Henschel Hs 123

Henschel

Industry	Aerospace, Defense
Founded	1933
Headquarters	Germany

Overview

The Henschel Hs 123 was a single-seat, biplane dive bomber and close-support aircraft developed by the German manufacturer Henschel. Notably, it was the final biplane model to be operated by the Luftwaffe.

Development and Design

Development of the Hs 123 began in 1933 following a request for a single-seat biplane dive bomber. The design team at Henschel chose to create an aircraft featuring all-metal construction combined with streamlined contours and high agility. Its main rival was the Fieseler Fi 98, which was ultimately abandoned as the Hs 123 demonstrated greater potential. The prototype made its first flight on 1 April 1935, with four prototypes built in total. After structural failures occurred during high-speed dives resulting in the loss of two early prototypes, the fourth prototype was fitted with reinforced centre-section struts.

Operational History

Upon entering service with the Luftwaffe in late 1936, the Hs 123 rapidly replaced the Heinkel He 50 biplane. However, it was considered a temporary solution pending the introduction of the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka. In 1938, the aircraft was deployed to Spain where it served with the Legion Condor during the Spanish Civil War. Reports indicate it performed effectively, particularly in terms of its psychological impact on Republican forces. Impressed by its capabilities, the Spanish Nationalists chose to acquire additional units. Around this period, a provisional unit, the 15th Squadron of the China Central Air Force Academy Group, also conducted combat sorties using Hs 123s against Imperial Japanese vessels along the Yangtze River.

During the initial and mid-stages of Second World War, the Luftwaffe continued to employ the Hs 123. It first saw combat in the Polish Campaign, followed by participation in the invasions of the Netherlands, Belgium, and France during the Battle of France, as well as early operations in the Balkans Campaign. Many Hs 123 aircraft were engaged during the commencement of Operation Barbarossa, Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. The aircraft earned a reputation for being rugged, reliable, and effective under harsh conditions typical on the Eastern Front. Field modifications often included adding extra machine guns and enhanced armour. The Hs 123 remained in frontline service until 1944, when it was withdrawn due to dwindling numbers of operational airframes and a shortage of spare parts—production had ceased by autumn 1938.

Design and development

Henschel, a German locomotive manufacturer, ventured into aircraft design shortly after Hitler assumed power. One of their initial projects was the Hs 123, developed in response to a 1933 requirement issued by the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM). This specification called for a new dive bomber to arm the emerging Luftwaffe, mandating a single-seat biplane configuration. Henschel competed against Fieseler, whose submission was the Fi 98.

Compared to the Fi 98, the Hs 123 exhibited a more streamlined appearance with relatively sleek contours. It was designed as a sesquiplane, featuring significantly smaller lower wings relative to the upper ones. The aircraft employed an all-metal construction: the fuselage and fixed tail surfaces were covered with a lightweight alloy, while most wing surfaces also had metal skinning. Control surfaces and the rear sections of both wings were fabric-covered. The design eliminated bracing wires, instead utilizing faired interplane struts for structural support. Additionally, the Hs 123 incorporated cantilever main landing gear legs attached directly to the short lower wings.

The prototype Hs 123 V1 took to the skies for its maiden flight on 1 April 1935. Its first public demonstration occurred on 8 May 1935, piloted by Generalluftzeugmeister Ernst Udet, a noted World War I flying ace. The initial three prototypes included two powered by 485 kW BMW 132A-3 engines (the first and third) and one by a 574 kW Wright Cyclone engine (the second), all tested at Rechlin in August 1935. Only the first prototype featured smooth engine cowlings; subsequent models had tightly fitted cowlings with eighteen fairings covering engine valves. Armament was first introduced on the third prototype.

The strong performance of the Hs 123 V1 quickly overshadowed the more conventional Fi 98, leading to cancellation of further development of the latter after only one prototype was built. During flight trials, the Hs 123 demonstrated capability to recover from near-vertical dives; however, two of the initial three prototypes suffered wing structural failures during high-speed dives. To address these issues, the fourth prototype incorporated reinforced center-section struts.

