Focke-Wulf Fw 57

1936 GOLDEN AGE

• 1 Focke-Wulf Fw 57 History
• 2 Focke-Wulf Fw 57 Specification
  • 2.1 Basic
  • 2.2 Production
  • 2.3 Roles
  • 2.4 Dimensions
  • 2.5 Weight
  • 2.6 POWER
  • 2.7 PERFORMANCE
  • 2.8 ARMAMENT
  • 2.9 VARIANTS

Focke-Wulf Fw 57 History

The Focke-Wulf Fw 57 was born in the history of military aviation when enemy bombers needed a direct counterattack in the form of heavy fighter jets. For the Luftwaffe, these designs existed under the "Zerstorer" ("destroyer") label, including the more famous Messerschmitt Bf 110. The Fw 57 is actually a bomber-destroyer in competition with the Bf 110 in the new Reich Aviation Department (RLM) specification. This requirement emerged in 1934 and referred to the three designs of Focke-Wulf, Messerschmitt and Henschel as Fw 57, Bf 110 and Hs 124 respectively. The Bf 110 eventually established itself as the destroyer of choice and served for a long time during World War II - although it became obsolete by the end of the war.

The Fw 57 failed due to its weight and handling characteristics. As a bomber destroyer, the type should have fighter-like qualities that would handle the enemy fighter types of the day well, while carrying weapons capable of taking down larger enemy bombers.

It is also assumed that light bombardment has a bomb-carrying capacity. While the Bf 100 managed a robust production of 6,170 aircraft, the Fw 57 was built from only three prototypes. The Hs 124 fared worse, with two prototypes completed and eventually lost to history.

The heart of the Fw 57 is a large twin-engine aircraft. It consisted of a crew of three, including a pilot, navigator and a dedicated machine gunner. The fuselage has a barrel length of 54 feet, a wingspan of 82 feet, and a height of 13.4 feet.

Curb weight is 15,000 pounds, and full load is nearly 18,300 pounds. The fuselage is stepped, with a smooth profile, and the single-wing tail (with the necessary horizontal stabilizer) tapers in the shape of a teardrop. A heavy-duty frame was used throughout the cockpit, with three crew members lined up. The main wing is mounted low on the side of the fuselage, and each engine nacelle is located on the leading edge of the wing. Power is provided by 2 Daimler-Benz DB 600A series inverted V12 engines, each producing 910 hp and driving three-bladed metal propellers.

This gives the plane a top speed of 250 mph and a cruising speed of nearly 230 mph. Service is capped at 29,900 feet. The structure is a metal skin, representing a departure from the era of canvas wood design.

Weapons are the focus of the design. Two 20mm MG FF series cannons are mounted in the nose assembly and controlled by the pilot. A 20mm MG FF cannon is mounted in an electric turret supplied by Mauser.

Most Luftwaffe aircraft during WWII did not use powered turrets, so this is certainly a unique design quality of the Fw 57. The turret formed the position of the third crew member. In addition to standard conventional weapons, the Fw 57 can also carry 6 x 220 pound bombs.

All in all, the Fw 57 is capable of keeping pace with fighters and bombers while supporting ground attacks.

On paper, the Fw 57 is a solid aircraft, although this proved not to be the case during the testing phase. Despite the power generated by its twin engines, the aircraft proved to be heavy and sluggish, and was beaten by its rivals.

At least three prototypes - bearing the usual German markings V1, V2 and V3 - were completed and used until 1936. The Luftwaffe eventually opted for the more promising Bf 110 template, but the Fw 57 and Hs 124 failed. Both projects were eventually abandoned by their respective companies.

Focke-Wulf Fw 57 Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

POWER

PERFORMANCE

ARMAMENT

VARIANTS