This text is a continuation of an abridged translation of the book Luftwaffe'45. Letzte Fluge und Projekte”by a colleague of NF68 who has translated many interesting topics related to the German Air Force. The illustrations are taken from the original book, the literary processing of the translation from German was done by the author of these lines.
FW-190 with Panzerblitz and Panzerschreck missiles
All attempts to destroy heavy Soviet tanks with the help of heavy weapons did not bring success, therefore, from the summer of 1944, the Luftwaffe High Command increasingly began to introduce anti-tank missiles stabilized with wires. It was decided to use revolutionary weapons for testing all ground and air weapons against tanks. This is especially true of the Panzerblitz and Panzerschreck missiles. Tests were carried out at the 26th test center and at the Luftwaffe test center located in Tarnewitz, and by the end of 1944 the German troops received a really reliable and very powerful weapon capable of destroying the heaviest Soviet tanks and self-propelled artillery units from the air. The first air squadrons were armed with these weapons. Simple girder launchers were installed under the wings of the aircraft. The very development of this project caused concern of the Luftwaffe High Command. Although a large number of Panzerblitz anti-tank missiles were produced in January 1945, these missiles were not received by combat units. In addition, at this time, almost all production in the eastern part of Germany was stopped, and, by order of the head of the Technical Department of the Luftwaffe, from mid-January 1945 the release of anti-tank missiles had to be transferred to other, less dangerous regions of Germany. By January 28, 1945, an emergency anti-tank missile program had been launched, and by that time 2,500 Panzerblitz missiles had been produced. However, the commander of the assault aviation demanded to increase production volumes to 80,000 missiles instead of 40,000 anti-tank missiles per month to effectively combat enemy tanks. By the end of January 1945, the individual parts needed to manufacture 20,000 missiles were produced.
After the production of anti-tank missiles in Gleiwitz, located in Upper Silesia, was discontinued, their production was planned to be transferred to the Czech city of Brünn, or as soon as possible to the central part of Germany. The head of the Luftwaffe's Technical Department was convinced that the mass production of anti-tank missiles in the protectorate could be brought to 80,000 missiles a month. At the same time, it was necessary to take into account the regions that the Wehrmacht could hold, not allowing the enemy there. With a high degree of probability, such a new enterprise could be built in the city of Dachau near Munich, where a large number of prisoners of war could be used. At the same time, this also applied to test centers, since at the initial stage of the use of anti-tank missiles, significant technical flaws in the missiles were revealed. The latter had to be improved, and at the same time simplified the production of these missiles to acceptable parameters, which should have been done before March 1945. In February 1945, the German industry was to produce 18,000 anti-tank missiles. For the following months, the release of anti-tank missiles was planned with the expectation of supplying materials sufficient to produce 50,000 Panzerblitz missiles within one month. However, there were problems in the production of other types of weapons and equipment, in addition, these weapons and equipment were difficult to deliver to the front, since Allied air strikes greatly complicated the use of vehicles and communications in the central part of Germany. By the end of February, despite the difficult situation in the industry, the German leadership was able to take the next step in the development of weapons. In the first days of April, the head of the Technical Department of the Luftwaffe acquainted Reichsmarschall Goering with his proposal for the production of an improved version of the guided anti-tank "Panzerblitz 2". In this case, it was about the use of R4 missiles with a cumulative warhead of 8, 8 cm caliber, which could destroy the heaviest enemy tanks. On March 26, 1945, in the workshops of the enterprise in Böhmen, a total of 11,000 anti-tank missiles were prepared for dispatch to the front, but most of them could not be delivered to the troops. The same thing happened with the Panzerblitz 1 and Panzerblitz 2 missiles manufactured in April. From the beginning of 1945, nothing else was expected on the Eastern Front, except for ever-increasing pressure from the Red Army. The front, held by the German Army Group Center, collapsed after powerful blows from the Red Army. In the northern and southern sectors of the Eastern Front, the overall situation remained threatening so far. Since October 1944, the commander of the SG 3 assault aviation squadron, based in Udetfeld, has inspired hope regarding the prospects for the use of Panzerblitz anti-tank missiles.
