Designed to an official
requirement for a dive-bomber, issued in 1933, the Henschel Hs 123
single-bay biplane was of all-metal construction, with fabric covering
used only for the rear portions of the wings and the control surfaces.
Powered by a 650 hp (485 kW) BMW 132A-3 radial engine, the prototype
flew in 1938 and quickly established its superiority over the rival
Fieseler Fi 98. The third prototype was the first to be armed, carrying
two fixed forward-firing 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 17 machine-guns in the
fuselage top decking. The first three aircraft were flown to Rechlin
for testing in August 1935, in the course of which activity two of them
were destroyed when their wings came off in dives. A fourth prototype
tested successfully the structural changes introduced to overcome this
problem and initial production orders were placed for the Hs 123A-1,
which retained the blistered cowling of the second and third
prototypes, rather than the NACA cowling of the first. Power was
provided by the BMW 132De radial engine and, in addition to the two
fixed MG 17 machine-guns, a mounting for a 551 lbs (250 kg) bomb or an
external fuel tank was included beneath the fuselage, and four 110 lbs
(50 kg) bombs could be carried on underwing racks.
The Hs 123 was built at
Henschel's Schonefeld and Johannisthal factories in Berlin, but
although the company built two prototypes, the first, an improved Hs
123B version with the 960 hp (716 kW) BMW 132K engine, the second,
designated Hs 123C, differed by having two additional MG 17
machine-guns and an enclosed cockpit for use as an intended ground
attack aircraft, the Luftwaffe expressed its satisfaction with the
Junkers Ju 87 and production ended. The Hs 123A first entered service
with 1./StG 162 in the autumn of 1936, although its career as a
front-line dive-bomber was short-lived because the Junkers Ju 87A Stuka
began to replace it in 1937. Five Hs 123As were supplied to the Legion
Condor in Spain in December 1936; the type also saw operational service
as a close support aircraft in Poland during the closing months of 1939
and in the campaigns in France and Belgium during the spring of 1940.
It was withdrawn finally in 1944.
One thing worth noting
is that if you look closely at the the above two colour plates, you
will notice differences in the aircraft. The top plate which is an Hs
123A-1 of Gruppo 24 Aviacion del Tercio (24th Group of the Spanish
Nationalist Air Force) in 1939 but the middle one is of an earlier
(although the same model) Luftwaffe aircraft, which more shows its
civilian roots. The Hs 123 soon gained a reputation for being a rugged,
dependable and harsh weather aircraft. Although the Luftwaffe replaced
it with the Ju 87, which was a technically superior aircraft, in
operational use, it performed no better than the Hs 123. There were
those in the Luftwaffe who, as late as Spring 1944, called for the Hs
123 to be put back into production.
Close Support Role
Back in Germany, the Ju
87 Stuka had started to replace the Hs 123 with the Stukagruppen in
1937, and the Hs 123 was diverted to the close support units, equipping
two of the five to form. Debate was raging in the Luftwaffe over the
respective merits of the dedicated dive bomber and the close support
aircraft. The dive-bomber protagonists won, and the Ju 87 Stuka was
also given a close support role, signalling the end of production for
the Henschel Hs 123. Two variants built in prototype form were the Hs
123B (V5 prototype) with a BMW 132K engine under a long chord cowling,
and the Hs 123C (V6 prototype) which had additional machine-guns under
the wings and an armoured headrest with a sliding hood. The latter
feature was adopted by service Hs 123As.
In late 1938, after the
Sudeten crisis had passed, the close support units were officially
disbanded. Nevertheless, one (Schlachtfliegergruppe 10) survived the
axe and was incorporated into Lehrgeschwader 2 as II (Schlacht)/LG 2.
In September 939 it was the only front-line Hs 123 unit, all other
aircraft having been passed to training units. II (Schlacht)/LG 2 was
in the lead air assault against Poland on 1 September 1939 that opened
World War II. Armed with 110 lbs (50 kg) bombs on the wing racks and
the 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 17 machine-guns, the Hs 123s flew just feet
above the heads of the Polish cavalry brigades for 10 days. More
effective than the armament was the terrifying noise of the BMW radial,
which was every bit as effective at dispersing mounted columns as
explosives. So effective was the Hs 123 in the lightning Polish
campaign that plans to re-equip II (Schlacht)/LG 2 were immediately
reversed.
For the unit, the next
target was Belgium, supporting the 6th Army as it smashed through from
10 May 1940. The first action was to ward off Belgian sappers
attempting to destroy brdige crossings over the Albert Canal. Sweeping
through Luxembourg and the Ardennes, Hs 123s were soon in France, and
by 21 May were the most forward based Lufwtaffe unit when they reached
Cambrai. With victory in France achieved, II (Schlacht)/LG 2 was
withdrawn to Germany for re-equipment with the Bf 109E, but the Hs 123
had by now built a legendary reputation for its ability to absorb
battle damage, and the Gruppe only partially equipped with the
Messerschmitt fighter.
The Eastern Front
After a spell in the
Balkans from April 1941, the unit joined the fight against the Soviet
Union, operating on the southern front. It was incorporated into the
newly-formed Schlachtgeschwader 1 and again proved the considerable
capability of the Hs 123 in the close support role. Armed with either
four SC 50 100 lbs (50 kg) bombs, twin 20 mm MG FF cannon or containers
each bearing 92 SC 2 anti-personnel bombs under the wings, and with a
fuel tank on the centreline, the Hs 123 proved so effective and
dependable that there were calls even as late as 1943 for its
reinstatement into production. When conditions were so wet that other
aircraft could not take off from the quagmire-like advanced fields, Hs
123s could get aloft once the wheel spats had been removed.
