Ju 352
Role Transport
National origin Nazi Germany
Manufacturer Junkers
Designer Konrad Eicholtz
First flight 18 August 1943
Primary user Luftwaffe
Number built 50[1]
Developed from Junkers Ju 252

The Junkers Ju 352 Herkules ("Hercules" in German) was a German World War II transport aircraft that was developed from the Junkers Ju 252.[2]

Design and development

During the late spring of 1942, the Junkers-Dessau project office was instructed by the Reich Air Ministry (RLM) to investigate the possibility of redesigning the structure of the Junkers Ju 252 transport to make maximum use of non-strategic materials,[3] replacing the Junkers Jumo 211F engines of the Ju 252 with Bramo 323R radial engines.[3] The result followed closely the aerodynamic design of the Ju 252 but was an entirely new aircraft. The wing of the Ju 352 was similar in outline to that of the Ju 252 but, mounted further aft on the fuselage, was entirely of wooden construction. The Ju 352 also had a similar Trapoklappe ("Transportklappe", rear loading ramp) to that of the Ju 252. The ramp allowed the loading of vehicles or freight into the cargo hold while holding the fuselage level.[2]

In general, the Ju 352 was considered a major improvement over the original Junkers Ju 52 but noticeably inferior to the Junkers Ju 252.[4] Deliveries of the Ju 352 had only just begun to get into their stride when, during the summer of 1944, the worsening war situation resulted in the decision to abandon further production of transport aircraft. In September the last two Ju 352As rolled off the assembly line, 10 pre-production Ju 352s and 33 production Ju 352s having been manufactured.[4] Several developments of the basic design were proposed before production was halted, these including the Ju 352B with more powerful engines and increased defensive armament.

Operators

 Czechoslovakia
 Germany
 Soviet Union
  • One Letov-built aircraft was presented to the Soviet Union in 1946.

Specifications (Ju 352A-1)

Data from Junkers aircraft and engines, 1913–1945,[3] German aircraft of the Second World War,[2] The warplanes of the Third Reich[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3–4
  • Length: 24.2 m (79 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 34.2 m (112 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 5.74 m (18 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 121.5 m2 (1,308 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 12,500 kg (27,558 lb)
  • Gross weight: 19,520 kg (43,034 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 3,255 L (860 US gal; 716 imp gal) in three wing tanks[note 1]
  • Powerplant: 3 × BMW-Bramo 323 R-2 Fafnir 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 750 kW (1,000 hp) each at 2,500 rpm for take-off on 'B4' 87 octane fuel[note 2]
  • Propellers: 3-bladed VDM wooden reversible-pitch constant-speed propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 370 km/h (230 mph, 200 kn) at 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
  • Cruise speed: 240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn)
  • Range: 1,800 km (1,100 mi, 970 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 2,980 km (1,850 mi, 1,610 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)

Armament

Notes
  1. ↑ or 2,910 L (770 US gal; 640 imp gal) in two wing tanks with 1,800 L (480 US gal; 400 imp gal) in auxiliary outer wing tanks
  2. ↑ 890 kW (1,200 hp) at 2,600 rpm for emergency boost, or take-off, with 'C3' 96 octane fuel from an auxiliary fuel system

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Junkers Ju 352.
  1. ↑ 43 by Junkers at Fritzlar and seven in Czechoslovakia by Letov
  2. 1 2 3 Smith, J.R.; Kay, Anthony L. (1990). German aircraft of the Second World War (7th impression ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 448–450. ISBN 0-85177-836-4.
  3. 1 2 3 Kay, Anthony L. (2004). Junkers aircraft and engines, 1913–1945 (1st ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. pp. 229–231. ISBN 0-85177-985-9.
  4. 1 2 LePage, Jean-Denis G.G. (2009). Aircraft of the Luftwaffe, 1935-1945 : an illustrated guide. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co. p. 341. ISBN 978-0786439379.
  5. ↑ Green, William (1972). The warplanes of the Third Reich (1st ed.). London: Doubleday. pp. 512–514. ISBN 0-385-05782-2.
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