Guides for Panzerblitz missiles.
Gradually, other squadrons began to arm other squadrons with this new weapon, where firing practice and training in the use of other missile weapons were organized. After many practice firings, the pilots achieved up to 30% hits. During practical tests, it turned out that, contrary to the expectations of the pilots of the combat units, when a missile hits, the tank can immediately explode if the tower or hull were hit. To increase the firing accuracy, the missiles were fired from a distance of no more than 100 meters. Group 3 / SG 3 included 8th Squadron, armed with FW-190 F-8 attack aircraft. 1st Squadron was based in East Prussia at Gutenfeld. Further, training in firing missiles for the pilots of the grouping surrounded in Courland was carried out on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Since January 7, 1945, in addition to squadron 4. (Pz) / SG 9, another squadron of anti-tank attack aircraft 1. (Pz) / SG 9, previously designated 9 / SG 9, took part in the battles. From now on, the squadron began to be designated 1. (Pz)) / SG 9, while a separate squadron 2. (Pz) / SG 9 was designated 10. (Pz) / SG 1. Squadron 10. (Pz) / SG 1 was designated 3. (Pz) / SG 1. Awarded with oak leaves to the Iron Cross, Captain Andreas Kuffner was appointed the new commander of Group 1 / SG 1. In early January, the group began training in Fürstenwald while continuing to strike at the enemy along the Eastern Front. After 1st Squadron received FW-190 F-8s capable of carrying Panzerblitz anti-tank missiles, the squadron was transferred to Eggersdorf and then to Freiwalde Großenheim. The 2nd and 3rd squadrons of the group were armed with Ju-87 G aircraft, which with great success delivered strikes against enemy tanks on the Eastern Front. On the morning of January 16, 1945, squadron 8./SG 3 attacked Russian tanks and other targets from low altitude. For each fired on Russian tank, the squadron commander awarded the crew a prize in the form of a liter of rum and cigarettes. Although some pilots of the squadron received this award, the lack of aviation gasoline limited the number of such strikes. On February 1, 1945, the SG 1 squadron had not yet received the anti-tank missile launchers as planned. However, aviation group 2 / SG 2, on the contrary, received FW-190 F-8s, capable of carrying Panzerblitz and Panzerschreck anti-tank missiles.
In addition to the Panzerblitz, Panzerschrek missiles were used as light offensive weapons (right under the wing).
In one of the squadrons of the 2 / SG 3 aviation group, some aircraft with Panzerblitz missiles have taken part in battles since February 1. Air group 2 / SG 77, based in Aslau, in addition to 20 FW-190 F-8s, was armed with 9 aircraft of this type with Panzerblitz missiles, and in total there were 19 combat-ready aircraft in this group. Air group 13 / SG 151 from February 1945 was armed with one of the squadrons FW-190 F-8 aircraft capable of carrying Panzerblitz missiles. In addition to conventional launchers, anti-tank missile launchers made of wood were also used. In the weeks that followed, the number of aircraft capable of carrying Panzerblitz missiles increased significantly. The 3rd squadron of squadron SG 9 in February 1945 changed the Ju-87 G to the FW-190 F, armed with Panzerblitz missiles. This squadron was based in Prenzau. On February 4, 1945, the general in command of the assault aviation planned to transfer part of the SG 151 squadron to the 1st Aviation Fighter Division, which was supposed to fight on the Eastern Front. In addition to the remaining Ju-87 D 25 and FW-190 F-8, capable of carrying bombs, the 2nd and 3rd groups were armed with 39 FW-190 F-8s capable of carrying Panzerblitz missiles. But at the same time, there were only 26 pilots in the listed units. In the near future, five more aircraft were expected to be received, adapted for the suspension of Panzerschreck missiles. In mid-February, it became noticeable that the Soviet troops, after the strikes of German attack aircraft from low altitudes, made the appropriate conclusions. In Courland, during one strike on Soviet troops, the pilots of the SG 3 squadron, including Major Erhard Jähnert, awarded with oak leaves to the iron cross, were met with numerous enemy air defense systems, mainly four-barreled anti-aircraft guns. However, the high-speed FW-190 F-8, while descending, developed a speed of up to 800 km / h, as a result of which German aircraft were targets for enemy air defense that were difficult to hit, and all German aircraft returned from this mission. However, due to the enemy's strong air defense, the vehicles were unable to fulfill the tasks assigned to them. On February 23, 1945, during the raid, two enemy tanks were hit, which remained on fire on the battlefield. Only in March, the pilots of the SG 3 squadron could again strike at the enemy in Courland. On February 1 and 7, the aircraft of the anti-tank squadron 1. (Pz) / SG 2 Immelmann were prepared for a massive attack on the enemy with Panzerblitz missiles, after their first flight, in which 4 FW-190 F-8 aircraft took part, due to unfavorable weather conditions were unsuccessful.
