Henschel Hs 123

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henschel_Hs_123

The Henschel Hs 123 was a single-seat biplane dive bomber and close-support
attack aircraft flown by the German Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War and
the early to midpoint of World War II. It proved to be robust, durable and
effective especially in severe conditions. It continued to see front-line
service until 1944, only to be withdrawn due to a lack of serviceable airframes
and spare parts (production ended in 1940).

The overall performance of the Hs 123 V1 prototype prematurely eliminated any
chance for the more conventional Fi 98, which was cancelled after a sole
prototype had been constructed. During testing, the Hs 123 proved capable of
pulling out of "near-vertical" dives; however, two prototypes subsequently
crashed due to structural failures in the wings that occurred when the aircraft
were tested in high-speed dives. The fourth prototype incorporated improvements
to cure these problems; principally, stronger centre-section struts were fitted.
After it had been successfully tested, the Hs 123 was ordered into production
with an 656 kW (880 hp) BMW 132Dc engine.

The Hs 123 was intended to replace the Heinkel He 50 biplane reconnaissance and
dive bomber as well as acting as a "stop-gap" measure until the Junkers Ju 87
became available. As such, production was limited and no upgrades were
considered, although an improved version, the Hs 123B was developed by Henschel
in 1938. A proposal to fit the aircraft with a more powerful 716 kW (960 hp)
"K"-variant of its BMW 132 engine did not proceed beyond the prototype stage,
the Hs 123 V5. The V6 prototype fitted with a similar powerplant and featuring a
sliding cockpit hood was intended to serve as the Hs 123C prototype.

Nonetheless, production of the type ended in October 1938 with around 250
aircraft in all series.

Role
Dive bomber, close-support

National origin
Nazi Germany

Manufacturer
Henschel

First flight
First public display 8 May 1935

Introduction
1936

Retired
Spanish Air Force 1953

Primary user
Luftwaffe

A small pre-production batch of Hs 123A-0s was completed in 1936 for service
evaluation by the Luftwaffe. This initial group was followed by the slightly
modified Hs 123A-1 series, the first production examples. The service aircraft
flew with an armoured headrest and fairing in place (a canopy was tested in the
Hs 123V6) as well as removable main wheel spats and a faired tailwheel. The main
weapon load of four SC50 50 kg (110 lb) bombs could be carried in lower wing
racks along with an additional SC250 250 kg (550 lb) bomb mounted on a "crutch"
beneath the fuselage. The usual configuration was to install an auxiliary fuel
"drop" tank at this station that was jettisoned in emergencies. Two 7.92 mm
(.312 in) MG 17 machine guns were mounted in the nose synchronized to fire
through the propeller arc.

The greatest tribute to the Hs 123 usefulness came in January 1943 when
Generaloberst Wolfram von Richthofen, then commander-in-chief of Luftflotte 4,
asked whether production of the Hs 123 could be restarted because the Hs 123
performed well in a theater where mud, snow, rain and ice took a heavy toll on
the serviceability of more advanced aircraft. However, the Henschel factory had
already dismantled all tools and jigs in 1940.

After taking part in the Battle of Kursk, SG 1 returned to Crimea, and there
during late spring 1944, they finally gave up the aircraft that had served all
over Europe from Spain to Leningrad. 7./SG 1 traded its last Hs 123s in
mid-1944, for Ju 87s, a type that was to have replaced it back in 1937.

By 1945, the Hs 123s that remained serviceable were reassigned to secondary
duties such as supply dropping and glider towing.

Specifications (Hs 123A-1)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 8.33 m (27 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 10.50 m (34 ft 5.5 in)
Height: 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 24.85 m² (267.49 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,500 kg (3,307 lb)
Loaded weight: 2,215 kg (4,884 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × BMW 132Dc 9-cylinder radial engine, 880 hp (656 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 341 km/h (183 knots, 211 mph) at 1,200 m (3,900 ft)
Range: 860 km (463 nmi, 533 mi with drop tank; 480 km (298 mi) with 200 kg of
bombs)
Service ceiling: 9,000 m (29,530 ft)
Rate of climb: 15 m/s (2,950 ft/min) at sea level

Armament

2× 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns, 400 rpg (field modification of 2× 20 mm (0.79 in)
MG FF cannon)
Up to 450 kg (992 lb) of bombs (1 x SC250 bomb under fuselage and 4 x SC50 bombs
under wings)



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