Original Kurt Tank signature

The F Series Focke Wulf Fw 190

The F Series Focke Wulf 190 The F series was a natural evolution of the type to suit ever-expanding mission requirements, in this case for ground support, with the increasing obsolescence of the famous Stuka.

F-1 through F-8 versions had been designed, but only the F-1, F-2, F-3, and F-8 were built in any quantity, with the largest share consisting of F-8's. In all, around 550 of the F series were built. Approximately 385 were the F-8 variant.

F-8 production began around March 1944. Defining features are typically based upon the A-8, with 115 liter fuselage tank, outboard pitot, FuG16ZY or ZS and possibly an FuG 25 radio, ETC 501 center fuselage stores rack, and the added ETC 50 or later ETC 71 under wing stores racks, with either standard or later style bubble canopy. Outboard cannon were deleted.

F-8's served well in the ground attack role. The armored cowling, the Panzer ring, helped to protect the air-cooled BMW engine, and armor plate added further protection for the pilot. Self-sealing fuel tanks were also standard equipment. Some aircraft could also be equipped with the Rustsatze consisting variously of MG 151/20 20mm cannon, MK 103 30mm cannon, or MK 108 30mm cannon.

Many additional roles for the F-8 were explored such as extended range versions, trainer versions, and types equipped for delivery of Bomben-Torpedo, Panzerblitz missiles, the Ruhrstahl missile, and the Hagelkorn glide bomb.