WesWorld

Service History

In May 1940 the German Kriegsmarine announced that it had adopted the Accrisius Avenger/ENAER Alicanto dive and torpedo bomber to succeed the venerable Fieseler Fi167 as the principal strike aircraft of the re-emergent Marineflieger. A production was acquired, together with tooling and several complete aircraft to serve as patterns. The Fieseler firm, with its experience in the manufacture of carrier-based aircraft, was assigned the task of manufacturing the aircraft for the Kriegsmarine, under the designation Fi168 “Hammerhaie” (Hammerhead Shark).

Technical Description

Low-mid inverted gull wing cantilever monoplane. Inner portion of each wing set at anhedral for approximately twenty percent of half span, remainder at fairly coarse dihedral. Outer wings fold upward for stowage. All metal structure with flush riveted stressed metal skin. Ailerons on outer folding section, flaps inboard of ailerons to fuselage.

Oval all metal semi-monocoque fuselage with flush riveted stressed skin.

Cantilever type monoplane type tail unit. All metal framework with metal covered fixed surfaces and metal frame and skin elevators and rudder. Controllable trim tabs in all control surfaces.

Retractable type undercarriage. Oleo shock absorber struts hinged at the wing knuckles and are raised inwardly into the underside of the wings. Fully retractable tail wheel.

One BMW 801G fourteen-cylinder two-row radial air-cooled geared and supercharged engine in low-drag cowling with induced fan cooling, rated at 1,900hp for takeoff and 1,700hp at 5,000 metres. Four-blade VDM type constant speed airscrew. Fuel tanks located in the wings.

Cockpit seats two in tandem under transparent canopy. Armoured windscreen and cockpit armour plating provided. Two 20mm MG201 cannon with 60 rounds per gun in each wing outside the airscrew disc. One flexible 13mm MG131 machinegun with 400 rounds located in the rear cockpit. Provision for carrying one 880 kg torpedo or armour-piercing bomb of the same weight, or combination of smaller bombs to a maximum of 500 kg for dive-bombing.

Span 14.4 metres, length 11.5 metres, height 4.06 metres, wing area 35.39 square metres. Empty weight 3,100 kg, normal loaded weight 4,900 kg, maximum overload weight 5,360 kg.

Maximum speed 560kph at 6,000 metres, cruising speed 368kph at 4,000 metres, landing speed 120 kph. Climb to 4,000 metres 7.5 minutes. Range 1,920 kilometres at normal cruising speed.