Henschel Hs 130
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Henschel's Hs 130 was a German high-altitude reconnaissance and bomber aircraft developed in World War II, but never used operationally due to various mechanical faults.
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[edit] Background
Development of the Hs 130 began with two Hs 128 prototypes, which first flew in 1939. Both prototypes were research aircraft, used for testing pressurized cabins, engine superchargers, and cantilever wings. Different engines powered the two prototypes; the V1 by Daimler-Benz DB 601s and the V2 by Junkers Jumo 210s. Both had a fixed landing gear. While trials of the two prototypes were not successful, the potential of a high altitude aircraft caught the attention of Theodor Rowehl, commander of the Luftwaffe's special reconnaissance unit. Rowehl's interest in the Hs 128’s potential for high altitude reconnaissance missions led Reich Air Ministry to instruct Henschel to continue development of the Hs 128 under the designation Hs 130A.
[edit] Development
Five pre-production Hs 130A-0's were built and delivered in early 1941, and featured DB 601R engines, a single stage supercharger, retractable landing gear, and a bay in the rear to house two Rb75/30 cameras for reconnaissance. The five Hs 130A-0s subsequently underwent trials and testing, which revealed significant problems with the aircraft performance. One of the five pre-production Hs 130A-0s was modified under the designation Hs 130A-0/U6 and featured a greater wingspan, DB 605B engines, Hirth superchargers, GM-1 nitrous oxide power boosting, and under-wing drop tanks. The Hs 130A-0/U6 variant as well as the other Hs 130A-0s proved unsatisfactory and were never flown operationally.
Further development of the Hs 130 led to bomber variants. The planned Hs 130B was almost the same as the Hs 130A, but with a bomb bay in place of the camera bay, but was never built. The Hs 130C was built as a competitor for the "Bomber B" project, and was very different from the Hs 130A. Three prototypes, V1, V2, and V3 were built, and featured a shorter wing span, defensive armament, extensively glazed cabin (but still pressurized), the V1 and V2 were powered by BMW 801 radials, and the V3 by DB 603A engines. Further development of the Hs 130 as a reconnaissance aircraft continued with the Hs 130D, which was planned to have DB 605 engines and a complex two-stage supercharger, but was never built.
The Hs 130E was a re-working of the Hs 130A with the Höhen Zentrale (HZ)-Anlage system in place of conventional superchargers. HZ-Anlage installed a third engine in the fuselage, a DB 605, the only purpose of which was to power a large supercharger to supply air to the wing-mounted DB 603B engines. Such a system had first been tried some twenty-five years previously, on the R.30/17 example of the Zeppelin Staaken R.VI bomber. Another difference from the Hs 130A was the nose, which was extended forward to offset the weight of the HZ-Anlage engine in the fuselage. Also underwing fuel tanks were fitted to provide fuel for three engines, and air scoops were fitted under the fuselage to supply the fuselage engine. Three prototype Hs 130Es were built; Hs 130E V1 first flew in September 1942, and could reach 12,500 metres when HZ-Anlage was employed. Hs 130E V2 was lost due to an engine fire; V3 was built to replace it. Seven pre-production Hs 130E-0s were built and first flew in May 1943. A production order was placed for Hs 130E-1’s which were to have a defensive armament and provisions for underwing bombs. The order was cancelled due to problems suffered by the Hs 130E-0s. An Hs 130F was planned, which was hoped to solve the problems with HZ-Anlage, by using four supercharged BMW 801 engines, but was never built.
[edit] See also
Related lists List of military aircraft of Germany
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
- Donald, D.(ed.). Warplanes of the Luftwaffe. Grange Books, 2001
- Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1970 (fourth impression 1979). ISBN 0-356-02382-6.
- Nowarra, Heinz J. Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933-1945 (in German). Koblenz, Germany: Bernard & Graeffe Verlag, 1993. ISBN 3-7637-5464-4.
- Smith, J.Richard and Kay, Anthony. German Aircraft of the Second World War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1972 (third impression 1978). ISBN 0-370-00024-2.
- Wood, Tony and Gunston, Bill. Hitler's Luftwaffe: A pictorial history and technical encyclopedia of Hitler's air power in World War II. London: Salamander Books Ltd., 1977. ISBN 0-86101-005-1.
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