alternatehistory.com

What if instead of the civilian airliner the FW200 being pressed into service as a long range naval offensive reconnaissance airplane, a role that it was not suited to, as the addition of bombs and evasive maneuvers actually caused the aircraft to break in half, the Luftwaffe continued development of the Dornier 19 to fit this role?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focke-Wulf_Fw_200
The extra weight introduced by its military fitments meant that a number of early Fw 200 aircraft broke up on landing, a problem that was never entirely solved.

Empty weight: 17,005 kg (37,490 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 24,520 kg (50,057 lb)
Powerplant: 4 × BMW/Bramo 323R-2 nine-cylinder single-row air-cooled radial engine, 895 kW (1,200hp) each

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_Do_19
Empty weight: 11,865 kg (26,158 lb)
Loaded weight: 18,500 kg (40,785 lb)
Powerplant: 4 × BMW 132F radial engine, 604 kW (810 hp) each

The designers proposed fitting the Do19 with the Bramo 323 in the third prototype, which would have given it a similar horse power rating to the FW200, yet it weighed about 5 tons less than the FW200. Its loaded weight was 10,000 pounds less than the FW200 too.
Of course this was the Do19 prototype and lacked the defensive armaments, plus further development, which would have raised the weight, but still, it would probably end up at least 1 ton less than the FW200 and further development of the Do19 would have likely improved aerodynamics.
Both bombers carried a similar bomb load and the Do19 was much better armored. It also didn't break up on landing or under harsh maneuvers.

Furthermore it would have given Germany experience with a strategic long range bomber and a potential for a strategic bomber for the Blitz. Its production could begin before the war too, using the resources that were historically spent on the FW200 (276 built) and the never-ready He177 (1200 built). By 1942 with further development it would have been as good if not better than the B17 according to Erhard Milch, who lamented the missed opportunity.

Okay, how would this happen though? Obviously having Walter Wever live would be the best chance, as after his death even the prototypes were cancelled by Goering. Wever though passed over the Do19 by issuing the Bomber A requirement before the Do19 prototype even flew, but air forces always are thinking a generation ahead for technology, so perhaps this isn't as fatal as one might think.

Having Dornier lobby Wever, who was more strategically minded, to keep development going, as Wever wanted to have the prototypes as demonstrators to develop strategic bombing concepts and build up a training establishment for the technologically complex machines that were strategic bombers, so as to fill the long range naval reconnaissance role that the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine needed anyway and have it adapted for that role instead of needing to convert a civilian aircraft unsuited to military operations because of the lack of anything else.

Two years of development/testing that most aircraft required would mean that a testing start date of October 1936 when the first prototype was delivered would mean it was production ready by ~October 1938. That is earlier than the FW200 was militarized IOTL. Start production in late 1938-early 1939 and continue development with experienced gained from the first production models and the aircraft becomes that much more effective. It certainly had more 'stretch' than the FW200.

Would it have been more effective than the FW200? Certainly, as it wouldn't have been scared off by the Lewis gun defenses of transports in 1941. Its earlier introduction relative to the FW200, as it only entered into the reconnaissance role in June of 1940, the military version taking longer to be adapted, being only produced in small numbers as a transport and Hitler's private plane prior. A Do19 in 1938 would be produced in larger numbers earlier, as it didn't need to be militarized and delayed. It would be properly armored and with a lower weight could last longer over the Atlantic. It wouldn't fall to technical problems nearly as much as the FW200 (even Hitler's transport version had major mechanical issues, even catching fire while flying him to a meeting), so would survive longer and increase numbers over the Atlantic.
It could even be pressed into strategic bombing during the Blitz and carry a heavier load of bombs than any other German bomber. Also its late deployment and early low production wouldn't cut into the resources for the tactical bombers, meaning Germany could have its army support bombers and its strategic/long naval recon aircraft too.

Frankly I'm only seeing win here for the Luftwaffe. What does everyone else think?
Top