Without new production
aircraft to replace losses, attrition slowly took its toll on the Hs
123 squadrons, which ended its days in mid-1944, the remaining aircraft
having been grouped in II/Schlachtgeschwader 2.
An Hs 123A-1 assigned to a Flugzeugführerschule training unit in 1941.
Many aircraft were returned to front-line status to meet
the demands of the operational close support units serving on the
Eastern Front.
Variants
Hs 123 V1 - In 1934 the
Luftwaffe issued a two-stage requirement for a dive bomber. While the
second phase would be filled by a new technology design, the first
phase highlighted immediacy as the main goal. Henschel and Fieseler
were asked to develop the first phase aircraft, both teams choosing the
725 hp (541 kW) BMW 132A-3 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine for
their designs. Both designs flew in early 1935, the Hs 123 V1 showing a
marked superiority over the Fi 98 from the outset of flight trials. The
Hs 123 V1 was an ungainly biplane, featuring a wide-chord NACA-style
cowling, unequal-span wings and virtually no interplane bracing, most
of the loads being borne by two large outward-canted struts.
Hs 123 V2 - The Hs 123
V2 prototype introduced a shorter-chord, narrower cowl with 18 fairings
to house the valves.
Hs 123 V3 - The Hs 123
V3 was similar except for substituting a two-bladed, variable-pitch
propeller for the three-bladed adjustable-pitch unit of the preceding
aircraft.
Hs 123 V4 - All three
prior prototypes went to Rechlin for trials, where two were lost within
three weeks. Both had shed the upper wing, and so hasty strengthening
of the centre-section struts was introduced from the Hs 123 V4
prototype onwards. With this modification the Hs 123 V4 demonstrated
adequate performance, including pulling out of dives at near-vertical
angles.
Hs 123A-1 - First
deliveries of production Hs 123A-ls were made in the summer of 1936,
the initial unit being Stukagruppe 1./162 'Immelmann'. Power came from
a 880 hp (656 kW) BMW 132Dc 9-cylinder radial engine and armament
consisted of two 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 17 machine-guns in the upper
fuselage decking. A 551 lbs (250 kg) bomb was carried on a crutch which
swung forward from between the main wheels, and four 110 lbs (50 kg)
bombs could be carried on wing racks. Five Hs 123A-1s were dispatched
to Spain for combat evaluation, but from their debut in early 1937 they
were mainly used in a ground attack role. In this they proved
remarkably successful, flying close support over the battlefield
despite the lack of any communications with ground forces. Spain
acquired all five aircraft, and ordered another 11. This type served up
until 1943, when virtually all aircraft had been destroyed.
Hs 123B (V5 prototype)
- An improved version with the 960 hp (716 kW) BMW 132K engine. Never
saw production.
Hs 123C (V6 prototype)
- Same as the Hs 123B but differed by having two additional 7.92 mm
(0.31 in) MG 17 machine-guns under the wings and an armoured headrest
with a slider hood. It was never put into production but the headrest
and slider hood was adopted into Hs 123A-1 production.
Specifications (Henschel
Hs 123A-1)
Type: Single Seat
Dive Bomber & Close Support
Design: Henschel
Flugzeugwerke AG Design Team
Manufacturer:
Henschel Flugzeugwerke AG at the Schönefeld and Johannisthal factories
in Berlin
Powerplant: One
880 hp (656 kW) BMW 132Dc 9-cylinder radial piston engine rated at
take-off and 870 hp (649 kW) at 8,200 ft (2500 m).
Performance:
Maximum speed 211 mph (340 km/h) at 3,935 ft (1200 m) and 207 mph (333
km/h) at sea level; cruising speed 196 mph (315 km/h) at 6560 ft (2000
m); ceiling 29,525 ft (9000 m); initial climb rate 2,950 ft (900 m) per
minute.
Range: Range 531
miles (855 km) on internal fuel but this could be extended with the use
of single auxiliary fuel tank.
Weight: Empty
equipped 3,318 lbs (1505 kg) with a normal take-off weight of 4,888 lbs
(2217 kg).
Dimensions:
Span, upper 34 ft 51/2 in (10.50 m) and lower 26 ft 3 in (8.00 m);
length 27 ft 4 in (8.33 m); height 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m); wing area
267.49 sq ft (24.85 sq m).
Armament: Two
fixed forward firing 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 17 machine guns in the upper
fuselage decking, plus underwing racks for four 110 lbs (50 kg) bombs,
two containers with 92 4.4 lbs (2 kg) anti-personnel bombs or two 20 mm
MG ff cannon pods. In practise, the centreline bomb position usually
carried an external fuel tank but could carry a single 551 lbs (250 kg)
bomb instead.
Variants: Hs 123
V1 (prototype), Hs 123 V2 (prototype), Hs 123 V3 (prototype), Hs 123 V4
(prototype), Hs 123A/A-1, Hs 123B (V5 prototype), Hs 123C (V6
prototype).
Avionics: None.
History: First
flight, spring 1935 (public display given 8 May), first delivery
(Spain) December 1936, final delivery October 1938.
Operators:
Germany (Luftwaffe), Spain (five used by nationalist forces).
|