2. 1940 to May 1941
Authors Note: as with part 1, this is just a very general timeline outline done for a bit of fun about German gunship aircraft development and operation use, also this should TL be taken with a ‘Large Pinch of Salt’
January 1940
With what is becoming, known as the ‘Phoney War’ ongoing the Gunship Group is steadily developing their tactics, with the third squadron forming with the Ju-89, the third squadron will have four C1a, four C1b and four C1c to give the flexibility is terms of guns carried in this squadron.
The first and second squadrons are due to being replacing the Ju-52s with Ju-89s in February 1940 all three operational squadrons should have replaced their Ju-52s with Ju-89s by the end of 1940.
Firing Operation
The guns are fired by a control on the pilot’s yoke, where the pilot could control the guns either individually or together, though gunners were also among the crew to assist with gun failures and similar issues. Its primary function would be to provide close air support for ground troops, though other roles would be, found as time went by. A Ju-89 could orbit the target(s) for several hours (depending on how much fuel is carried and how far from base the target(s) are) providing suppressing fire depending on how often the guns were fired. The Ju-89s normally operated in pairs (sometimes in fours) allowing one Ju-89 to fire while the other aircraft is orbiting and the aircrafts crew is reloading the guns.
In this final part, the operating pair will also prove very useful for night operations later in the war, as the aircraft orbiting would also drop flairs to illuminate the target(s) allowing the other attacking aircraft to concentrate on its attack.
February 1940
During February 1940, the Gunship Groups operational training and evaluation squadron began to receive pre production versions of the new MG-151 (MG-151/15) is a 15 mm auto-cannon produced by Waffenfabrik Mauser. This weapon has considerable advantages over the current MGFF 20mm cannons used by the Gunship Group, the main one being that it had a greater ammunition supply (150 rounds) compared to 60 rounds for the MGFF cannon.
Even though the MG 151/15 has a lackluster performance this type of armament would still be used by the Gunship Group, as no other weapons of the type available at the time with enough ammunition that was belt fed. This would lead to another variant of the Ju-89 gunship the C1d with an armament of x6 MG-151/15 cannons, with an ammunitions supply of 3,600 rounds carried, this ammunition supply would be, increased during 1940.
The MG-151/15 would from, mid 1941 be replaced with the improved MG-151/20.
As a rule, all Ju-89 gunships produced from March 1940 onwards would be to the C1d armament standard, though the frontline squadrons could convert to any off the above gun combination for the C1a, C1b and C1c etc, as long as the squadron had the armament available.
March 1940
During March 1940, consideration was given to carrying heavier armaments, the 3.7cm Pak-36 and the 5cm PaK-38 were the guns, which were not considered due to the structural limitations and the limited amount of ammunition (and the limited rate of fire) that could be carried this goes not further than a theoretical study.
April 1940
On the 9th April 1940, Germany invades Denmark and Norway in Operation Weserübung, the British campaign in Norway is simultaneously commenced. The Gunship Group provides considerable support for the German Troops operating in Norway, the biggest problem is that the Ju-89s are operating from airfields in Germany (later Denmark) and can only spend a limited amount of time supporting German Troops.
The third squadron operating the Ju-89s with a greater endurance prove that they are better at these types of long-range operations than the Ju-52s.
Of the three types of Ju-89s, the Ju-89C1c equipped with x6 MG FF 20mm cannons give the best support due to the weight of firepower that the six cannons can put out compared to the rifle calibre MG-17s.
The one Ju-89C1d is also used at the end of the campaign, like the Ju-89C1c the cannon armament is proved to be superior to the MG-17s can provide, the Ju-89s will be reconfigured with Ju-89 all the C1a and C1b will be converted to either C1c or C1d.
The amount of ammunition carried is also increased, for the Ju-89C1c from 5,400 rounds to 6,000 rounds carried and for the Ju-89C1d from 3,600 rounds carried to also 6,000 rounds carried.
The Gunship Group by operating in the Norwegian Campaign will miss out, on the early stages of the invasion of France in May 1940, but will participate in the campaign this campaign will also bring out the first operational losses for the Gunship Group.
May/June 1940
By early May1940, the Gunship Group Order of Battle is as follows.
12 Ju-52s + 12 Ju-89 C1a, C1b, C1c and C1d operating with the operational training and evaluation squadron
12 Ju-52 gunships first squadron
12 Ju-52 gunships second squadron
12 Ju-89 C1a, C1b and C1c third squadron (being reconfigured to a mix of C1c and C1d)
All Ju-52s have the same armament of x4 MG-17s and x2 MG FF cannons.
During the Battle for France the Gunship Group would provide close support to front line German Army units against a variety of targets, in addition they Gunship Group would also attack several French airfields causing considerable destruction of aircraft of the ground. Though these attacks against French airfields also would cause the first losses to the Gunship Group with two Ju-52s lost in action against French airfields and seven Ju-52s damaged mostly from AA fire, this leads the Ju-52 Gunships to attack the airfields AA defences first and then the aircraft and facilities.
The danger of attack from French Fighters was minimal during the Battle for France due to heavy German fighter escort the biggest loss would come on the 31st May 1940, with three Ju-89s lost and four Ju-89s damaged to fighters of the RAF.
At the conclusion of the Battle for France on the 22nd June 1940, the Gunship Group was withdrawn back to Germany to rest and refit, during the Battle for France, the Gunship Group had lost a total of seven Ju-52 and three Ju-89s. To Goering’s mind this ‘proved’ that the Ju-52s were unsuitable for this role and urged the acceleration of the Ju-89’s, to replace the Ju-52s.
