped of their bomber components and arranged as flying bombs released from fighter "carrier" aircraft (as part of the "Mistle" program).
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