Junkers Ju 352

Ju 352
Role	Transport
National origin	Nazi Germany
Manufacturer	Junkers
Designer	Konrad Eicholtz
First flight	18 August 1943
Primary user	Luftwaffe
Number built	50
Developed from	Junkers Ju 252

The Junkers Ju 352 Herkules ("Hercules" in German) was a German World War II transport aircraft that was developed from the Junkers Ju 252.^[2]

Design and development[edit]

During the late spring of 1942, the Junkers-Dessau project office was instructed by the Reich Air Ministry (RLM) to investigate the possibility of redesigning the structure of the Junkers Ju 252 transport to make maximum use of non-strategic materials,^[3] replacing the Junkers Jumo 211F engines of the Ju 252 with Bramo 323R radial engines.^[3] The result followed closely the aerodynamic design of the Ju 252 but was an entirely new aircraft. The wing of the Ju 352 was similar in outline to that of the Ju 252 but, mounted further aft on the fuselage, was entirely of wooden construction. The Ju 352 also had a similar Trapoklappe ("Transportklappe", rear loading ramp) to that of the Ju 252. The ramp allowed the loading of vehicles or freight into the cargo hold while holding the fuselage level.^[2]

In general, the Ju 352 was considered a major improvement over the original Junkers Ju 52 but noticeably inferior to the Junkers Ju 252.^[4] Deliveries of the Ju 352 had only just begun to get into their stride when, during the summer of 1944, the worsening war situation resulted in the decision to abandon further production of transport aircraft. In September the last two Ju 352As rolled off the assembly line, 10 pre-production Ju 352s and 33 production Ju 352s having been manufactured.^[4] Several developments of the basic design were proposed before production was halted, these including the Ju 352B with more powerful engines and increased defensive armament.

Operators[edit]

Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakian Air Force (Postwar)

Germany

Luftwaffe

Soviet Union

One Letov-built aircraft was presented to the Soviet Union in 1946.

Specifications (Ju 352A-1)[edit]

Data from Junkers aircraft and engines, 1913–1945,^[3] German aircraft of the Second World War,^[2] The warplanes of the Third Reich^[5]

General characteristics

Crew: 3–4
Length: 24.2 m (79 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 34.2 m (112 ft 2 in)
Height: 5.74 m (18 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 121.5 m² (1,308 sq ft)
Empty weight: 12,500 kg (27,558 lb)
Gross weight: 19,520 kg (43,034 lb)
Fuel capacity: 3,255 L (860 US gal; 716 imp gal) in three wing tanks^{[note 1]}
Powerplant: 3 × BMW-Bramo 323 R-2 Fafnir 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 750 kW (1,000 hp) each at 2,500 rpm for take-off on 'B4' 87 octane fuel^{[note 2]}
Propellers: 3-bladed VDM wooden reversible-pitch constant-speed propellers

Performance

Maximum speed: 370 km/h (230 mph, 200 kn) at 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
Cruise speed: 240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn)
Range: 1,800 km (1,100 mi, 970 nmi)
Ferry range: 2,980 km (1,850 mi, 1,610 nmi)
Service ceiling: 6,000 m (20,000 ft)

Armament

Guns: ** 1 × 20 mm (0.787 in) MG 151/20 cannon in the 'EDL 131' or 'HD 151/2' dorsal turret
- 2 × MG 131 machine guns in side windows

Notes

^ or 2,910 L (770 US gal; 640 imp gal) in two wing tanks with 1,800 L (480 US gal; 400 imp gal) in auxiliary outer wing tanks
^ 890 kW (1,200 hp) at 2,600 rpm for emergency boost, or take-off, with 'C3' 96 octane fuel from an auxiliary fuel system

References[edit]

^ 43 by Junkers at Fritzlar and seven in Czechoslovakia by Letov
^ ^a ^b ^c Smith, J.R.; Kay, Anthony L. (1990). German aircraft of the Second World War (7th impression ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 448–450. ISBN 0-85177-836-4.
^ ^a ^b ^c Kay, Anthony L. (2004). Junkers aircraft and engines, 1913–1945 (1st ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. pp. 229–231. ISBN 0-85177-985-9.
^ ^a ^b LePage, Jean-Denis G.G. (2009). Aircraft of the Luftwaffe, 1935-1945 : an illustrated guide. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co. p. 341. ISBN 978-0786439379.
^ Green, William (1972). The warplanes of the Third Reich (1st ed.). London: Doubleday. pp. 512–514. ISBN 0-385-05782-2.

