Luftwaffe Over Britain 1939-45
JUNKERS 87 B ‘STUKA’
The crank-winged and angular Junkers 87 ‘Stuka’ dive-bomber was one of the most recognisable Luftwaffe types in use during the Battle of Britain and two sub-types were operational over Britain during 1940 and early 1941: the B-1 and the B-2. However, the origins of the Ju 87 went back much further to a quite different looking version which was developed as early as 1935.
The second version of the Ju 87 to go into production, the ‘Berta’, became the main production version of the aircraft during the early part of the Second World War. Fitted with a Jumo 211A engine developing 1,200 hp for take-off, the
‘Berta’ was a considerable improvement over the Ju 87-A ‘Anton’: the cockpit was streamlined, ‘spats’ replaced the mainwheel ‘trousers’, and there were two fixed 7.92 mm machine guns firing forwards. The additional engine power enabled the ‘Berta’ to carry a two-man crew and carry a 1,100 lb bomb load, the new version fitted with additional bomb racks under the wings to carry four x 50 kg bombs.
In October 1938, five early-production Ju 87 Bs were sent to the ‘Condor Legion’ in Spain and operated with considerable success during the closing months of the Civil War in that country.
During 1937 and 1938, a grand total of 395 Ju 87 As and Bs were built, including prototypes and pre-production aircraft. During 1938, production of the Junkers dive-bomber was transferred to the
Weser plant at Berlin-Templehof, the first aircraft coming off the new production line that autumn. During 1939 production, a total of 557 ‘Bertas’ came off the line at
Templehof and on the outbreak of war on 1 September 1939 these aircraft equipped nine dive bomber Gruppen.
During the closing months of 1939, the B-2 succeeded the B-1 on the production line. The new version featured minor changes, including ejector exhaust stubs, hydraulically powered cooling gills for the engine and a new propeller with broader wooden blades (the B-1 had metal-bladed propellers) and it could potentially carry a maximum bomb load of 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg).
In parallel with the B-2, the Ju 8-R was intended for extended range and was built in moderately large numbers. Fitted with an additional 33 Imp gal (150 lit) fuel tank in each outer wing section, it could carry 66 Imp gal (300 lit) drop tanks on bomb racks under each wing. This extra tankage enabled it to carry up to a maximum of 190 Imp gal (900 lit) of additional fuel, giving a maximum range of 875 miles (1,400 km); in other words, more than twice that of the Ju 87 B.
The Junkers 87 was deployed mostly in attacks against Channel shipping and on RAF airfields and radar stations along Britain’s south coast.
In Poland, France, and the Low Countries it was used to devastating effect, although success in the Battle of Britain was limited and offset by significant losses.
As a pin-point weapon, it was extremely accurate and effective. The aircraft remained in production and service up until the end of the war, proving a useful weapon on the Eastern Front, Mediterranean, and in North Africa.