The Focke‑Wulf Ta 153 was a German prototype fighter aircraft developed during World War II. Designed by Kurt Tank at the Focke‑Wulf company, the Ta 153 was intended as a high‑altitude derivative of the existing Fw 190 series, incorporating a more powerful engine and new wing designs. The project never progressed beyond the prototype stage and no aircraft were built in series.
Development
In 1943 the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) initiated a study, designated Ra‑4, to create a higher‑performance version of the Fw 190 for operations at altitude. The Ta 153 (internal designation GH + KV) was conceived as a “Hochleistungsjäger” (high‑performance fighter) that would use either a Junkers Jumo 213A/C engine (for the Ta 153A‑1 variant) or a Daimler‑Mercedes DB 603G engine (for the Ta 153D‑1 high‑altitude variant). The design incorporated the longer, high‑aspect‑ratio wings developed for the Fw 190B prototype.
Although the Ta 153 represented a largely new airframe, its production would have required extensive re‑tooling of Focke‑Wulf’s manufacturing lines. Because of these logistical challenges, Kurt Tank opted to modify the existing Fw 190A by adding a rear‑fuselage plug, creating the Fw 190D. The rear‑fuselage of the Ta 153 was later combined with the long wings of the Ta 153D‑1 to form the successful Ta 152H.
Design
The Ta 153 was a single‑seat, low‑wing monoplane with a conventional all‑metal construction. Its main distinguishing features were:
- Powerplant – a single Junkers Jumo 213 V‑12 inverted liquid‑cooled piston engine delivering approximately 1 305 kW (1 750 hp).
- Wing – an 11 m (36 ft 1 in) span wing of 18.2 m² area, derived from the Fw 190B prototype, providing a higher aspect ratio for improved high‑altitude performance.
- Armament – a 30 mm MK 108 cannon mounted in the nose and two 20 mm MG 151 cannons in the wings, all with standard ammunition loads.
Specifications (Ta 153A‑1)
| General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
| Length | 10.4 m (34 ft 1 in) |
| Wingspan | 11 m (36 ft 1 in) |
| Height | 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) |
| Wing area | 18.2 m² (196 sq ft) |
| Empty weight | 3 600 kg (7 937 lb) |
| Gross weight | 4 400 kg (9 700 lb) |
| Maximum take‑off weight | 5 100 kg (11 244 lb) |
| Powerplant | 1 × Junkers Jumo 213, 1 305 kW (1 750 hp) |
| Propeller | 3‑bladed constant‑speed |
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Maximum speed | 680 km/h (420 mph, 370 kn) |
| Range | 1 400 km (870 mi, 760 nmi) |
| Service ceiling | 11 000 m (36 000 ft) |
| Wing loading | 242 kg/m² (50 lb/ft²) |
| Power‑to‑weight | 0.30 kW/kg (0.18 hp/lb) |
| Armament | |
|---|---|
| Guns | 1 × 30 mm MK 108 cannon (90 rounds) |
| 2 × 20 mm MG 151 cannons (175 rounds each) |
Operational history
No Ta 153 aircraft entered production, and the project was cancelled before any prototypes were completed. The design concepts and components influenced later Focke‑Wulf developments, notably the Ta 152H, which employed the long‑wing configuration initially studied for the Ta 153.
Legacy
Although the Ta 153 never flew, it represents an important step in the evolution of high‑altitude German fighter design during the later stages of World War II. Its intended combination of a powerful Jumo 213 engine with enlarged wings foreshadowed the performance goals achieved in the Ta 152 series.