Ju-52 History
Nicknamed "Tante Ju" (Auntie Ju) and "Iron Annie" by Axis and Allied troops, the Junkers Ju-52 was the most famous German transport of the war. The Ju-52 was built of corrugated metal skin and paid little attention to beauty, features of a typical Junkers design. Parts and pieces stuck out of the airframe, and the corrugated skin, though much stronger than fabric and metal tubes, created stronger air resistance.
In April 1931, the originally single-engined Ju-52 prototype was fitted with three engines. Performance improved tremendously and production of the new model immediately began. The Ju-52 served as an airliner for many nations. Finland, Spain, Sweden and Germany were just a few. It served as a mail carrier in China, and, fitted with floats, hauled lumber in remote places in Canada. Its most commom work, however, was done with the German Lufthansa. Equipped with luxaries like a typewriter and oxygen masks, the Ju-52 could fly from Berlin to Rome in eight hours over the Alps, an impressive feat for contemporary aircraft, let alone an airliner.
The military potentials of the Ju-52 was not overlooked by the Luftwaffe. It entered service as a troop transport and bomber. In the Spanish Civil War, the Ju-52 ferried some 10'000 Moorish troops from Morocco to Spain, and bombed Madrid while, quite embarrassingly, some Lufthansa Ju-52s were in the airport serving as airliners. Later in World War II, the Ju-52 served in every theater in which Germany participated. It dropped paratroopers in the Netherlands, Crete and later the Ardennes. It carried supplies to beleagued troops in North Africa, Stalingrad and the Baltic states. The Ju-52 was slow and very lightly armed against fighters. As a result, it suffered horrible losses in almost all actions, especially over Crete, the Mediterranean and Stalingrad. Many types of replacement were built, but none was as popular or reliable as good old Auntie Ju. Right until the end of the war the Ju-52 was still soldiering on to help stave off defeat. The last Ju-52s went out of service with the Swiss Air Force in the late 1980s over 50 years after the first of these durable aircraft first took to the air. Some Ju-52s are still flying today.
The initial Ju 52 was a signle-engine aircraft. Since it lacked performance, and the state of technology couldn't deliver higher performance engines yet, Junkers decided to add 2 additional engines, both mounted on the wing. The designation then received the '/3m'.
The seventh Ju 52 airframe was used for the first 3-engine prototype, powered by three Pratt Whitney Hornet radials, rated at 550 hp (410 kW) each. A number of subversions were built for various (export) customers:
· Ju 52/3m ce: Version for A.B. Aerotransport of Sweden, Aero O/Y of Finland, and Deutsche Lufthansa. It had cowled engines and spatted mainwheels.
· Ju 52/3m de: Version for Lloyd Aero Boliviano with uncowled engines and unspatted wheel
· Ju 52/3m fe: unknown features and customers
The Ju 52/3m ge was the first version that entered production in large numbers. It was powered by 3 × BMW 132A-1 (license built Pratt Whitney Hornets) radial, rated at 660 hp (492 kW) each. It could carry 17 passengers, reach a max level speed of 155 Mph (250 km/h), and had a max take-off weight of 22,046 lb (10.000 kg)
In the meantime the Luftwaffe had expressed it's interest for the Ju 52, to double as aeither a transport or a bomber. The bomber role was to be fulfilled until the Dornier Do 11 would be ready, but problems with the Do 11 meant that more emphasis was placed on the bomber role. Therefor the Ju 52 was fitted with 3 cells capable of carrying 3,307 lb (1.500 kg) of bombs in the fuselage. Defensive armament consisted of:
· 2 × 0.312 inch (7,92 mm) MG 15 trainable rearward-firing guns in an open dorsal position, 1.050 rounds total
· 1 × 0.312 inch (7,92 mm) MG 15 trainable rearward-firing gun in a semi-enclosed, semi-retractable ventral 'bathtub' position, 750 rounds
Number built: unknown out of a total of 5.415
Junkers Ju 52/3m g3e
Improved version of the Junkers Ju 52/3m ge. It had more modern radio equipment, upgraded bomb-release mechanisms, and was powered by 3 × BMW 132A-3 radials, rated at 725 hp (541 kW) each. The internal fuel capacity of 544 Imp gal (654 US gal, 2.475 liters) made a tactical radius of 311 miles (500 km) possible at a max cruising speed of 152 miles (245 km/h) at 2,950 ft (900 m). Other technical details are as follows:
A span of 95 ft 11.5 inch (29,24 m), aspect ratio of 7,74, area of 1,189.41 sq ft (110.50 m²), length of 62 ft 0 inch (18,9 m), height of 18 ft 2,5 inch (5,55 m), empty weight of 12,610 lb (5.720 kg), max take-off weight of 23,146 lb (10.500 kg), max level speed of 172 Mph (277 km/h) at 2,950 ft (900 m) declining to 165 Mph (265 km/h) at sea level, economical cruising speed of 130 Mph (210 km/h) at optimum altitude, max range of 621 miles (1.000 km), climb to 9,845 ft (3.000 m) in 17 min 30 sec, and a service ceiling of 19,360 ft (5.900 m)
Number built: unknown out of a total of 5.415
Junkers Ju 52/3m g4e
This version was mostly used by the Condor Legion in Spain. It had a number of internal improvements, and a tailwheel in stead of a tail skid. This version was not u\only produced by Junkers, and the number exceeded 500 aircraft. In 1937 it was slowly withdrawn from it's bomber role, and served more as a transport, bomber-crew trainer, or in the airborne forces role.
