Mystery Ju88

[GrauGeist]

Ok, here's something I came across and haven't heard (or seen) anything like it before...

I was looking up the MG81 and up pops this photo of a Ju88 with an array of MG81s in the nose...

Has anyone seen something like this before and if so, what's the story?

 

[johnbr]

To me it looks like it is for ground attack.

 

[Airframes]

Looks like the prototype fighter version - Ju88A-1/U-16. The weapons are MG17s.

 

[GrauGeist]

Looks like the prototype fighter version - Ju88A-1/U-16. The weapons are MG17s.

Then this widens the mystery a little then...those sure look like mounted MG81s, look closely at the muzzle and the perforations in the barrel shrouds...

Here's a MG81 and MG17 for comparison:

MG17

MG81

 

[A4K]

Looking at that pic they do indeed seem to be MG81s. Could still be the machine Terry said with different armament.

 

[GrauGeist]

Agreed...makes me wonder if this was a field mod...

 

[Njaco]

The versions it might be are....

Ju 88A-13 was a close support A-4 with more armour and 16 forward firing MGs.

Ju 88H-2 has 6 forward MGs.

but interesting enough the Ju 88P-1 used a MG81 armed by the pilot for sighting!

just my 2 cents....

 

[Capt. Vick]

Great pic! Thanks for posting!

 

[Njaco]

Its a MG 81..

Mauser MG-81

and I can't get the translator to work but I think they are calling it a Ju-88C on this forum....

http://foro.elgrancapitan.org/viewtopic.php?t=10689&start=210

 

[vikingBerserker]

IIRC the first several C's had a glass nose, I wonder if this is just one of the early ones before the solid nose. Regardless, really cool pic.

 

[Snautzer01]

look here

 

[Erich]

it's a test mock-up with MG 17's the MG 81 has a shorter barrel guys......

 

[GrauGeist]

What was the idea behind this, Erich?

Was it for ground attack or an interceptor "Zerstorer"?

 

[Erich]

I must change my original thought there are both MG 17's as well as MG 81 singles fitted. used for ground attack against Soviet MT's and possibly shipping though the latter the C version fitted with several 2cm cannon would be better fitted.

 

[Snautzer01]

doesnt the mg17 have round perforated cooler barrels? see post #12

 

[Airframes]

The caption in the book I took the picture from ( same pic posted by Snautzer) states MG17s, but the flash suppressors do look more like those on the MG 81. Whichever, it seems to be the -U/16 prototype. Using MG 81s would make sense, as the receiver would take up less room in the nose.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Great info gents, thanks for the education.

 

[Snautzer01]

As i noted before perforation of barrels is telling in this case: round mg17 rectangular mg81

 

[Airframes]

And 'slotted' flash suppressors on the MG81.