The upcoming ‘Operation Sealion’ Goering specifically ordered that the Gunship Group was to remain in Germany refitted with new equipment and until this is complete, the Gunship Group would not, be deployed to the front.
This order probably saved the Gunship Group from being, massacred by the RAF.
July 1940
The Gunship Group during July 1940 began to receive addition Ju-89s, to replace the operational losses suffered during the Battle for France in addition to replacing the Ju-52s in the first and second squadrons.
The weapons and ammunition carried for the Ju-89C1d was defined for all Ju-89C1d as x6 MG-151/15 cannons, with an ammunitions supply of 6,000 rounds carried, with each MG-151/15 loaded with 150 round belts at a time, this would not change until 1941 with the introduction of the MG-151/20 cannon.
The combined rate of fire of all six MG-151/15 cannons is 4,440 rpm, though with 150 round available this gives only 12 seconds of continuous fire before the cannons need reloading, though normally bursts of between 1 to 2 seconds are used against ground targets, unless there are large groups of infantry or trucks.
By the end of July 1940, the third squadron and the operational training and evaluation squadron have been completely equipped with Ju-89C1d the Ju-52s are starting to be returned for conversion back to their transport role.
August 1940
During August 1940, the first squadron receives it first four Ju-89C1ds.
On the 8th August 1940, Wilhelm Keitel signs the “Aufbau Ost” directive, which eventually leads to the invasion of the Soviet Union.
On the 20th August 1940, Winston Churchill pays tribute in the House of Commons to the Royal Air Force: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
September 1940
During September 1940, the first squadron receives its second batch of four Ju-89C1ds.
On the 27th September 1940, Germany, Italy and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact.
October to December 1940
Between October and December 1940, the first squadron will receive the remainder of their Ju-89C1ds along with the second squadron also receiving its 12 Ju-89C1ds.
January 1941
The Gunship Group is now at its authorised strength 36 Ju-89C1ds along with 12 Ju-89C1ds in the training and evaluation squadron.
Goering is very pleased with ‘his’ Gunship Group and places this Gunship Group under OKL command meaning that only Goering (or Hitler) could release the Gunship Group on his personal order for combat operations.
February 1941
With the Gunship Group at full strength, production of the Ju-89 is scaled back to one per month (or up to four per month as needed), allowing any losses to be replaced this also allows the Ju-89 to remain in limited production without expending a large amount of resources being allocating to producing four Ju-89s per month.
The commander of the Gunship Group has been looking at current aircraft under development to replace the Ju-89, his eye has fallen on another Junkers aircraft the Ju-252. The Ju-252 seems to be a much better aircraft than the Ju-89, the Ju-252 can easily be converted or be produced as a gunship, as the Ju-252 is a better design than the Ju-89, along with having a greater range (Ju-89 1,862 miles Ju-252 4,100 miles).
The commander of the Gunship Group asks Goering if several of the Ju-252 pre production prototypes could be, allocated to his command for testing, Goering agrees, the first pre production prototypes will arrive in either late November or early December 1941 for evaluation.
The possibility exists for the current ‘production line’ of the Ju-89 to be switched to Ju-252, so as not to interfere with any other German aircraft production.
March 1941
The plan to send a squadron to Africa is abandoned, due to the Ju-89 not being able to operate in a desert environment, though they could have been converted though no one seems to have told Goering this!
April 1941
On the 6th April 1941, Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece.
The Gunship Group is involved in attacking the airbases of the Yugoslavian Air Force, these attacks a very successful, as the Ju-89s, first attacking the AA defences then once the AA defences are neutralised the Ju-89s attack the aircraft on the ground. The attacking Ju-89s only suffer light damage from ground fire this damage does not stop the Ju-89s from continuing their attacks against Yugoslavian Air Force Bases.
On the 12th April, German troops enter Belgrade with Ju-89s orbiting above to provide support if needed.
On the 17th April, the Yugoslav Royal Army capitulates.
On the 18th April, Prime Minister of Greece Alexandros Koryzis commits suicide as German troops approach Athens.
On the 21st April, Greece capitulates. Commonwealth troops and some elements of the Greek Army withdraw to Crete.
On the 27th April, German troops enter Athens, again with Ju-89s (and other German aircraft) providing cover for the German troops so far no Ju-89s have been lost during this campaign.
May 1941
On the 20th May, the Battle of Crete begins as Germany launches an airborne invasion of Crete.
Fire support will be provided by the Ju-89s of the Gunship Group, however they will only have limited time over Crete due to the distance from their airbases, as the German Paratroopers and their transport aircraft have ‘hogged’ the nearest bases.
The fire support provided by the Ju-89s is limited due to the range and the time it takes to transit to Crete from their bases on the mainland.
However, when they are available their firepower is greatly, appreciated by the German Paratroopers on the ground helping fight off several counterattacks, this is not without cost to the Gunship Group.
By the 1st June 1941, the Gunship Group has lost six aircraft to AA fire, three to bad landing due to battle damage and all other Ju-89s suffering various levels of battle damage.
The British are intrigued by the new fighting aircraft and tactics employed, RAF Command refuses to realise any aircraft to test out this new type of support aircraft due to RAF Command being, overstretched and the conservative nature of senior RAF commanders.
The upcoming Operation Barbarossa will see the Gunship Group during 1941 achieve their greatest operational victories and their lowest operational losses up to late 1942, until the tide begins to change, then the Gunship Group will switch tactics.
To be continued (if there is any interest)?