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Type: Single-seat dive bomber and
close-support Origin: Henschel Flugzeugwerke AG Models: A-1 First Flight: Spring 1935 Service Delivery: December 1936 Final Delivery: October 1938 Engine: Model: BMW 132 Dc Type: Nine-cylinder radial Number: One Horsepower: 880 hp Dimensions: Wing span: 10.5m (34 ft. 5½ in.) Length: 8.3m (27 ft. 4 in.) Height: 3.2m (10 ft. 6½ in.) Wheel Track: N/A Landing Gear Type: Fixed Wing Surface Area: 24.85 m² (267.49 ft²) Weights: Empty: 1,504kg (3,316 lbs.) Maximum: 2,217kg (4,888 lbs.) |
Performance: Maximum Speed: 345km/h (214 mph) Initial climb: 2,950 ft. (900m)/minute Range: 530 miles (850 km) Service Ceiling: 29,530 ft. (9000m) Armament: 2 MG 17 7.92mm machine guns in fuselage 2 MG FF 20mm cannons in place of bombs Bomb Load: Four 50 kg. (110 lb.) bombs Notes: The Hs 123 first experienced combat in the Spanish Civil war and helped define the role of the close air support aircraft for the Luftwaffe. The type proved to be exceptionally useful during the Polish campaign and even though production had ceased before WWII the Hs 123 soldiered on through 1944. The type proved so useful in it's role that it was deployed to the Balkans in 1941 where it proved readily adaptable to the harsh conditions found in that theatre. Although threatened with imminent replacement, no type was developed that could completely replace this aircraft and the type was used until there were none left. |
Sources:
Gunston, Bill - The Encyclodepia of the Worlds Combat aircraft, 1976, Chartwell Books, Inc., New York
Gunston, Bill & Wood, Tony - Hitler's Luftwaffe
, 1977, Salamander
Books Ltd., LondonThe Complete Encyclodepia of World Aircraft, 1997, Barnes & Nobles Books, ISBN: 0 7607 0592 5
