Recent from talks
Henschel Hs 129
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Henschel Hs 129
The Henschel Hs 129 was a ground-attack aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Henschel Flugzeugwerke AG. Fielded by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War, it saw combat in Tunisia and on the Eastern Front.
During the latter half of 1930s, influenced by the experiences of German Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM; "Reich Aviation Ministry") sought a new ground-attack aircraft. The specification required protection from ground-based small arms fire, for which Henschel's design (which was initially designated at the P 46) incorporated a steel "bathtub" with angled fuselage sides and a compact canopy that was fitted with tiny windows. A further requirement of the specification was that the aircraft be powered by engines that were not in demand for other types; accordingly, the Hs 129 was designed to be equipped with low-power German Argus As 410 engines, which were only capable of 465 PS (459 hp; 342 kW).
On 29 May 1939, the prototype Hs 129 performed its maiden flight. Early flight testing was largely unsatisfactory, the aircraft proving to be underpowered and overweight while offering poor visibility to the pilot. These problems were addressed with a new canopy with more glazing and the more powerful French Gnome-Rhône 14M engine, which could produce up to 700 PS (690 hp; 515 kW). As such, the Hs 129 A-0 was promptly succeeded by the Hs 129 A-1 and Hs 129 B-1. While Henschel faced competition to fulfil the requirement in the form of the Focke-Wulf Fw 189, the Hs 129 was both smaller and cheaper, and thus continued to hold the RLM's favour. Quantity production of the type was achieved during early 1942.
The Hs 129 was relatively effective when introduced to Luftwaffe service in April 1942. It served on the Eastern Front in a variety of frontline roles. As the conflict progressed, an emphasis on anti-tank support saw the aircraft being continually up-gunned, eventually mounting a 75 mm anti-tank cannon. Only a small number of these Hs 129 B-3 aircraft were produced to see action relatively late in the war. Production of the type peaked in 1943 and finished in September 1944 alongside Nazi Germany's declining military position, although use of the HS 129 continued into the closing months of the conflict.
By the mid-1930s, the German military, as well as its counterparts in other countries, had identified the importance of ground-attack aircraft for the interdiction of logistics and materiel, a task in which targets were often poorly protected and less likely to have strong or well-coordinated defences. For high-value, well-protected tactical targets, the dive bomber was becoming the conventional solution.[citation needed]
The experience of the German Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War (1936–39) refuted this concept. Even though it was equipped with types unsuited to the role, such as the Henschel Hs 123 and cannon-armed versions of the Heinkel He 112, the Condor Legion proved that ground-attack aircraft were effective in actual combat. This determination led to support within the Luftwaffe for the creation of an aircraft dedicated to this role, and the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM; "Reich Aviation Ministry") through its Technisches Amt (Technical office) formulated a specification for a Schlachtflugzeug (ground-attack aircraft), specifically intended for the direct support of ground forces.
It was anticipated that the main source of damage to such an aircraft would be small arms fire from the ground, meaning that the aircraft ought to be well-armored around key areas, such as its cockpit and engines. Similar protection was also desirable for the canopy, in the form of 75 mm (2.95 in) thick armored glass. The aircraft was expected to be attacking in low-level, head-on strafing runs, so the cockpit had to be located as close as possible to the nose, in order to maximize the visibility of its targets. Another, non-operational, requirement severely hampered the designs: the RLM insisted that the new design be powered by engines that were not being used in existing aircraft, so that the type would not interfere with the production of established types deemed essential to the war effort.[citation needed]
During April 1937, the newly formulated specification was issued to four companies, Hamburger Flugzeugbau GmbH (later renamed Blohm und Voss), Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau GmbH, Gothaer Waggonfabrik AG and the Henschel Flugzeug-Werke AG. Of these, Gotha opted to not respond at all while the Hamburger Flugzeugbau offered their P-40 project, a development of their two seat Ha 141, however, the ground attack version was considered to be too unconventional and was eliminated. On 1 October 1937, the RLM issued a pair of development contracts for the two other submissions, which had been determined to superior: one was derived from an existing Focke-Wulf reconnaissance type, the Fw 189, while the other was produced by Henschel. Originally designated the P 46, Henshel's aircraft was later given the official designation of Hs 129 from the RLM in April 1938.
