Ju 88 A-1

Ju 88 A-1

Fw 200 C-1

Ju 88 A-4

Ju 88 A-1

Fw 200 C-1

Ju 88 A-4

Germany

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.7	2.0	2.7

Class:

Bomber

Dive bomber

Frontline bomber

Research:9 200

Purchase:16 000

Show in game

This page is about the German bomber Ju 88 A-1. For other variants, see Ju 88 (Family).

Description

The Ju 88 A-1 is a rank II German bomber with a battle rating of 2.7 (AB/SB) and 2.0 (RB). It was introduced in Update 1.55 "Royal Armour".

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Max speed

at 5 600 m455 km/h

Turn time30 s

Max altitude9 800 m

Engine2 х Junkers Jumo 211B-1

TypeInline

Cooling systemWater

Take-off weight10 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 5,600 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	430	416	9800	31.5	32.9	3.8	3.8	530
Upgraded	482	455		28.5	30.0	10.9	6.8

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	✓	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	310	480	480	280	~6	~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 350	< 360	< 400	> 230

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
5,000 m	1,834 hp	2,366 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew4 people

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear310 km/h

• No armour plating
• No armour glazing
• Engines and all fuel tanks in wings

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB708 → 892

RB1 020 → 1 286

SB1 765 → 2 225

Total cost of modifications8 420

9 500

Talisman cost640

Crew training4 500

Experts16 000

Aces180

Research Aces190 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

50 / 100 / 180 %

118 / 118 / 118 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 340 Cost: 380 75 Radiator Research: 340 Cost: 380 75 Airframe Research: 380 Cost: 430 80 Compressor Research: 380 Cost: 430 80 Wings repair Research: 700 Cost: 790 150 Engine Research: 700 Cost: 790 150 Cover Research: 680 Cost: 770 145 Engine injection Research: 680 Cost: 770 145		mg_belt_pack Research: 340 Cost: 380 75 SC 50 Research: 340 Cost: 380 75 Flamm C 250 Research: 340 Cost: 380 75 mg15_new_gun Research: 380 Cost: 430 80 SC 250 Research: 380 Cost: 430 80 Flamm C 500 Research: 380 Cost: 430 80 mg_turret_belt_pack Research: 700 Cost: 790 150 mg15_turret_new_gun Research: 680 Cost: 770 145 SC 500 Research: 680 Cost: 770 145

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Ju 88 A-1 is armed with:

• 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, nose-mounted (375 rpg)

Suspended armament

The Ju 88 A-1 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 10 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (500 kg total)
• 28 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (1,400 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs + 28 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (1,900 kg total)
• 4 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 2 x 500 kg SC500K bombs (1,000 kg total)

Defensive armament

The Ju 88 A-1 is defended by:

• 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, dorsal turret (600 rpg)
• 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, ventral turret (525 rpg)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Auto control available	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Auto control available	Combined	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Offensive 7 mm	ITC 50/IX
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 7 mm MGs	ETC 250/IV
III	Wings repair	Engine		Turret 7 mm
IV		Engine injection	Cover	New 7 mm MGs (turret)	ETC 500/II

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Has an offensive forward-firing machine gun.
• Ability to dive bomb, equipped with air brakes.
• Carries a decent max load of 1,900 kg compared to contemporaries, third highest payload before the Ju-88 A-4 and the He 111 H-3.
• Lots of armament options.
• Airframe can withstand high speed during a dive.
• Carrying the maximum payload doesn't have that much penalty in overall performance.
• Very useful in precision bombing.
• Can outrun lower-end fighters.
• The 50 kg bombs are very efficient in taking out individual ground targets.

Cons:

• Defensive armaments are poor.
• Stock bomb load is inadequate.
• Payload is inferior to that of the Ju 88 A-4.

History

A Junkers 88 A-1, of Kampfgeschwader 51 with its crew (1940)

The Junkers Ju 88 A-1 was the first variant of the Junkers Ju 88, a German fast bomber. Designed as a super-versatile aircraft, the Ju 88 fulfilled a variety of roles including frontline bomber, torpedo-bomber, minelayer and reconnaissance platform. The aircraft saw extensive service during the Battle of Britain, and later over Soviet skies during Operation Barbarossa. The design of the aircraft was highly obsolete by the end of the war; despite this, over 15,000 Ju 88s of all variants were built.

Design and development

The Ju 88 originated from a 1935 requirement for a new high-speed dive bomber with a crew of 3, capable of reaching 480 km/h. The Henschel and Messerschmitt design firms also submitted designs, but later withdrew them; thus, Junkers won the competition and proceeded to produce prototypes. The first Ju 88 prototype flew in December of 1936, and managed to reach a speed of 520 km/h; Later on, a pre-production Ju 88 set a record for a 1,000 kilometre circuit, averaging 517 km/h. After the completion of ten prototypes of the Ju 88 A-0 series, the Ju 88 A-1 was ordered into production with deliveries starting in 1939.

The Ju 88 is a conventional twin-engined light bomber, with the engines mounted in nacelles on each wing. The aircraft has a crew of three, being a pilot, bombardier and radio operator/rear gunner. The aircraft's armament was sparse, consisting of just three 7.92 mm machine guns; this was steadily improved in later Ju 88 variants. The A-1 could carry a maximum bomb load of 1,000 kilograms in standard load, though heavier loads could be carried with modifications.

Operational history

The Ju 88 A-1 started entering service with the Luftwaffe in 1939; 69 aircraft were built that year. The aircraft saw its first combat attacking British shipping in the fall of 1939. The aircraft served extensively in the Battle of Britain as the main Luftwaffe bomber, and fulfilled the same role in Operation Barbarossa, the attempted German invasion of the USSR. By that point in time, it was complemented by more advanced variants of the Ju 88 such as the Ju 88 A-4.

During its time in service, it became highly apparent that the Ju 88 A-1 was not well suited to its task. Namely, the aircraft wasn't adequately armed, with just three defensive machine guns. Thus, the later Ju 88 A-4 variant introduced a heavier defensive armament of five 7.92 mm machine guns; later derivatives such as the Ju 188 featured even more defensive armament. As well, the aircraft experienced structural strength issues, which prevented it from entering fast dives without breaking up. This was also remedied by the later Ju 88 A-4. Despite its flaws, the Ju 88 was a versatile, reliable aircraft and over 15,000 aircraft were built before the end of the war.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Works Cited

• V, R. (2019). Junkers Ju 88. Retrieved November 25, 2020, from http://www.century-of-flight.freeola.com/Aviation%20history/WW2/Junkers%20Ju%2088.htm
• Rickard, J. (2007, June 30). Ju 88A. Retrieved November 25, 2020, from http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_ju88A.html

Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works (Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke Aktiengesellschaft)
Fighters	Ju 88 C-6 · Ju 388 J
Strike Aircraft
Ju 87	Ju 87 G-1 · Ju 87 G-2
Bombers	Ju 88 A-1 · Ju 88 A-4 · Ju 188 A-2 · Ju 288 C
Ju 87	Ju 87 B-2 · Ju 87 D-3 · Ju 87 D-5 · Ju 87 R-2 · Ju 87 R-2 Libya
Export	▄Ju 87 D-3 · ▄Ju 87 R-2 · ▄Ju 88 A-4