Junkers Ju 87
| Ju 87 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Ju 87Ds in October 1943 | |
| Role | Dive bomber |
| Manufacturer | Junkers |
| Designer | Hermann Pohlmann |
| First flight | 17 September 1935 |
| Introduction | 1936 |
| Retired | 1945 (Luftwaffe) |
| Primary users | Luftwaffe Regia Aeronautica Royal Romanian Air Force Bulgarian Air Force |
| Number built | Estimated 6,500[a] |
The Junkers Ju 87 or Ju 87 was a German light bomber of World War II. It was used as a dive bomber.[1] Its crew was a pilot with a navigator/radio operator behind him. He also handled the rear machine gun. The Ju 87 could drop 500 kg of bombs. Some Ju-87 were modified as attack aircraft against tanks. More than 6500 were made.
It's universally known as Stuka,[2] an abbreviation of Sturzkampfflugzeug, German for dive bomber.
History
[change | change source]The plane was designed by Hermann Pohlmann. It has first flight 17 September 1935. The first time it was used in battle was 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. Junkers Ju 87 attacked Guernica.
In World War II, Ju-87 were used for bombing against Poland, and later against Belgium, Netherlands, France, and Greece. Early in the Battle of Britain Junkers Ju87 were used to attack[3] Dover, Folkestone and other harbours of the Channel.
Many Ju-87 were used in the Soviet Union against Soviet troops. In the Battle of Stalingrad, they were used to bomb the town.
The Ju-87 B-2 variation had several improvements. Early in the war this aircraft became famous for its "Jericho's Trumpets," or more simply "Stuka Siren," a device with propellers fixed to the front landing struts that spun causing a loud and strange sound, used to panic people. It was removed when enemy forces became accustomed to it.
Similar aircraft
[change | change source]References
[change | change source]- ↑ (in French) http://www.avionslegendaires.net/avion-militaire/junkers-ju-87-stuka/
- ↑ "Junkers Ju 87 Stuka". HowStuffWorks. 19 October 2007.
- ↑ "The Junkers Ju87 Stuka". www.battleofbritain1940.net. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
Bibliography
[change | change source]- Eisenbach, Hans Peter (2009). Fronteinsa¨tze eines Stuka-Fliegers Mittelmeer und Ostfront 1943 - 44. Helios, Aachen. ISBN 9783938208960.
- Mondey, David (1996). Axis Aircraft of World War II. Chancellor Press, London. ISBN 1851529667.