Following successful testing, production commenced with aircraft powered by a 656 kW BMW 132Dc engine. By summer 1936, production models were rolling off assembly lines at Henschel’s Schönefeld and Johannisthal facilities. The Hs 123 was intended to replace the Heinkel He 50 biplane reconnaissance and dive bomber and serve as an interim solution until the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka became operational. Production quantities remained limited, and no significant upgrades were pursued.

In 1938, Henschel developed an enhanced variant designated Hs 123B. Plans to equip this version with a more powerful 716 kW "K" variant of the BMW 132 engine did not advance beyond the prototype stage (Hs 123 V5). The V6 prototype featured a similar engine and a sliding cockpit canopy, intended as the Hs 123C prototype; approximately 265 units are believed to have been produced. Production of the original Hs 123A ended in autumn 1938, with only one prototype each of the B and C variants completed before cessation.

Most Hs 123 aircraft were delivered to the Luftwaffe, while twelve units were exported to China and fourteen transferred to Spain’s Nationalist Air Arm (Aviación Nacional), both of which deployed their aircraft in combat operations.

Early service

File:Henschel Hs 123 squadron in flight.jpg

A formation of Luftwaffe Henschel Hs 123As flying prior to World War II

In 1936, the Luftwaffe completed a limited pre-production run of Hs 123A-0 aircraft for operational testing. This initial batch was succeeded by the slightly improved Hs 123A-1 series, marking the first production models. These aircraft featured an armored headrest and streamlined fairings (with a canopy trialed on the Hs 123V6), along with detachable main wheel spats and a faired tailwheel. Their primary armament consisted of four SC50 bombs weighing 50 kg (110 lb) each, mounted on lower wing racks, supplemented by a single SC250 250 kg (550 lb) bomb affixed beneath the fuselage on a "crutch" mount. Typically, this under-fuselage station housed an auxiliary fuel "drop" tank that could be jettisoned in emergencies. The aircraft were also armed with two 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 machine guns synchronized to fire through the propeller arc from the nose.

The Hs 123 entered active duty with StG 162 in autumn 1936. However, its role as a dive bomber was short-lived after the unit received its first Ju 87A in the subsequent year. The leftover Hs 123s were assigned to the provisional Fliegergeschwader 100 during the Munich Crisis. This wing was formed as an emergency force, equipped with outdated aircraft and tasked primarily with ground attack missions. Once the Munich Agreement was signed on 30 September 1938, ending the crisis, the wing was dissolved and its groups reassigned to established units. By 1939, despite notable success during the Spanish Civil War, the Luftwaffe deemed the Hs 123 obsolete. Most schlachtgeschwader (close-support wings) were disbanded, leaving only one group, II.(Schl)/LG 2, still operating the type.

Spanish Civil War

At roughly the same period, acting on a request from Oberst (later Generalfeldmarschall) Wolfram von Richthofen, chief of staff of the Legion Condor, five Hs 123 aircraft were dispatched to Spain in early 1937 as part of this unit’s tactical bombing force.

In their designated bombing capacity, these aircraft underperformed due to limited bomb load and restricted range. Consequently, the Hs 123s stationed at Seville were reassigned to ground support missions, where their limited range was less problematic and precision bombing was more critical than payload size. Combat trials revealed exceptional durability in close air support roles; the aircraft demonstrated remarkable toughness, enduring substantial damage including direct strikes to both airframe and engine. The Nationalist forces in Spain valued the Hs 123’s battlefield effectiveness, purchasing the entire evaluation squadron and ordering an additional eleven units from Germany. Known locally as "Angelito" (meaning dear or little angel), at least one Hs 123 remained operational within the post-war Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force) after 1945.Template:Fix/category

Second Sino-Japanese War

A batch of twelve Hs 123 aircraft, initially ordered by Portugal, were instead delivered to China. These planes were heavily deployed as dive bombers by the temporarily formed 15th Squadron within the China Central Air Force Academy Group. Their operations primarily targeted Imperial Japanese naval vessels along the Yangtze River, particularly throughout 1938.

