Fw 190 F-8

This page is about the German fighter Fw 190 F-8. For other versions, see Fw 190 (Family).

Fw 190 F-8

Do 335 A-0

Me 262 A-1/U4

Fw 190 F-8

Do 335 A-0

Me 262 A-1/U4

Germany

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.3	5.0	4.3

Class:

Strike aircraft

Research:46 000

Purchase:155 000

Description

The Fw 190 F-8 is a rank IV German fighter with a battle rating of 5.3 (AB), 5.0 (RB), and 4.3 (SB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

The 190 who thought it was a Stuka. The F-8 version is a peculiar one, designed to replace the ageing Ju 87 series, but could never fully replace it this late into the war (1944). As an attacker, this Focke Wulf gains mid-air start on most maps which can either be used to get to ground targets quickly or get the jump on climbing fighters. Keep in mind though that the very heavy F-8 is not designed for dogfights and will suffer in any fighter engagement. The F-8 is perhaps one of the most versatile Fw-190s in the game, though it tends to be outperformed in most categories by more specialised planes.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 5 400 m635 km/h

Turn time23 s

Max altitude11 100 m

EngineBMW 801 TU

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight6 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 5,400 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	605	585	11100	24.5	25.5	11.7	11.7	453
Upgraded	670	635		21.9	23.2	21.7	15.8

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
X	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
912	310	N/A	700	310	~13	~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 420	< 240	< 550	> 280

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
700 m	1,498 hp	1,874 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
5,300 m	1,301 hp	1,628 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural912 km/h

Gear310 km/h

• 6 mm Steel - Fore cowl ring
• 10 mm Steel - Cowl ring
• 6 mm Steel - Under engine armour
• 8 mm Steel - Under cockpit/fuel tank armour plate
• 5 mm Steel - Rear fuel tank armour
• 8 mm Steel - Pilot's chair armour
• 6 mm Steel - Pilot's chair armour
• 12 mm Steel - Headrest armour
• 57 mm Bulletproof glass - armoured windscreen

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB1 863 → 2 371

RB3 135 → 3 990

SB5 974 → 7 604

Total cost of modifications40 000

77 200

Talisman cost1 400

Crew training45 000

Experts155 000

Aces820

Research Aces440 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

90 / 150 / 420 %

160 / 160 / 160 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 1 600 Cost: 3 100 165 Radiator Research: 1 600 Cost: 3 100 165 Airframe Research: 1 800 Cost: 3 500 185 Compressor Research: 1 800 Cost: 3 500 185 Wings repair Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 800 250 Engine Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 800 250 Cover Research: 2 600 Cost: 5 000 260 Engine injection Research: 2 600 Cost: 5 000 260		mg131_belt_pack Research: 1 600 Cost: 3 100 165 SC 500 Research: 1 600 Cost: 3 100 165 Flamm C 250 Research: 1 600 Cost: 3 100 165 mg131_new_gun Research: 1 800 Cost: 3 500 185 R4/M HL modification Research: 1 800 Cost: 3 500 185 Flamm C 500 Research: 1 800 Cost: 3 500 185 mg15120_belt_pack Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 800 250 SC1000 Research: 2 500 Cost: 4 800 250 mg15120_new_gun Research: 2 600 Cost: 5 000 260 R3 modification Research: 2 600 Cost: 5 000 260 mk103_belt_pack Research: 2 600 Cost: 5 000 260

The attacker "Würger" has such awful responsiveness from the elevator that anything which improves turn rate should have the highest priority. Otherwise, it will kiss the ground more than cows do! Don't forget, it needs to dive-bomb to hit anything. And grinding the bombs cannot be forgotten!! This is an attacker, so it needs the payload unlocks, but without performance upgrades, it is just a pain to fly. A detour to the new belts could be considered, but two 20 mm cannons are enough to handle any ground units even with stock ammunition, especially as the other performance upgrades are necessary as well due the F-8's great weight.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Fw 190 F-8 is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm MG 151 cannons, wing-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)
• 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 800 total)

Suspended armament

The Fw 190 F-8 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (200 kg total)
• 8 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (400 kg total)
• 1 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb (250 kg total)
• 1 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb + 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (450 kg total)
• 1 x 500 kg SC500K bomb (500 kg total)
• 1 x 500 kg SC500K bomb + 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (700 kg total)
• 1 x 1,000 kg SC1000L2 bomb (1,000 kg total)
• 1 x 1,000 kg SC1000L2 bomb + 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (1,200 kg total)
• 2 x 30 mm MK 103 cannons, gunpods (wing-mounted) (35 rpg = 70 total)
• 14 x Pb2 rockets

Usage in battles

The Fw-190 F-8 possesses far below average speed, acceleration and climb ability for its rank. If you spot a bandit at the same altitude, a recommended tactic is to head-on attack, followed by an evasive manoeuvre and then extending away to repeat the processes. If a bandit has superior energy/altitude and is trying to attack you, try to drag them to friendlies, but don't sacrifice too much altitude to do so. If you are skilled enough, another tactic would be to initiate scissors; either rolling or flat, and then break away when he goes to yo-yo to control his overshoot. The scissors manoeuvre is a highly effective manoeuvre in the 190s. Many good pilots have dismembered many superior aircraft simply because of the roll rate and firepower this plane possesses. If you are clever enough to press for a gun solution when scissoring an enemy, you could be greatly rewarded.