This squadron of 12 FW-190 F-8s capable of carrying Panzerblitz missiles was subordinate to the squadron commander SG 3 and based in Finow. Until March 3, this squadron managed to destroy 74 enemy tanks, another 39 tanks were damaged. On March 6, a squadron of anti-tank attack aircraft 3. (Pz) / SG 3 was relocated from Prenzlau to Macklit. The squadron was later redeployed to Schönefeld, where Panzerblitz missile launchers were installed on the squadron's FW-190 F-8s. The headquarters of the air group was located in Perlenberg (Perlenberg). There, the headquarters squadron received the first FW-190s armed with anti-tank missiles. Between 9 and 13 March 1945, the SG 3 squadron attacked Soviet tanks that were trying to encircle the German forces. Among the German military, rumors were spreading about a miracle weapon, some of which were already at the disposal of the German troops and which only remained to be used. But due to the lack of the necessary amount of fuel, relatively few sorties were carried out from Zabeln. On March 10, the squadron of anti-tank attack aircraft 1. (Pz) / SG 2 was engaged in firing practice, and therefore, few people were surprised that these training firing would hardly have been enough for a full-fledged training course necessary to deliver effective strikes against the enemy. On March 19, 1945 Squadron 1. (Pz) / SG 2 was relocated to the Berlin-Schönefelde airfield, where it was transferred to the 4th Aviation Division. After the redeployed squadron was ready to strike at the enemy, the first attacks on Soviet tanks were made on March 22 and 28, 1945. It was then revealed that only due to inadequate training of German pilots, no more than 30% of the missiles hit targets. The latter were fired at enemy tanks from a distance of 100 meters and at an angle between 10 and 20 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. After improving the design of tubular launchers for launching missiles, as well as refining the fuses of some missiles and the acquisition of practical skills by pilots, the effectiveness of strikes increased. Over the next weeks, the enemy drew the appropriate conclusions surprisingly quickly, starting to use self-propelled four-barreled anti-aircraft guns to protect their tank units from the FW-190 F-8 attack aircraft. On March 21, FW-190 F-8 aircraft of squadron 1 (Pz) / SG 2 made 32 sorties, including 12 sorties carried out by aircraft armed with Panzerblitz missiles. At the end of March at least one vehicle capable of carrying Panzerblitz missiles was transferred to squadron SG 3. The 2nd Aviation Group of the squadron in the second half of March 1945 had 12 FW-190 F-8 combat-ready aircraft capable of carrying missiles. Panzerblitz . Later, FW-190 F-8 aircraft with Panzerblitz missiles began to enter service with the air group 3 / SG 4. Until March 21, the first FW-190 F-8 squadron with Panzerblitz missiles was formed in the 2 / SG 77 air group. an anti-tank squadron, which also included 12 aircraft, appeared in the air group 3 / SG 77. Since the beginning of February, squadron 1 (Pz) SG 9 began to hand over its Ju-87 D-5 and G-2, having received at least at least 17 FW-190 F-8s with Panzerblitz missiles. By March 21, Squadron 13. (Pz) SG 151 had two FW-190 F-8s capable of carrying bombs and 15 aircraft of the same type capable of carrying Panzerblitz missiles. In the following days, the squadron received several more aircraft, as a result, the squadron was armed with 18 anti-tank attack aircraft. From the beginning of the battle in Silesia, the pilots of the anti-tank squadrons were particularly effective. The FW-190 F-8 attacks with Panzerblitz missiles caused difficulties in the Red Army's tank formations opposing the German forces. Together with the Hs-129 attack aircraft, the FW-190 F-8 aircraft with Panzerblitz missiles made numerous hits on Soviet