Junkers Ju 352
| Industry | Aircraft manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1895 in Dessau, Germany |
| Headquarters | Dessau , Germany |
| Products | Aircraft (including Junkers Ju 352) |
The Junkers Ju 352 Herkules (translated as "Hercules" in German) was a transport aircraft from Germany during World War II, developed as an evolution of the Junkers Ju 252.
Design and development
During the spring of 1942, the Junkers-Dessau design bureau received instructions from the Reich Air Ministry (RLM) to modify the Ju 252 by utilizing materials that were not classified as strategic, and to substitute its Junkers Jumo 211F engines with Bramo 323R radial engines. The Ju 352 kept the aerodynamic profile of the Ju 252 but was built around a completely new airframe, which included a wooden wing positioned further back on the fuselage. A notable feature was the installation of a rear cargo ramp ("Trapoklappe") designed to facilitate rapid loading of vehicles and freight.
Although the Ju 352 marked a considerable advancement over the earlier Junkers Ju 52, it did not match the performance level of the Ju 252. Production ramped up but ceased by late 1944 as war circumstances worsened. In total, ten pre-production units and thirty-three series production models were manufactured. Planned variants included the Ju 352B, which would have been equipped with more powerful engines and upgraded defensive weaponry.
Operators
- Luftwaffe (Nazi Germany)
- Czechoslovak Air Force (postwar period)
- One aircraft constructed by Letov was handed over to the Soviet Union in 1946.
See also
- Junkers Ju 52
- Junkers Ju 252
- Junkers Ju 290
- List of aircraft of World War II
- List of military aircraft of Germany
- List of World War II military aircraft of Germany