Junkers Ju 88a-4 / 11 Fuel capacity

[drew3424]

Good afternoon,

Hey guys, I'm back again. I'm looking this time for the fuel capacity for the Junkers Ju 88a-4 variant.

Specifically, I'm looking for information on the number of tanks, the amount of fuel that they hold, and an aggregate of the aircraft' range. I do know she had the ability to carry a fuselage fuel tank of some 1,220 liters, which equates to about 322 gallons.

The best info I found is that she could hold 766 gallons of internal fuel. (not including the fuselage tank) How would this be divided up?

Any info would be appreciated!

Thanks,

[Snautzer05]

Differences between Ju88A-4 and the Ju internal sand filters on the engines, sun shades and carried rifles, desert survival gear and extra water.

[Denniss]

Four wing fuel tanks with 1680 liter, divided into an inner wing engine feed tank of 415l and an outer wing tank of 425l.

On internal fuel (Rüstzustand A) the range (Gesamtflugstrecke) is claimed to be ~1000km although this may be with some fuel kept in reserve. No load specified. With Rüstzustand B (forward aux tank) it's claimed to be ~1800km. With Rüstzustand C (with both internal aux tanks) it's claimed to be ~2300km

Maximum fuel was Rüstzustand C + 2x 900l drop tanks

BTW the bombload in the table is wrong - forward bomb bay had space for 18x 50kg-bombs, only the rear bomb bay was limited to 10.

[Snautzer05]

Hello deniss what manual do you have

[Denniss]

I have several manuals, that's en excerpt. tank locations visible on the right drawing, capacities and possible bomb loads in the load plan.

[Old_Fossil]

Over on the What IF? forum there is a discussion on the possibility of stretching the fuselage of the A-4 in the same way as the Ju88 H, but using available 1940 technology. How much you could stretch an A-4 with Jumo 211J engines envolves figuring out how much spare weight the plane has when using maximum internal fuel and an offensive load of four SC-250s. In addition, more weight could be saved for conversion into fuselage sections, internal tankage and fuel if the fourth crewmember was dropped along with the gondola and dive brakes. You seem to have access to necessary information needed to calculate this weight and maybe provide guidance on what percentage of this would be additonal internal fuel.

[phylo_roadking]

Over on the What IF? forum there is a discussion on the possibility of stretching the fuselage of the A-4 in the same way as the Ju 88 H, but using available 1940 technology. How much you could stretch an A-4 with Jumo 211J engines envolves figuring out how much spare weight the plane has when using maximum internal fuel and an offensive load of four SC-250s. In addition, more weight could be saved for conversion into fuselage sections, internal tankage and fuel if the fourth crewmember was dropped along with the gondola and dive brakes. You seem to have access to necessary information needed to calculate this weight and maybe provide guidance on what percentage of this would be additonal internal fuel.

It IS of course worth remembering that the A-4 flew on 1,400hp Jumo 211F or 211J engines...whereas the H-1/2 flew on 1,700hp BMW 801...and the proposed H-3/4s on 1,776hp Jumo 213A-12 engines. That's over 600 bhp DOWN on its all-up weight-lofting ability over 1943-4 designs...

Plus, you've forgotten something else...there was only space created for one more fuel tank in the forward bomb bay...for the rear of the bomb bay was taken up by the big tank holding compressed air for the nitrous oxide injection system

[Old_Fossil]

Did you even bother to read my post? Why do you keep harping about the Ju88 H when it is not part the discussion. I didn't forget the nitrous oxide injection system because it was never part of the discussion! The issue is very simple: given the known capabilities of a Jumo 211J powered A-4, how much spare weight lifting capacity could be converted into more internal fuel capacity. If you have nothing to add to the discussion, just stay out of it.

[phylo_roadking]

Did you even bother to read my post? Why do you keep harping about the Ju 88 H when it is not part the discussion. I didn't forget the nitrous oxide injection system because it was never part of the discussion! The issue is very simple: given the known capabilities of a Jumo 211J powered A-4, how much spare weight lifting capacity could be converted into more internal fuel capacity. If you have nothing to add to the discussion, just stay out of it.

That's strange, YOU posted...

Over on the What IF? forum there is a discussion on the possibility of stretching the fuselage of the A-4 in the same way as the Ju 88 H, but using available 1940 technology.

...and made the H-range part of the discussion, not me. YOU are the one importing What-Iffery into the Research Sections of the forum, which is a bit frowned on here...

The point of the H-4 was it was a performance balanced against range solution to convert the H-2 into a zerstorer; and the performance mods bit into other factors.

...given the known capabilities of a Jumo 211J powered A-4, how much spare weight lifting capacity could be converted into more internal fuel capacity.

We KNOW how much; stretch the fuel capacity with a tank in the forward section of the bomb bay, remove the dive brakes and wing racks, etc., etc. of the A-4 and you get the first of the D-series, the D-0. These and the first D-2s (with the wing pylons back for tanks) started coming into service in the summer of 1940...then they put the 211J in it and got the D-1.

[Old_Fossil]

"in the same way as the Ju 88 H" does not mean the "the same as the Ju88 H". It only means fuselage stretching. The Reseach forum seems the proper place to gain factual information about the weight configurations of the Ju 88 A-4. No opinions are requested, just facts.

And you should read up more on the Ju 88. You keep making mistakes. The D-Series didn't have a stretched fuselage.

[phylo_roadking]

And you should read up more on the Ju 88. You keep making mistakes. The D-Series didn't have a stretched fuselage

Exactly where did I say it did??? I said -

stretch the fuel capacity with a tank in the forward section of the bomb bay

No opinions are requested, just facts.

How much you could stretch an A-4 with Jumo 211J engines envolves figuring out how much spare weight the plane has when using maximum internal fuel and an offensive load of four SC-250s. In addition, more weight could be saved for conversion into fuselage sections, internal tankage and fuel if the fourth crewmember was dropped along with the gondola and dive brakes.

Try living by your own mantra.

[Denniss]

The maximum take-off weight in the load plans for A-4 is 13.75t. This is given for Rüstzustand C (both bomb bays used for fuel) with a 1,8t bomb and 100kg of fuel not filled in the rear bomb bay fuel tank. This is 700kg of headroom for fuselage extension and additional fuel if you want to carry four 250kg bombs. Impossible.

Removal of the fourth crew member along with gondola, weapon and ammo may be something between 200 and 500kg (guesstimate). Removal of dive brakes should gain at least 100kg (guesstimate).

BTW
Jumo 211J = 1420 PS
BMW 801 G-2 = 1700 PS (later up to ~1720 PS)
Jumo 213A = 1750 PS

all values take-off power at sea level

[ju55dk]

From BA/MA.

Junker

Ju88A_a.jpg (86.83 KiB) Viewed 2211 times

[Sheldrake]

What is your interest in this particular question?

The Ju88 was a very versatile machine and was the basis for variants needing endurance long range fighter, recce and even night fighter, but the A4 was a bomber. As Alfred Price wrote in Bombers, the maximum fuel load and bomb loads were rarely significant. The load out for bombers was generally as many bombs as possible with enough fuel to reach the target and back with safety margins to allow for combat, navigation errors etc.

Arguably the only bomber where absolute range was a key issue was the B24 Liberator used as a very long ranged aircraft over the North Atlantic. Stripped of all armour and a gun turret and carrying only a handful of 250 lb depth charges the Liberator could be on station a thousand miles plus from home for two hours.

What is the comparable use of the Ju88?

[drew3424]

Wow, thanks guys for all of this amazing information!