tanks. A volley of six anti-tank missiles increased the likelihood of hitting an enemy tank. During the battle, the pilots of the German attack aircraft discovered that the enemy formations were pulling anti-aircraft units to the front edge, trying to take cover near buildings and in the forests. In order to disable enemy anti-aircraft units, a squadron of FW-190 fighters struck at the detected anti-aircraft units using fragmentation bombs. The entire group of German aircraft was covered from the air by 2-3 squadrons of Me-109 G-14 or Me-109 K-4 fighters. On March 22, 1945, the 6th Air Fleet alone had four combat-ready squadrons with Panzerblitz anti-tank missiles. Another squadron 6 / SG 1 was being rearmed with anti-tank attack aircraft at this time. For example, squadron 3. (Pz) SG 9 immediately after training began to perform combat missions. In total, three squadrons were armed with Panzerschreck missiles: 8./SG 1, 6./SG 3 and 5./SG 77. In addition, squadrons 2. (Pz) SG 9 and 10. (Pz) / SG77, armed with aircraft Ju-87 D-3 and D-5 with Panzerblitz missiles, it was decided to try to use it to strike at enemy tanks. Squadrons with Ju-87 aircraft could continue to use these machines, but the significantly more maneuverable FW-190 F-8s proved to be more effective.
In just 16 days, during which anti-tank attack aircraft made combat missions, the pilots of group 3 / SG 4 destroyed 23 Soviet tanks with Panzerblitz missiles, and eleven more were damaged, losing the ability to move. On March 29, 1945, the headquarters of Squadron 1./SG 1, reinforced by Squadron 5./SG 151, based in Fürstenwalde, struck at the enemy. At the end of March, the entire 3 / SG aviation group was armed with aircraft capable of carrying anti-tank missiles. Another air group, 2 SG 3, was then based in Finow, while Group 2 / SG 151 was based in Gatow. Despite all the difficulties with the supply of weapons and other problems, the number of FW-190 F-8s capable of carrying Panzerblitz and Panzerschreck missiles increased significantly by the end of March. Thus, aviation group 3 / SG 77 was armed with 22 high-speed anti-tank missile carriers. Air group 1 / SG 77 had 34 such aircraft. Air group 2 / SG 77 was armed with FW-190 F-8, capable of carrying Panzerschreck missiles. In the area of responsibility of the 1st German Aviation Division alone, at least 172 Soviet tanks were destroyed from the air in March, and another 70 were seriously damaged. In addition to tanks, 252 trucks were destroyed and 92 damaged. Also, 20 anti-aircraft guns were destroyed and 110 enemy aircraft were shot down. On April 1, aviation group 1 / SG 1 was still armed with nine aircraft capable of carrying Panzerblitz missiles. The 2nd group of this squadron had fourteen aircraft, the 3rd group - ten FW-190 F-8s, capable of carrying Panzerschreck missiles. The headquarters of the aviation group was also armed with aircraft carrying anti-tank missiles. In addition, Squadron 13./SG 77 had eighteen combat-ready aircraft. On April 7, 1945, in the morning, numerous FW-190 F-8s with Panzerblitz missiles again took part in the battles: squadron SG 1 had 51 aircraft, SG 3 42 aircraft, SG 4 22 aircraft, SG 9 25 aircraft and SG 77 –57 by FW-190 type aircraft. Not far from the front line, in the zone of responsibility of the 4th air division, four attack aircraft and a group of fighters struck at the enemy's train. At the same time, at least one Panzerblitz missile hit the locomotive, after which it was enveloped in smoke. During this sortie, another blow was also inflicted on another enemy composition, several of the 24 missiles fired hit a steam locomotive, which after that remained standing on the railroad tracks. The last carriages of the Soviet echelon stationed at Sternenberg were hit by four missiles, all of the 12 missiles fired at the locomotive fell far from the target.