Deployment from Poland to Greece

When hostilities commenced, the remaining 39 Hs 123 aircraft assigned to II. (Schl)/LG 2 were actively engaged during the Polish Campaign. This particular unit demonstrated remarkable effectiveness. Flying low over enemy forces, the Hs 123s delivered their ordnance with precise accuracy. One distinctive feature of an Hs 123 assault was the staccato sound produced by its engine, which pilots could modulate by adjusting rpm to simulate bursts reminiscent of gunfire. The aircraft proved to be robust and capable of sustaining significant damage while remaining airborne. Operating from rudimentary airfields near front lines, ground personnel regarded the type as straightforward to maintain and dependable under field conditions.

Despite being deemed outdated by some within the Luftwaffe leadership, the Hs 123 achieved success during the Polish campaign. Within a year, it returned to combat during the blitzkrieg offensives across the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. During a notable engagement on 22 May 1940, two gruppen equipped with this model successfully repelled an assault by approximately 40 tanks targeting their forward base at Cambrai.

General Heinz Guderian consistently praised II.(Schl)/LG 2 for its rapid turnaround times.Template:Fix/category Often stationed as the Luftwaffe’s most forward-deployed combat formation, the Hs 123 flew more sorties daily than other units and reaffirmed its value in close air support missions. With Ju 87s still functioning primarily as tactical bombers rather than dedicated ground-attack aircraft, and no alternative suited for this role in the Luftwaffe inventory, the Hs 123 remained in service despite continual attrition reducing its numbers.Template:Fix/category Although highly durable against ground fire, these aircraft were susceptible to interception by enemy fighters.

The Hs 123 was not utilized during the subsequent Battle of Britain because its limited range made crossing the English Channel unfeasible. Consequently, II.(Schl)/LG 2 returned to Germany to re-equip with the Messerschmitt Bf 109E fighter-bomber (Jabo) variant. While the Bf 109E could not carry a heavier bomb load than the Hs 123, it offered extended range and superior self-defense capabilities. However, it presented challenges including difficult taxiing, ground handling, and takeoff/landing characteristics common to Bf 109 models, which were further complicated when carrying bombs.

At the onset of the Balkans Campaign, 32 Hs 123 aircraft that had been retired following France’s defeat were reactivated to equip 10.(Schl)/LG 2. Their performance justified continued employment by the Luftwaffe.

Eastern Front operations

File:Henschel HS123.jpg

Henschel Hs 123 deployed on the Eastern Front

At the onset of Operation Barbarossa, the sole Luftwaffe unit focused on close air support was II.(Schl)/LG 2, which operated 22 Hs 123 aircraft alongside 38 Bf 109Es. During their deployment on the Eastern Front, these aircraft underwent field modifications, including removal of main wheel spats, installation of additional armor, fitting of extra equipment, and mounting of supplementary machine guns and even cannons in under-wing pods.

Members of Escuadrilla Azul (15 Spanische Staffel/VIII. Fliegerkorps) from JG-27, attached to Luftflotte 2, flew Hs 123s in coordination with II.(Schl.)/LG 2 units for ground attack missions supported by Bf 109E-7/B fighter-bombers during the 1941–42 period.

During the initial offensive, this unit was active along the central and northern sectors of the front, briefly supporting operations near Leningrad and engaging in battles at Bryansk and Vyazma. Early combat exposed difficulties with the Bf 109E in the fighter-bomber role, notably issues with its undercarriage and engine reliability. Additionally, its liquid-cooled inline engine proved more susceptible to small arms fire compared to the Hs 123's robust radial powerplant.

The harsh winter of 1941/1942 imposed severe challenges on all German forces in Russia, and pilots operating the open-cockpit Henschels endured significant hardships. Nevertheless, they participated in the Battle of Moscow. In January 1942, the unit was redesignated as Germany’s first dedicated ground attack wing, known as Schlachtgeschwader 1 or SchlG 1. The Hs 123 was incorporated into 7./SchlG 1.

