BLUF
This article argues that the WW2 German Fw190 aircraft was, in purely platform terms, better than the Spitfire V. However, inadequate logistics, poor leadership and ineffective doctrine meant that the Germans could never exploit the qualitative edge in capability terms that the Fw190 should have provided.Summary
This article by Andrew Critchell in History Hit makes the following points about the Focke Wulf Fw190:
- Radial engine with square wings.
- Called the 'Butcher Bird'.
- 4 x 20mm cannon and 2 x 7.9mm heavy machine guns.
- Its impressive performance contributed to the German fighter cover enabling the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau to transit the English Channel,.
- Better dive, climb, rate of roll and speed (40-56kph), than the Spitfire.
References
Recent Runway Posts related to this topic:
- Stories of the Battle of Britain 1940 – Constant-Speed Propellers | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
- What the Battle of Britain can teach us about defending Australia | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
- Battle Of Britain: The Royal Air Force Stopped Hitler's Total Domination Of Western Europe | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
References from the Web:
- JUN 2018 Butcher Bird – One Man’s Passion To Fly His Very Own Focke-Wulf Fw 190- Australian Aviation.
- JUN 2020 The Focke-Wulf 190- the Aviator Experience.
- JUL 2020 How a captured Focke-Wulf Fw 190A led to the development of the Spitfire Mk IX, the best close-in fighter of WWII-the Aviation Geek.
- Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5-Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum
- Spitfire vs Fw-190-Aviatia.