[6] r 2,910 L (770 US gal; 640 imp gal) in two wing tanks with 1,800 L (480 US gal; 400 imp gal) in auxiliary outer wing tanks

[7] 890 kW (1,200 hp) at 2,600 rpm for emergency boost, or take-off, with 'C3' 96 octane fuel from an auxiliary fuel system

[1] 43 by Junkers at Fritzlar and seven in Czechoslovakia by Letov

[Smith-2] Smith, J.R.; Kay, Anthony L. (1990). German aircraft of the Second World War (7th impression ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 448–450. ISBN 0-85177-836-4.

[JK-3] Kay, Anthony L. (2004). Junkers aircraft and engines, 1913–1945 (1st ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. pp. 229–231. ISBN 0-85177-985-9.

[LePage-4] LePage, Jean-Denis G.G. (2009). Aircraft of the Luftwaffe, 1935-1945 : an illustrated guide. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co. p. 341. ISBN 978-0786439379.

[Green-5] Green, William (1972). The warplanes of the Third Reich (1st ed.). London: Doubleday. pp. 512–514. ISBN 0-385-05782-2.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[note 1]

[note 2]

v t e Junkers aircraft
Company designations	J 1 J 2 J 3 J 4 J 5 J 6 J 7 J 8 J 9 J 10 J 11 J 12 F 13 J 15 K 16 K 17 J 18 T 19 A 20 H 21 / J 21 / T 21 J 22 T 23 G 23 F 24 / G 24 A 25 T 26 T 27 J 28 T 29 K 30 G 31 A 32 W 33 W 34 A 35 S 36 K 37 G 38 K 39 K 47 A 48 J 49 A 50 K 51 K 53 K 85
Company EF designations (experimental aircraft)	EF 29 EF 31 EF 52 EF 61 EF 72 EF 73 EF 74 EF 77 EF 94 EF 126 EF 127 EF 128 EF 130 EF 131 EF 132 EF 140 EF 150
Idflieg designations	CL.I CLS.I D.I E.I E.I (2) J.I
RLM designations	Ju 46 Ju 49 Ju 52 Ju 60 Ju 85 Ju 86 Ju 87 Ju 88 Ju 89 Ju 90 Ju 160 Ju 187 Ju 188 Ju 248 Ju 252 Ju 268 Ju 287 Ju 288 Ju 290 Ju 322 Ju 352 Ju 388 Ju 390 Ju 452 Ju 488 Ju 635