In summary for the unintended fighter-role, climb to the side or continue climbing when starting mid-air, Boom & Zoom like a champion, never get in a sustained turn fight, and use the rate of roll to free yourself when cornered. The F-8 is most likely to be successful in realistic battles when used as a ground-attacker or bomber hunter. B-17s and Halifaxes are unlikely to fly at higher altitudes than the F-8 can perform at, which allows for the F-8s armament (especially with the 30 mm gunpods) and decent durability to be useful while not being held back by its relatively poor dogfighting capability. It is best to make quick, diving attack passes targeting the wings and engines before extending out to avoid return fire from the bomber's defensive guns. Do not turn back until you are at least 1 km away from the bomber to avoid being an easy target. Until the frontal gunpods are unlocked, 2-3 passes may be required to fully destroy a bomber. Frontal attacks can also be effective especially with the engines and cockpit both viable targets, but with the trade-off being less time to shoot at the target (this goes both ways, you won't be in the range of defensive guns for very long either).

In combined forces battles, the Fw-190 F-8 can carry a wider range of ordinance than most other German fighters, allowing for ground-attack using rockets, gun pods, or bombs. The 1000 kg bomb is unique to F-8 among German fighters; while the Do 335 (A-1 & B-2 variants) and Me-410 (A1 & B1 variants) can carry 1,000 kg worth of bombs, they can only carry 250 kg and 500 kg bombs. The F-8 combines the ability to carry heavy ordinance while still retaining decent fighting capability after dropping said ordinance.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Auto control available	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Combined	Not controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Plenty of ammo for the armaments
• The 30 mm gun pods (with the glorious minengeschoss shells), steady rate of climb, air spawn, and decent durability combine to make for a potent bomber hunter in realistic battles
• Carrying the 30 mm cannon pods do not have a significant reduction on flight performance when compared to the bombs
• 30 mm HVAP rounds can deal with any surface target except pillboxes
• Ability to carry up to 1,200 kgs of payload, and is the only Fw 190 besides Dora series and the A5/U2 that can carry bombs
• Comes stock with 250 kg and 50 kg bomb options
• Access to 30 mm Mk 103 gun pods, Pb2 HEAT rockets, and a 1,000 kg bomb, which aren't available on any other German single-engine fighter
• Great roll rate
• Great energy retention
• Climb rate is consistent until 6,000 m altitude
• Can WEP pretty much nonstop
• Well armoured from the front
• Excellent tank busting capability

Cons:

• Generally outclassed by other 190 models when it comes to air to air combat
• 30 mm cannons are mounted on the wings, therefore, is relatively inaccurate compared to nose-mounted
• Firing the 30 mm cannons creates recoil within the plane
• Poor turn rate that many medium bombers can beat
• Manoeuvrability suffers at low speeds
• Elevator has low response & effect at low-medium speeds
• Bad climb rate for an Fw 190 especially with payloads
• WEP doesn't significantly boost performance

History

In-game description

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Wuerger (Shrike) was a single-seat single-engine monoplane fighter used by the Luftwaffe in WWII. One of the best fighters of the time, it was widely used during the Second World War. A total of over 20,000 were produced, including some 6,000 fighter-bomber variants. The 190 remained in production from 1941 until the end of the war, going through multiple redesigns. The Fw 190 made a name for itself as a true Luftwaffe workhorse and was used in a wide variety of roles, including a high-altitude interceptor (especially the Fw 190D), escort fighter, fighter-bomber and night fighter.

The Fw 190 F-8 was the most mass-produced variant of the Fw 190 F series, based on the Fw 190 A-8. By March 1944, Fw 190 F-8s were also produced by the Arado company in Warnemuende, and by April the NDW company in Wismar. The aircraft was powered by the BMW 801 D-2 engine with improved injector on the compressor, which provided emergency power for up to 10-15 minutes at 1,000 meters of altitude. Otherwise, the plane's equipment was largely similar to the A-8, although the FuG 16 ZY radio was replaced with the FuG 16 ZS in April 1944. This allowed direct communication with ground troops on the battlefield. A distinctive characteristic of the F-8 was a widened rear canopy. The new canopy was introduced in the latter half of 1944. It improved forward and downward visibility, which was very important for ground attack. On-board armament consisted of twin MG 131 machine guns in the fuselage and two MG 151/20E cannon in the wings.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.

Focke-Wulf Aircraft Corporation (Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau Aktiengesellschaft)
Fighters	Fw 190 A-1 · Fw 190 A-4 · Fw 190 A-5 · Fw 190 A-5/U2 · Fw 190 A-5/U12 · Fw 190 A-5/U14 · Fw 190 A-8
	Fw 190 C
	Fw 190 D-9 · Fw 190 D-12 · Fw 190 D-13
	Fw 190 F-8
	Ta 152 C-3* · Ta 152 H-1* · Ta 154 A-1*
Bombers	Fw 189 A-1 · Fw 200 C-1
Export	▅Fw 190 A-5
Captured	▃Fw 190 A-8 · ▂Fw 190 D-9
	* In 1944, the Germany Air Ministry changed new fighter aircraft designation to that of the chief designer. Kurt Tank was the chief designer at Focke-Wulf and later aircraft he designed were given the prefix of Ta.