Ju 87 in the anti-shipping role ?

[redcoat]

I've just seen a web-site which claimed that the Ju 87 sank more ships than any other aircraft in WW2.

While I know that the Ju 87 was successful against RN warships in Norway and the Med, I didn't think that the Ju 87 was employed enough in the role to achieve this claim.

Does anyone have any statistics or facts to either back up or disprove this claim.

Thank you

[timotheus]

Stukas were also active in the UK Channel bombing channel convoys.

I think that later in the war, from 1941+, it was torpedo carrying Heinkels 111 which did most of the damage. There is no way a SHORT RANGE stuka was effective over a huge ocean.

The site you are reading is nonsense.
I mean think about it.

[faf_476]

I think the most Victorious plane of ww2 (European Theatre) was the He, Fw 190, and Bf 109.
Esp. in eastern front the no.1 Ace is using a Fw 190...!

[Harri]

There was also a long-range Stuka variant namely Junkers Ju 87R which were used widely for example in Northern Finland and Norway. It had additional external wing tanks.

[Wargames]

The website claim is that the Ju-87 sank more shipping than all other German aircraft combined.

[faf_476]

Ah, thanks for that guys!
I did not read the thread carefully, that they are dealing with how many ships were drowned, not planes.

[Pips]

In terms of actual 'numbers' of vessels sunk (naval and merchant marine) the Ju 87 is arguably the most effective dive bomber.

It saw more action over water and flew more sorties in the Norwegian campaign; the Channel battles of June and July, and again in October to December '40; the Mediterranean throughout '41 to '43, and the Black Sea than did the Dauntless, Helldiver or Aichi.

However if 'tonnage' is the leading criteria then most probably the SB2C Helldiver is king (allowing that most of it's actions were in concert with Avengers and bomb carrying Hellcats. The SBD Dauntless would come a close second.

[faf_476]

Also the battle in Africa, the Stalingrad.
They were the topnotchers in sinking these vessels.
I agree with you pips!

[Crazy_Russian]

They are effective against the ships without fighters' protection.
So, on September, 21st and 23, 1941 they sunk four large Soviet fighting ships: "Marat", "Minsk", destroyers "Steregushij" and "Frunze" besides damages were received by one more cruiser and two destroyers.
Veterans speak, that to evade from bombs from JU-87 was much more difficult, than from attacks of others.

[faf_476]

Veterans speak, that to evade from bombs from JU-87 was much more difficult, than from attacks of others.

What technique, did they use to deal with this apocalypse!?
Esp. at the battle of your motherland!

Tnx...!

[Crazy_Russian]

37-mm AA gun 61-K.
Combination of four machine guns "Maxim", different 25 or 37-mm systems were effective too.
After battle of Crimea (1942) there was no problem of ðrotection from Ju-87.

[faf_476]

37-mm AA gun 61-K.
Combination of four machine guns "Maxim", different 25 or 37-mm systems were effective too.
After battle of Crimea (1942) there was no problem of ðrotection from Ju-87.

So that cost them much, esp. in armaments!
Just for shooting a one aircraft!

Also stuka's were great in the eastern front!

[Andreas]

A discussion on the Luftwaffe's contribution to the losses suffered by the Soviet forces during the evacuation of Tallinn was split out into:

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=997112

All the best

Andreas

[martin13666]

BTW, found a piece of video matching the topic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQlEFIZifH0

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little on this........................................

Kanalkampf - Stukas against convoys 1940.

Following the conclusion of the campaign in the West, over the men of the Luftwaffe fell a real rain of awards and promotions. Göring, was promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Reich (created exclusively for him) and the two commanders of the Luftflotte II and III, Kesselring and Sperrle were promoted to the rank of General Marshals.

The Luftwaffe had amply fulfilled it joint role within the German operational strategy and its tactical tasks in Poland, Norway and the West had been a complete success; but there was still an enemy: England and against it would be launched for the first time the air force executing actions with independence and means that were not suited to the new requirements, but still it took the challenge.

While it had a number of good bases on the southern coast of the channel, the operation against the island was not planned, prepared and organized so it was decided that while the aerial operations aimed to achieve air supremacy over the English skies was planned in detail it was ordered to carry forward what was called the Battle of the Canal (Kanalkampf).

To this end the OKW issued its order of 2 July 1940 setting the following objectives:

a) intercept British shipping in the English Channel and
b) Sweeping of British planes in the airspace over the Canal.

The Stukas units that took part in this phase of the battle were the IV. (St.) / LG; I and III./ StG 1; III./ StG 51 (later II./ StG 1); I-III./ StG 2; I. / StG 3 and G St I.-III./ 77. In four weeks of operations were sunk 40,640 tons of merchant ships and three destroyers and the dive bombers (Stukas) had much involvement in it, hence while the story tells that the Stukas's squadrons were bleed in the Battle of Britain, this type of aircraft was one of the most efficient in anti-ship missions against maritime traffic. This phase resulted in the stopping of daytime maritime traffic in the channel.

Sources: Against the Radar and the Canal. The Third Reich. Tomo IV. ANESA 1975.
Der Luftkrieg in Europe from 1939 to 1941. Ulf Balke.
Der Zweite Weltkrieg. Janusz Piekalkiewicz.
Hitler's Stuka Squadrons: The JU 87 at War 1936-1945. John Ward
http://www.ebay.de/itm/P15-battle-of-br ... 1388367089

Cheers. Raul M .