v t e Reich Air Ministry (RLM) aircraft designations (list)
1 to 100	8-1¹ Fi 2 8-3¹ 8-4¹ Fi 5 DFS 6 8-7¹ Gö 8 Gö 9 Do 10 Do 11/Wn 11 8-12⁴/Do 12 Do 13 Do 14 Do 15 Do 16/Wn 16 Do 17 Do 18 Do 19 Do 20 8-21¹ Do 22 Do 23 Do 24 Do 25³/Kl 25 Do 26/Kl 26 8-27/Do 27³/Kl 27⁵ 8-28¹ 8-29/Do 29 Fw 30 Kl 31 Kl 32 Ju 33 Ju 34 Kl 35 Kl 36 He 37³ He 38/Ju 38 DFS 39 BV 40/DFS 40 He 41³ Fw 42/He 42 Fw 43 Fw 44 He 45 He 46/Ju 46 Fw 47/He 47 Ju 48 He 49/Ju 49 He 50/Ju 50 He 51 He 52/Ju 52 Ju 53 DFS 54/NR 54 Fw 55/NR 55 Fw 56 8-57⁴/Fw 57 Fw 58/He 58 He 59 He 60/Ju 60 Fa 61/Fw 61/He 61 Fw 62/He 62 8-63⁴/He 63 Ar 64/He 64 Ar 65/He 65 Ar 66/He 66 Ar 67 Ar 68 Ar 69 He 70 8-71⁴/He 71 He 72 He 73³ He 74 Al 75 Ar 76/FZG 76⁶ Ar 77 Ar 78³ Ar 79 Ar 80 Ar 81 8-82⁴ 8-83¹ Al 84 Ju 85 Ju 86 Ju 87 Ju 88 Ju 89 Ju 90 Ju 91³ Ju 92 Ju 93³ Ju 94³ Ar 95 Ar 96 Fi 97 Fi 98 Fi 99 Fi 100³/He 100
101 to 200	Al 101 Al 102 Al 103/Fi 103 R Fh 104 Kl 105 Kl 106 Kl 107 Bf 108 Bf 109/Bf 109R⁶ Bf 110 He 111/He 111U⁶ He 112 He 113⁶ He 114 He 115 He 116 He 117³/Hs 117 He 118 He 119 He 120 Hs 121 Hs 122 Hs 123 Hs 124 Hs 125 Hs 126 Hs 127 Hs 128 Hs 129 Hs 130 Bü 131 Bü 132³/Hs 132 Bü 133 Bü 134 Ha 135 Ha 136/Hü 136 Ha 137 BV 138 Ha 139 Ha 140 BV 141 BV 142 BV 143 BV 144 Go 145 Go 146 Go 147/Ju 147 Go 148³ Go 149 Go 150 Kl 151 Kl 152/Ta 152 Kl 153³/Ta 153 Kl 154³/Ta 154 BV 155/Kl 155³/Me 155 Fi 156 Fi 157 Fi 158 Fw 159 Ju 160 Bf 161 Bf 162/He 162 Bf 163/Li 163/Me 163 Me 164/MeC 164 Bf 165 Fi 166/FK 166 Fi 167 Fi 168 Fi 169³ He 170 He 171³ He 172 He 173³ He 174³ 8-175⁴ He 176 He 177 He 178 He 179⁵ Bü 180/He 180 Bü 181 Bü 182 Bü 183³/Ta 183 Fl 184 Fl 185 Fw 186/Ju 186 Fw 187/Ju 187² Fw 188³/Ju 188 Fw 189 Fw 190 Fw 191 Ao 192 Ao 193³/DFS 193 DFS 194/Me 194 Ar 195 Ar 196 Ar 197 Ar 198 Ar 199 Do 200^4,6/Fw 200
201 to 300	Si 201 Si 202 DFS 203 Si 204 8-205¹ Fw 206 8-207¹ Me 208 Me 209 (I)/Me 209 (II) Me 210 Hü 211 8-212⁴/Do 212 8-213¹ Do 214 Do 215 Do 216 Do 217/Hs 217 Do 218³ He 219 He 220 Do 221³ BV 222 Fa 223 Fa 224 Ao 225/Fa 225 BV 226/Ho 226 FGP 227 DFS 228 Go 229/Ho 229 8-230/DFS 230 Ar 231 Ar 232 Ar 233 Ar 234 Do 235⁵ Fa 236³ BV 237 BV 238 8-239¹ Ar 240 Go 241 Go 242 Me 243³ Go 244 Go 245³ BV 246 8-247¹ Ju 248 BV 250/Ho 250 Ho 251 Ho 252 Ju 252 Fi 253/Ho 253 Ho 254/Ta 254 8-255¹ Fi 256 SK 257 8-258¹ Fw 259 8-260¹ Me 261/Me 261w Me 262 Me 263 (1941)/Me 263 (1942)/Me 263 (1945) Me 264 Fl 265/Me 265 Fa 266/Go 266³ Ho 267 Ju 268 Fa 269 He 270 We 271 He 272³ He 273³ He 274 He 275⁵ He 276³ He 277 He 278 He 279³ He 280 He 281³ Fl 282 Fa 283 Fa 284 Fl 285 Ju 286 Ju 287 Do 288^4,6/Ju 288 Ju 289³ Ju 290 Hs 291 As 292/Hs 292³ Hs 293 Hs 294 Hs 295 Ar 296/Hs 296 Hs 297 Hs 298 Ju 299³ Fw 300
301 to 349	DFS 301 8-302¹ 8-303¹ 8-304¹ 8-305¹ 8-306¹ 8-307¹ 8-308¹ Me 309 Zwilling Me 310 8-311¹ 8-312¹ 8-313⁴ 8-314¹ Hs 315 8-316¹ Do 317 Do 318 He 319 Me 320³ Me 321 Ju 322 Me 323/ZMe 323 8-324¹ Fa 325/Fw 325³ 8-326¹ Me 327 Me 328 Me 329 Fa 330 DFS 331 DFS 332 Fi 333 Ar 334³/Me 334 Do 335 Fa 336 Ju 337³ 8-338¹ Fl 339 Ar 340 8-341 WNF 342 He 343 Rk 344/So 344⁵ Go 345 DFS 346 Rk 347 8-348¹ Ba 349
Post-349 (non-sequential)	Ju 352 Fi 356/Ju 356 Me 362 Me 364² Me 368³ Ju 388 Ju 390 Fw 391 Ar 393³ Ar 396 Ta 400 Me 409 Me 410 Do 417 He 419 ZMe 423 Ar 430/Ka 430 Ar 432 Do 435 Ar 440 8-445⁴ DFS 446 Ju 452 Me 462² DFS 468 Ju 488 Fw 491 He 500 Me 509 Me 510 He 519 8-520⁴ ZSO 523 Ar 532 8-534⁴ Do 535/He 535 Me 600² Me 609 Ar 632 Do 635/He 635/Ju 635
¹ Not assigned ² Unofficial/proposed ³ Assigned, but not used before RLM was dissolved ⁴ Assigned to captured aircraft ⁵ Unconfirmed ⁶ Propaganda/cover designation Note: Official RLM designations had the prefix "8-", but this was usually dropped and replaced with the manufacturer's prefix.

Design and development[edit]

Operators[edit]

Specifications (Ju 352A-1)[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]