JU 52 gun ship ?
JU 52 gun ship ?
Is this real?
Re: JU 52 gun ship ?
I love that bin attached to the bottom of the plane lol
"Everything remained theory and hypothesis. On paper, in his plans, in his head, he juggled with Geschwaders and Divisions, while in reality there were really only makeshift squadrons at his disposal."
- Ironmachine
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Re: JU 52 gun ship ?
There is a previous thread about this same picture, but not much further information was provided:
viewtopic.php?f=49&t=243267
viewtopic.php?f=49&t=243267
- Ironmachine
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Re: JU 52 gun ship ?
For what it's worth, this "version" of the Ju-52 is mentioned in Bill Green's Warplanes of the Third Reich: the book states that 12 x Ju-52/3m4ge's were modified in 1941 as escorts with heavier armamen. They carried the open dorsal MG-15, a manually operated turret with a 20 mm MG-151, two beam-mounted MG-15s, and the ventral 'dustbin' from the bomber version. They were assigned to the II/KG z. b. V. 1 in Crete and flew supply missions for Rommel.
Still, no photos that I know of.
Regards.
Still, no photos that I know of.
Regards.
Re: JU 52 gun ship ?
For me it seems like that uneconomical airlift was made further uneconomical. Seems like a bit funny, especially that open basket at the bottom of the planeIronmachine wrote: ↑08 Feb 2021, 09:18For what it's worth, this "version" of the Ju-52 is mentioned in Bill Green's Warplanes of the Third Reich: the book states that 12 x Ju-52/3m4ge's were modified in 1941 as escorts with heavier armamen. They carried the open dorsal MG-15, a manually operated turret with a 20 mm MG-151, two beam-mounted MG-15s, and the ventral 'dustbin' from the bomber version. They were assigned to the II/KG z. b. V. 1 in Crete and flew supply missions for Rommel.
Still, no photos that I know of.
Regards.
"Everything remained theory and hypothesis. On paper, in his plans, in his head, he juggled with Geschwaders and Divisions, while in reality there were really only makeshift squadrons at his disposal."
Re: JU 52 gun ship ?
It's pure fantasy.
Junker
Junker
Re: JU 52 gun ship ?
Well, the Ventral gunner was a "thing" on the Bomber variant:
The ventral ‘dustbin’ turret, as fitted to the Ju 52/3m. It is seen here extended beneath the corrugated metal fuselage and fitted in standard configuration with a 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun. The turret proved questionable, both in terms of operation and the level of defence it provided. It was exposed and dangerous for the gunner and induced drag. The turret was withdrawn from later Ju 52/3ms
Forsyth, Robert. Ju 52/3m Bomber and Transport Units 1936-41 (Combat Aircraft) (p. 39). Bloomsbury Publishing. Kindle Edition.
The ventral ‘dustbin’ turret, as fitted to the Ju 52/3m. It is seen here extended beneath the corrugated metal fuselage and fitted in standard configuration with a 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun. The turret proved questionable, both in terms of operation and the level of defence it provided. It was exposed and dangerous for the gunner and induced drag. The turret was withdrawn from later Ju 52/3ms
Forsyth, Robert. Ju 52/3m Bomber and Transport Units 1936-41 (Combat Aircraft) (p. 39). Bloomsbury Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Re: JU 52 gun ship ?
Wow. It's funny because I've read that book, but this picture didn't stuck.Brady wrote: ↑08 Feb 2021, 18:00Well, the Ventral gunner was a "thing" on the Bomber variant:
The ventral ‘dustbin’ turret, as fitted to the Ju 52/3m. It is seen here extended beneath the corrugated metal fuselage and fitted in standard configuration with a 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun. The turret proved questionable, both in terms of operation and the level of defence it provided. It was exposed and dangerous for the gunner and induced drag. The turret was withdrawn from later Ju 52/3ms
Forsyth, Robert. Ju 52/3m Bomber and Transport Units 1936-41 (Combat Aircraft) (p. 39). Bloomsbury Publishing. Kindle Edition.
"Everything remained theory and hypothesis. On paper, in his plans, in his head, he juggled with Geschwaders and Divisions, while in reality there were really only makeshift squadrons at his disposal."
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Re: JU 52 gun ship ?
Hi Guys,
Such ventral gun "bins" were quite common in the 1930s. The British Handley-Page Hendon, the French Leo H-25 and Italian SM81 all had them.
Cheers,
Sid.
Such ventral gun "bins" were quite common in the 1930s. The British Handley-Page Hendon, the French Leo H-25 and Italian SM81 all had them.
Cheers,
Sid.
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Re: JU 52 gun ship ?
Hi gebhk,
Yup.
It is such a belt-and-braces design solution, I felt sure that the Soviet Tupolev/Antonov bombers of the 1930s must have tried it, but I can find no evidence of this.
Cheers,
Sid.
Yup.
It is such a belt-and-braces design solution, I felt sure that the Soviet Tupolev/Antonov bombers of the 1930s must have tried it, but I can find no evidence of this.
Cheers,
Sid.
Re: JU 52 gun ship ?
So, the consensus is that they did exist ?
They were called: Ju-52/3m4ge ?
And only 12 were made, and that they used the same turret that the FW 200 condors and BV 138 had for the 20 mm cannon ?
They were called: Ju-52/3m4ge ?
And only 12 were made, and that they used the same turret that the FW 200 condors and BV 138 had for the 20 mm cannon ?
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Re: JU 52 gun ship ?
Hi Guys,
The illustration above in Post #1 was presumably based on something.
Do the markings ND+AN tell us anything?
Cheers,
Sid
The illustration above in Post #1 was presumably based on something.
Do the markings ND+AN tell us anything?
Cheers,
Sid