Yesterday’s development update from 1CGS of their next Collector Plane has evoked the community’s imagination and prompted valid questions on what the Ta152H-1 would be useful for and what’s the point of even having it. Curious to reacquaint myself with the aircraft’s history and reputation I went on a bit of a deep dive to see what I could dig up. Here are my thoughts and some resources you may want to read too.
Intended purpose vs used purpose
There’s no question about it that Kurt Tank and the rest of the designers at Focke-Wulf were intent on building a better bomber interceptor when they designed what became the Ta152. Experiments over the course of several years lead to a variety of different designs and engine configurations. Some of the results of that effort lead to the development and production of the Fw190D series which did improve on the Fw190’s altitude performance as well as overall top speed. But more was needed.
Intelligence reports and a brief tour of B-29 bombers in England no doubt had some impact on the need for fighters that could fly and fight at higher altitudes so more updates to the Fw190 line were made. The result was the Ta152C and Ta152H with the C models intended for medium altitude operation and the H model, with their 48 foot wing span, for high altitude operations.
Thanks to the Junkers Jumo 213E, GM-1 boost and a complex supercharger system, the Ta152H-1 could reach 472 mph at 41,000 feet (or 759 km/h at 12,500 meters). Service ceiling was even higher at 49,000 feet (15,100 meters). That would put it in the same height range of any potential attacking B-29 formations and with a comfortable extra altitude range to boot.
That was the intended purpose, however, the Ta152s delivered to III./JG 301 and then later to Stabstaffel JG 301 rarely had any opportunity to be used as a bomber interceptor. Most flights were flown at lower altitudes and engaged with Allied fighters including P-47s, Tempests and Yak-9s. Somewhat ironically, no bomber kills were officially attributed to the Ta152H.
Depending on source, the Focke-Wulf plant was able to deliver somewhere between 70-150 Ta152 models. Reports also indicate that only about a dozen were ever operational at one time and spare parts by the end of the war was an intractable problem.
Combat reports
It’s difficult to gather information on combat sorties for III./JG301 but some sources exist on the internet that appear to offer detailed information. One Blogspot site details the Ta152’s combat experiences with several reports of it in action.
Although the III/JG301 began to be equipped starting in January of 1945, it seems that it wasn’t until March 1945 when the first combat sorties were flown.
Another report from the Ta152 Wikipedia article indicates a failed March 20 intercept of a Mosquito with engine troubles interfering with the fighter’s ability to intercept. Another from Plane Historia mentions a scuttled attempt at a B-17 intercept around the same time with Bf109s scattering the attack after the unfamiliar aircraft were misidentified.
Of course there’s the infamous fight between Oberfeldwebel Willi Reschke and a pair of Tempests from RAF No. 486 (NZ) Squadron on April 14 that has been printed and reprinted in several books and online sources. The Tempests being bounced by a trio of Ta152Hs with Reschke firing at and damaging one Tempest that later crashed.
Aircraft designer Kurt Tank also infamously reported being bounced by P-51D Mustangs and was able to escape at full throttle. There is some question as to the veracity of the account with no USAAF reports mentioning the encounter.
Depending on the source Ta152Hs were involved in the destruction of 7 Allied fighters, no bombers, and there were four combat losses.
What can we use it for?
What can we use the Ta152H for? Can it be shoe-horned into the Battle of Bodenplatte Career mode? I think it can!
With in service date in January and combat sorties flown in March and April, there’s a small window of opportunity for the airplane to be flown in single player Career mode. The location would have to be fictional with the actual locations of III./JG301 being off map, but it’s not the first time that a bit of bending of history was done for gameplay purposes.
Online its a simple matter. Servers like Finnish Virtual Pilots or Combat Box could simply choose to add the airplane into the mix wherever they decide to add it though certainly it would be mixed in with the other rare late-war types.
And what is the point of it?
I’ve heard some ask what the point of offering this airplane was. With no bombers to intercept it seems like it has little use, except as we now know, it never really did get used for its intended purpose anyways. But that’s the historical justification and I think to really understand the offering here we turn away from history and more towards marketing and money.
Like it or not, we are in the twilight stages of IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles development. While an additional battle, focused aircraft set of 10 more planes, and ongoing development would have suited me just fine, it is clear that a new title developed with new technology is well underway and Great Battles will eventually quiet down and recede into flight sim history. Bearing that in mind, 1CGS are filling in some gaps and, ultimately, looking to make some money off of the current series utilizing well worn technology while they work on the next generation.
We’ve seen a variety of aircraft releases including the Bf109G-6 A/S, Waco Glider, Spitfire IXc and now next up the Ta152H. They have also indicated that a I-153, a late model Ju87 Stuka, Yak-3 and an La-7 are all in the pipeline. All easy aircraft for the team to built and all types that I think they will find a market to sell to. No bombers are listed of course because we know they are time intensive and it looks like they are trying to do offerings that balance time and money very carefully.
There’s also the matter of interest and this is where we talk a bit of marketing. Though there will always be veteran combat sim pilots who won’t find it particularly motivating, the late war “what-if” scenario has always been appealing to the more competitive dogfight oriented crowd. We may hear from these folks less often on the forums but I think they make up a sizable portion of the dedicated player base. Enough that I suspect the Ta152H will sell well for that reason alone. The possibility of flying the “ultimate” fighter with the best performance specifications is enough. It’s not a motivation that appeals specifically to me but I never discount that segment of the market.
Still others might fit into other categories. I myself have always been fascinated by the Ta152H, less by its performance and combat ability and more because of its significant wingspan and unique handling characteristics. A WWII fighter with a big engine and almost glider-esq wings evokes a certain aerodynamic fascination. It was never an aircraft that I manage to fly or fight particularly well in the old IL-2 1946 days, but it was one that was fascinating to experience all the same. I’d be ok with doing that again.
Stormbirds 
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