Little Stuka Discussion

[Wmaker]

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
The D-5 had the... ...The dive flaps were also removed on this model.

Not all D-5s were without dive brakes. When they were used to the task Ju-87 was originally meant for they had them. Dive brakes were removed from the planes that were used for night harassment bombings and as night fighters against the soviet night harassers.

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by Wmaker
Not all D-5s were without dive brakes. When they were used to the task Ju-87 was originally meant for they had them. Dive brakes were removed from the planes that were used for night harassment bombings and as night fighters against the soviet night harassers.

No, the removal of the dive flaps was not limited to those Stukas that engaged in night harassment missions or as "night fighters" (first time i've heard a Ju87 being used as one).   They were removed on the D-5 as the variant was intended only for ground-attack and the dive flaps were no longer needed.  Later models like the G were too heavy to use the dive flaps so they were kept off of those models as well.

ack-ack

[Wmaker]

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
No, the removal of the dive flaps was not limited to those Stukas that engaged in night harassment missions or as "night fighters" (first time i've heard a Ju87 being used as one).   They were removed on the D-5 as the variant was intended only for ground-attack and the dive flaps were no longer needed.

Here are couple of photos where the dive brakes are clearly visible.

What do you mean by "only for ground-attack"? Hmm...isn't dive bombing a ground target...essentially...err... a ground attack?

Anyways, for example I/SG3 dive bombed with dive brake equipped Ju-87D-5s during the summer of '44 against Red Army's armor and troop concentrations in the Karelian isthmus.

[Wmaker]

One more...



Here's Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey's (in which I./SG3 belonged) D-5 Stuka taxing in the Immola airbase before a sortie against Soviet offensive in Tali 28.6.1944. Again, dive brakes clearly visible.