Hub AI
Henschel Hs 129 AI simulator
(@Henschel Hs 129_simulator)
Henschel Hs 129
The Henschel Hs 129 was a ground-attack aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Henschel Flugzeugwerke AG. Fielded by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War, it saw combat in Tunisia and on the Eastern Front.
During the latter half of 1930s, influenced by the experiences of German Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM; "Reich Aviation Ministry") sought a new ground-attack aircraft. The specification required protection from ground-based small arms fire, for which Henschel's design (which was initially designated at the P 46) incorporated a steel "bathtub" with angled fuselage sides and a compact canopy that was fitted with tiny windows. A further requirement of the specification was that the aircraft be powered by engines that were not in demand for other types; accordingly, the Hs 129 was designed to be equipped with low-power German Argus As 410 engines, which were only capable of 465 PS (459 hp; 342 kW).
On 29 May 1939, the prototype Hs 129 performed its maiden flight. Early flight testing was largely unsatisfactory, the aircraft proving to be underpowered and overweight while offering poor visibility to the pilot. These problems were addressed with a new canopy with more glazing and the more powerful French Gnome-Rhône 14M engine, which could produce up to 700 PS (690 hp; 515 kW). As such, the Hs 129 A-0 was promptly succeeded by the Hs 129 A-1 and Hs 129 B-1. While Henschel faced competition to fulfil the requirement in the form of the Focke-Wulf Fw 189, the Hs 129 was both smaller and cheaper, and thus continued to hold the RLM's favour. Quantity production of the type was achieved during early 1942.
The Hs 129 was relatively effective when introduced to Luftwaffe service in April 1942. It served on the Eastern Front in a variety of frontline roles. As the conflict progressed, an emphasis on anti-tank support saw the aircraft being continually up-gunned, eventually mounting a 75 mm anti-tank cannon. Only a small number of these Hs 129 B-3 aircraft were produced to see action relatively late in the war. Production of the type peaked in 1943 and finished in September 1944 alongside Nazi Germany's declining military position, although use of the HS 129 continued into the closing months of the conflict.
By the mid-1930s, the German military, as well as its counterparts in other countries, had identified the importance of ground-attack aircraft for the interdiction of logistics and materiel, a task in which targets were often poorly protected and less likely to have strong or well-coordinated defences. For high-value, well-protected tactical targets, the dive bomber was becoming the conventional solution.[citation needed]
The experience of the German Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War (1936–39) refuted this concept. Even though it was equipped with types unsuited to the role, such as the Henschel Hs 123 and cannon-armed versions of the Heinkel He 112, the Condor Legion proved that ground-attack aircraft were effective in actual combat. This determination led to support within the Luftwaffe for the creation of an aircraft dedicated to this role, and the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM; "Reich Aviation Ministry") through its Technisches Amt (Technical office) formulated a specification for a Schlachtflugzeug (ground-attack aircraft), specifically intended for the direct support of ground forces.
It was anticipated that the main source of damage to such an aircraft would be small arms fire from the ground, meaning that the aircraft ought to be well-armored around key areas, such as its cockpit and engines. Similar protection was also desirable for the canopy, in the form of 75 mm (2.95 in) thick armored glass. The aircraft was expected to be attacking in low-level, head-on strafing runs, so the cockpit had to be located as close as possible to the nose, in order to maximize the visibility of its targets. Another, non-operational, requirement severely hampered the designs: the RLM insisted that the new design be powered by engines that were not being used in existing aircraft, so that the type would not interfere with the production of established types deemed essential to the war effort.[citation needed]
During April 1937, the newly formulated specification was issued to four companies, Hamburger Flugzeugbau GmbH (later renamed Blohm und Voss), Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau GmbH, Gothaer Waggonfabrik AG and the Henschel Flugzeug-Werke AG. Of these, Gotha opted to not respond at all while the Hamburger Flugzeugbau offered their P-40 project, a development of their two seat Ha 141, however, the ground attack version was considered to be too unconventional and was eliminated. On 1 October 1937, the RLM issued a pair of development contracts for the two other submissions, which had been determined to superior: one was derived from an existing Focke-Wulf reconnaissance type, the Fw 189, while the other was produced by Henschel. Originally designated the P 46, Henshel's aircraft was later given the official designation of Hs 129 from the RLM in April 1938.
Recent media