In May 1942, this newly formed unit took part in operations in Crimea, followed by deployment to the southern sector where it engaged in the Second Battle of Kharkov and later fought in the Battle of Stalingrad. Meanwhile, operational Hs 123 numbers gradually declined. Aircraft were recovered from training schools and abandoned storage sites across Germany to compensate for losses. The Ju 87, intended as a replacement for the Hs 123, began to be assigned to ground support roles while tactical bombing tasks shifted to newer models.

A significant endorsement of the Hs 123’s effectiveness came in January 1943 when Generaloberst Wolfram von Richthofen, then commanding Luftflotte 4 (covering Southern Balkans and Ukraine), requested whether production of the Hs 123 could resume. The aircraft had proven highly reliable under conditions of mud, snow, rain, and ice that severely impaired more advanced types. However, by that time, all manufacturing tools and jigs at the Henschel factory had been dismantled since 1940.

Following participation in the Battle of Kursk, SG 1 returned to Crimea where, in late spring 1944, they finally retired the venerable aircraft that had served extensively across Europe—from Spain to Leningrad. In mid-1944, 7./SG 1 exchanged its last remaining Hs 123s for Ju 87s—the very type originally intended to replace it back in 1937.

By 1945, any remaining serviceable Hs 123s were reassigned to secondary roles such as supply drops and towing of military gliders.

Legacy

The Henschel Hs 123 demonstrated that a slow yet durable and dependable aircraft could perform effectively in ground attack missions. Although its design appeared outdated, the Hs 123 remained valuable in all theaters of the Second World War where it was deployed.

No surviving examples of the Hs 123 are known to exist today.

Subsequent Developments

Following the Hs 123’s proven performance during the Spanish Civil War, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) issued a requirement for a modernized replacement. At this stage, the precise function of aircraft supporting ground forces was still evolving. The Hs 123 is considered one of the earliest purpose-built attack aircraft designed specifically for close air support, bridging the gap between tactical bombers and dive bombers. The aircraft selected as its successor was the Henschel Hs 129.

Operators

Republic of China

• Republic of China Air Force – operated a fleet of 12 units, utilizing them primarily as dive bombers.

Nazi Germany

• Luftwaffe

Spanish State

• Spanish Air Force – acquired the remaining planes from the Condor Legion and ordered an additional 11 from Germany. On the Eastern Front, members of Escuadrilla Azul (15 Spanische Staffel/VIII Fliegerkorps) attached to JG 27 in Vitebsk flew Hs 123s alongside II.(Schl.)/LG 2 units.

Specifications (Hs 123A-1)

File:Henschel Hs 123 drawing.jpg

Hs 123A-1

See also

Bibliography

• {{cite book   　(last =

Smith   first = Peter   title = Combat Biplanes of World War II   date = 2014   publisher = Pen & Sword   location = United Kingdom   isbn = 978-1783400546   pages = 577)}}

• {{cite book   last =

Taylor   first = John W. R.   title = Henschel Hs 123   series = Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the present   location = New York, US   publisher = G.P. Putnam's Sons   year = 1969   language = en   isbn = 0-425-03633-2}}

• {{cite book   last =

Weal   first = John   title = Eastern Front Schlachtflieger   series = Wings of Fame, Vol. 7   location = London, UK   publisher = Aerospace Publishing   year = 1997   language = en   isbn = 1-880588-23-4}}

• {{cite book   url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1DIVDAAAQBAJ&dq=Hs-123&pg=PA122   title=Luftwaffe Schlachtgruppen   first1=

John     last1= Weal     publisher= Osprey     date= 2003     isbn= 978-1841766089 }}

• {{cite book     last=

Winchester     first= Jim     title= Henschel Hs 123     series= Aircraft of World War II: The Aviation Factfile     location= Kent, UK     publisher= Grange Books     year= 2004     language= en     isbn= 1-84013-639-1}}

External links

• Luftwaffe Resource Center: Henschel Hs 123
• Henschel Hs 123