Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Fw 190 G-3

The G series was born from the need to extend the radius of action of the Fw 190 F as an attack aircraft. Its full name, Jagdbomber mit vergrösserter Reichweite, describes the purpose exactly: a fighter-bomber of increased range. Both the Luftwaffe and Focke-Wulf worked on it, and approximately one thousand three hundred G aircraft of all variants were newly built.

The first two versions were redesignations. The G-1 came from the A-4/U8 Jabo Reis: it was found that by removing all armament except the two wing-root MG 151 cannon and reducing their ammunition load, the aircraft could carry a 250 or 500 kg bomb on the centreline and up to 250 kg under each wing. The G-2 came from the A-5/U8, with the underwing drop tank racks replaced by the far simpler V.Mtt-Schloß fittings, which allowed many different configurations.

The G-3 was based on the A-6 fighter, again with all armament removed except the two wing-root MG 151. Its contribution was the new V.Fw. Trg racks, which for the first time allowed fuel tanks and bomb loads to be carried simultaneously, resolving the classic trade-off between range and ordnance. Two kits were fitted to it: the G-3/R1 replaced the V.Fw. Trg racks with a pair of conformal Waffen-Behälter WB 151/20 pods, each mounting two Mauser MG 151/20 autocannon, which together with the two wing-root weapons gave six cannon; and the G-3/R5 removed the V.Fw. Trg racks and added two ETC 50 racks per wing. The last version of the series, the G-8, was based on the A-8, adopted the bulged canopy of the F-8 and carried underwing ETC 503 racks suitable for either bombs or drop tanks.