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in what role? bomber escort or as a bomber itself. i was going to suggest it might phase out the 110 but i see you already did that discussion before. i think the engines could have been better used scrapping TE ac and making more SE fighters.
Had they listened to Erhard Milch instead of what really happened, we all might be speaking German ...
The Fw-187 have had the necessities to be a fine heavy/LR fighter, with engines better than Jumo 210, of course. Unlike the P-38, it was a 'classic twin', that saves plenty of weight and production time. Instead of second crew member, one can envision a more comfortable space for the single crew member. Don't know the wing profile thickness, does not seem it was a thick one (feedback is welcomed).
Compared to the Whirlwind, it was not of a prohibitively small size (wing area 30.6 sq m vs. 23.2; the P-38 was at 30.43), so installation of engines heavier than Jumo 210 was feasible, and it was undertaken. Compared to the Bf-110/210/Beaufighter, it was much smaller, hence the performance on same power was bound to be greater. The 110/210 should make better NFs, though. The historical Fw-187 on Jumo 210 was as fast as the Bf-110 on DB-601A engines, or the Hurricane I.
As alternative power-plants for the Fw-187 we might include the HS-12Y engines (erstwhile the ones produced in Czechoslovakia, then the French ones) - 850-1000 HP at altitude vs. ~650 for the Jumo 210; the Jumo 211; the G&R 14N. Plus the obvious DB-601/605 series.
It seems to have all the requirements to be versatile and they DID fit DB6xx engines to it, so it COULD have been built around the DB 605 at some point. I believe it had the making of a fine fighter.
I wonder why the Luftwaffe didn't think it was worth development? They developed myriad other useless planes, so why not one that could do the job?
So basically it had the features and 'stretch' to be a P-38 if actually adopted?
The Fw-187 would be a fully viable LR fighter with 8x MG 17s, 500-600 rpg. Even the historical Fw 187, with 4 LMGs and two cannons, was in better shape (armament-wise) than Bf 109 once the cannon ammo is gone. The radio installed in the Bf-109 was the least of it's problems.
Germans need to tool up for the Fw 187 if they want a viable LR fighter in 1940.
Guns:
2 × 20 mm MG FF/M cannons (180 rpg - 3 drums with 60 rpg, cannon were reloaded by rear gunner or radio operator during flight)
4 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 machine guns (1,000 rpg)
1 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 15 machine gun for defence
4 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 machine guns in fuselage sides
2 × 20 mm MG FF cannon in lower fuselage
Bf 109 E-7
2 x 7.92 mm, 2 x 20 mm
In terms of the Me210, not having that would save some 2000 aircraft, not to mention economies of scale and efficiency by not having to switch over to a new type in 1941, so from 1939 when they would enter production to the end of the war there would not be a major type disruption in that category.Ah I'm glad another thread on the Fw-187 appearing...
Great aircraft certainly.
A bit of a sport kite, granturissmo if you preffer, I love it.
For those many what-if options concerning this Ferrari, I would bend for the early '43 viermot schützer, with just what it takes of overall armour, to keep the chivalrous teutonic flyer confident until etwas mid-range into the American boxes.., one single [brand new] Mk-103 under belly for efficiency along with a pair of 20mils in the wing roots (out of propellers rings), with ample munitions, a little wing aera increase and the latest Daimler 605s.
A good compromise .
And most welcome for the Lufwaff's busy year.
Could even compete with high-flying Thunderbolts escorts in Italy.
I'm not fond of what-if Fw-187 early 1940 things, because I think in that time the Zestörer concept (Bf-110) had to have its show. The sport-kite 187 was by then too... selfish.
But by mid-42, especially with the Me-210 industrial accident, there had to be an opportunity for men of decision...