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No chance, and that is not because of the types of aircraft used but how they were used. The Luftwaffe's tactics, organisation, communications and intelligence were not up to the task, just to mention some of the problems.
You do have a point on this
Goering thought in 1945 that the Bob had been fought to a draw, as do many modern historians. That is not what the surviving Luftwaffe pilots thought at the time. They felt they had been beaten. Having a different aircraft (if DB powered this means fewer of the other two principal types) would not have altered that.
LW was given a Mission and failed to complete it. Defeat. Fw 187 could ,with proper tactis, have made the result much more costly for the england
The Fw 187 would not have outclassed the British fighters. It might have drawn squadrons outside 11 Group into the battle by dint of its superior range. That would have made Leigh-Mallory, Bader and the rest of 12 Group happy men.
A single Seat DB601 Fw 187 would have outclass the hurricain and would have a clear edge on spitfire. This particular discussion has been made extensively in the past. We dont agree, it s ok
Cheers
Steve
Hey Viking85,
Looks like everyone is agree that the Fw 187 could probably have been a German P-38, but we're not all that much in agreement as to whether it would make any difference to the outcome of the war.
I think EVERYBODY recognizes that a DB-powered Fw 187 was a better heavy fighter than the Bf 110. It's the details of the Fw 187's potential versatility and what would have been missing had it been produced that seem to be the sticky points.
I think the DH 103 Hornet is what the Fw 187 would have evolved into if had been given the time to be developed further.
It compares better to the 187 than the P-38 does as it is not a twin boom configuration. The fuselages virtually have the same dimensions being just as sleek.
At the time the Hornet appeared it could be transformed into a night fighter. The equipment has been fitted in it. Maybe the 187 could be, too.
I think the DH 103 Hornet is what the Fw 187 would have evolved into if had been given the time to be developed further. It compares better to the 187 than the P-38 does as it is not a twin boom configuration. The fuselages virtually have the same dimensions being just as sleek.
At the time the Hornet appeared it could be transformed into a night fighter. The equipment has been fitted in it. Maybe the 187 could be, too.
The Bf 109 airframe started with 600 ps and ended with 2000 ps with minor airframe modifications. Why Fw 187 would not be able tofollow the same path?The Hornet was designed for and had six times the power of the Jumo powered Fw 187. There would certainly have been serious problems involved in adapting the Fw 187 airframe to that. I doubt that would be a feasible 'evolution'. Better to start again with a better airframe.
Cheers
Steve
Remember that the NF.21 was a post war aircraft, meaning that its radar equipment was, most probably, smaller and lighter than war time radar.
The cockpit of the Fw 187 was a seriously tight space.
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/PippinBill/5614.jpg
So I doubt that any useful radar could be fitted. They could change the fuselage to fit radar, but then it would be a virtually new aircraft.
A problem with the 187 as built is that the main fuel tank was right behind the cockpit. 620 liters on the V4 and around 880 liters for some of the later proposed versions, two more tanks were in the wing roots. 245 liters each on the V4 and 210 liters each for the proposed versions. This helps roll performance compared to a plane with most of it's fuel in the wings but limits how much stuff you can stick in the fuselage for other roles. The Hornet did have a fuel tank in the fuselage behind the pilot but it wasn't the main tank, most of the fuel in the Hornet was in a series of wing tanks.
View attachment 282340
Hornet nightfighter had the radar operator quite a ways back in the fuselage
View attachment 282341
Counter balance for the weight of radar equipment in the new nose or????
Radar operator was about where the normal radio gear was or camera location for recon versions. Early war German cameras were much larger than British cameras. I am not getting into an argument on which was better but an early war German recon plane needed a certain amount of volume (space) to hold the standard camera/s. The standard large German camera also went about 160lbs (73KG ?) so was a little harder to place in an aircraft due to CG problems.
Luftwaffe Cameras
Perhaps a Fw 187 recon plane could have used a smaller fuselage tank and more internal wing tanks but the more changes you make between different versions they more expensive they get.
The Hornet was designed for and had six times the power of the Jumo powered Fw 187. There would certainly have been serious problems involved in adapting the Fw 187 airframe to that. I doubt that would be a feasible 'evolution'. Better to start again with a better airframe.
Cheers
Steve
Hornet's engines were 3 times as powerful as Jumo 210s, not 6 times
It's wing was some 20% greater than the Fw-187, the fuel volume/weight 50-100% greater than the Fw-187. The later, with DB 605ASM or 605D should be a contender.
The Hornet's Cockpit looks just as tight. Concerning the smaller radar equipment that's what I meant that it could have been build into the 187.
The Germans were behind on centimetric AI radar.
The Sea Hornet's radar was a late war development, and it was a smaller radar of lesser capability than the ones used in the Mosquito and Black Widow.
The Germans won't have an equivalent before the end of the war.
At least all the engine instruments for the Hornet are in the cockpit.