12 Aircraft have been converted to Convoy Escorts. These aircraft, like the YB-40 with the B-17, defended it's brothers during sorties. For that reason the 'Geleitschutzflugzeuge' were fitted with the ventral 'Dustbin' again, 2 more 0.312 inch (7,92 mm) guns in the beam positions, and a 20 mm trainable cannon in the nose.
Number built: unknown out of a total of 5.415
Junkers Ju 52/3m g4e (MS)
This version was converted for Mine-sweeping duties. For that reason it was fitted with a large Dural hoop braced beneath the wing and fuselage. This hoop was than energised by an additional motor that was installed in the fuselage. The magnetic field that was generated that way, triggered magnetically fused mines.
Number converted: unknown
Junkers Ju 52/3m g5e
This version was an improvement upon the Junkers Ju 52/3m g4e. It had more comprehensive radio equipment, a de-icing system that used the exhaust, provision for an interchangeable wheel ski or float landing gear, provision for 2 × 0.312 inch (7,92 mm) trainable lateral-firing guns in the beam positions, and an uprated powerplant: 3 × BMW 132T-2 radials, rated at 830 hp (619 kW). The land planes had a max take-off weight of 23,148 lb (10.500 kg).
Number built: unknown out of a total of 5.415
Junkers Ju 52/3m g5e (MS)
This version was converted for Mine-sweeping duties.
Number converted: unknown
Junkers Ju 52/3m g5e (See)
This version was the Junkers Ju 52/3m g5e with floats in stead of a landing gear. The max take-off weight was 24,250 lb (11.000 kg)
Number converted: unknown
Junkers Ju 52/3m g6e
This version is almost identical to the Junkers Ju 52/3m g5e, and was produced in parallel with it as well. The difference was the fact that it was a purely land based aircraft, and had simpler radio equipment.
Number built: unknown out of a total of 5.415
Junkers Ju 52/3m g6e (MS) This version was converted for Mine-sweeping duties.
Number converted: unknown
Junkers Ju 52/3m g7e
From 1941 onward, the Junkers Ju 52/3m g7e was built. It was based on the Junkers Ju 52/3m g5e, but had a number of improvements: an autopilot, a larger starboard-side loading hatch, and a rearward extension of the upper part of the central engine. On some aircraft there was an open position created in the cockpit's overhead glazing, to accomodate 1 × 0.312 inch (7,92 mm) MG 15 trainable rearward-firing gun.
Number built: unknown out of a total of 5.415 Junkers
Junkers Ju 52/3m g7e (MS) This version was converted for Mine-sweeping duties.
Number converted: unknown Junkers
Junkers Ju 52/3m g8e
Based on the Junkers Ju 52/3m g7e, this vaersion had an additional loading hatch in the cabin roof. At first they were powered by the same engines (BMW 132T-2), but later this was changed to 3 × BMW 132Z radials. Also at a certain moment the 0.312 inch (7,92 mm) gun in the dorsal position was changed to 1 × 0.51 inch (13 mm) MG 131 gun for better defensive armament
The Junkers Ju 52/3m g8e had a number of Standardbausätze, which all added another letter to the designation:
· F: Fallschirmjäger- und Luftlandetransporter (paratrooper and airlanding transport)
· H: Hörsaalflugzeug (classroom aircraft, or trainer)
· K: Kistentransporter (crate transporter)
· N: Nachshubtransporter (supply transport)
· R: Reiseflugzeug (courier aircraft)
· S: Sanitätsflugzeug (ambulance aircraft)
· St: Staffeltrupp transporter (squadron detachment transport)
Number built: unknown out of a total of 5.415
Junkers Ju 52/3m g8e (MS) This version was converted for Mine-sweeping duties. .
Number converted: unknown
Junkers Ju 52/3m g9e
This version replaced the Junkers Ju 52/3m g8e in 1942. It was powered by 3 × BMW 132Z radials, had a glider-towing coupling, and had a strenghtened landing gear for a max take-off weight of 25,353 lb (11.500 kg)
Number built: unknown out of a total of 5.415
Junkers Ju 52/3m g10e
Based on the Junkers Ju 52/3m g9e, but fitted with alternatively skis or floats.
Number built: unknown out of a total of 5.415
Junkers Ju 52/3m g11e
No information
Number built: unknown out of a total of 5.415
Junkers Ju 52/3m g12e
Equal to the Junkers Ju 52/3m g9e, but fitted with 3 × BMW 132L radials, rated at 800 hp (597 kW)
Number built: unknown out of a total of 5.415
Junkers Ju 52/3m g13e No further information
Number built: unknown out of a total of 5.415
Junkers Ju 52/3m g14e
The final production version. This version featured armor protection for the pilot, and had a standard defensive armament of 1 × 0.51 inch (13 mm) MG 131 in the rear dorsal position, and 3 × 0.312 inch (7,92 mm) MG 15 each in one of the beam positions, and 1 in a low-drag copula over the cockpit.
Number built: unknown out of a total of 5.415
AAC.1 Toucan
Postwar version of the Ju 52/3m, built by a French company.
number built: 400 out of 5.415
CASA 352 Postwar version of the Ju 52/3m, built by a Spanish company.
number built: 170 out of 5.415
