Fw-200 Kondor?...

[Major Adler]

did Kondors fly in the Med?...

[Kaufschtick]

The info I have only talks about them operating over the waters of the North Atlantic and off North-Eastern Europe. Something interesting as well, I didn't realize that they made so few Condors. According to Combat Aircraft of the World (Putnam-John W.R. Taylor), only 278 including all prototypes were made through the end of it's production in early 1944. That ain't alot.

[Muenchausen]

My info says about the same. Flight over the Med. is never mentioned.

[Major Adler]

I did about an hour looking on the web...and I could find no mention of Kondors flying over the Med...so I guess it will be Italian Stukas for my air support...

[Legbiter]

I did about an hour looking on the web...and I could find no mention of Kondors flying over the Med...so I guess it will be Italian Stukas for my air support...

The reason Kondors did not fly in the Med is that their patrol-bomber place was taken by the Ju-290, which at this scale was a very similar-looking aeroplane. So I think you would be perfectly entitled to use a Kondor model to represent one such.

[TheFoeHammer]

The info I have only talks about them operating over the waters of the North Atlantic and off North-Eastern Europe. Something interesting as well, I didn't realize that they made so few Condors. According to Combat Aircraft of the World (Putnam-John W.R. Taylor), only 278 including all prototypes were made through the end of it's production in early 1944. That ain't alot.


Actually in comparison to some others its not too shabby. There were only 129 TBD Devastators built.

Both planes found themselves replaced by better options and relegated to other duties. The Kondor was replaced by the JU 290 for recon and was relegated to transport. The Devastator was replaced by the TBF/TBM in the Pacific and relegated to the Atlantic or for training.

[Kaufschtick]

Actually in comparison to some others its not too shabby. There were only 129 TBD Devastators built.

Thank Goodness.;) I wonder out of these, how many were shot down?

Both planes found themselves replaced by better options and relegated to other duties. The Kondor was replaced by the JU 290 for recon and was relegated to transport. The Devastator was replaced by the TBF/TBM in the Pacific and relegated to the Atlantic or for training.


I don't know if "replaced by better options" is the right term for the Ju 290. I don't have any numbers listed in the book I have, but it sounds as if only a very small number of these were made as well. It kinda suggests that fewer of these were made than of the Condors. Which says to me that it was only a modest, very modest, improvement on the original Condor. I'm not trying to make a big deal out of this or anything, I just found it suprising at how few of these birds described by Churchill as "the scourge of the Atlantic" were made.

In contrast, the Devastator was replaced by the Avenger, which at quick glance looks like close to 10 thousand or so may have been built. It was replaced, the poor old Condor got replaced by something that just fizzled away. It seems to me that the 290 must've not been too good of a replacement, or only a moderate improvement. It looks to me as if there were less than 500 of both these types put together made. I just find that really suprising.

I guess events in the war probably made the Condor and planes like it not to be in demand any longer. Once the Battle of the Atlantic was lost and the Med. was lost, why make 'em if you don't need 'em, right?

I wouldn't have any problem using the Condor in Med. battles as the Fw-290. The twin tail seems to be the most noteable visual difference.:)

[Autarch]

I don't know if "replaced by better options" is the right term for the Ju 290. I don't have any numbers listed in the book I have, but it sounds as if only a very small number of these were made as well. It kinda suggests that fewer of these were made than of the Condors. Which says to me that it was only a modest, very modest, improvement on the original Condor. I'm not trying to make a big deal out of this or anything, I just found it suprising at how few of these birds described by Churchill as "the scourge of the Atlantic" were made.

I read that 65 Ju 290s were made. I believe the reason the Condor was replaced was due to the greater range of the 290 which was 1000 to 2200 miles greater depending on model.

[Kaufschtick]

I read that 65 Ju 290s were made. I believe the reason the Condor was replaced was due to the greater range of the 290 which was 1000 to 2200 miles greater depending on model.

That's really something that they only made 65. I guess the need for them in the war had just passed on by.

[Legbiter]

Thank Goodness.;) I wonder out of these, how many were shot down?




I don't know if "replaced by better options" is the right term for the Ju 290. I don't have any numbers listed in the book I have, but it sounds as if only a very small number of these were made as well. It kinda suggests that fewer of these were made than of the Condors. Which says to me that it was only a modest, very modest, improvement on the original Condor. I'm not trying to make a big deal out of this or anything, I just found it suprising at how few of these birds described by Churchill as "the scourge of the Atlantic" were made.

In contrast, the Devastator was replaced by the Avenger, which at quick glance looks like close to 10 thousand or so may have been built. It was replaced, the poor old Condor got replaced by something that just fizzled away. It seems to me that the 290 must've not been too good of a replacement, or only a moderate improvement. It looks to me as if there were less than 500 of both these types put together made. I just find that really suprising.

I guess events in the war probably made the Condor and planes like it not to be in demand any longer. Once the Battle of the Atlantic was lost and the Med. was lost, why make 'em if you don't need 'em, right?

I wouldn't have any problem using the Condor in Med. battles as the Fw-290. The twin tail seems to be the most noteable visual difference.:)

I also am sceptical that the Ju-290 replaced the Kondor because it was a better machine. My source [Munson, aircraft of WW2] implies that it was actually worse, sorta Fairey Albacore/Swordfish thing.

I believe the truth is that the Kondor turned out not to be that robust against RN fighters [Sea Hurricane/Martlet [Martlet is our name for Wildcat, up to 1944]] so they were instructed NOT to mix it with our guys but instead to concentrate on spotting for the wolf-packs; then [late 1942/43], they were [almost] all co-opted into the transport role, either on the Eastern front [Stalingrad] or in the Med [Tunis/Sicily] in the course of which operations they were mostly shot down [though the evacuation of Sicily WAS a notable axis success, their Dunkirk; and their airlift in response to Operation Torch was also a masterly tactical stroke, albeit a strategic mistake in the longer term].

[Autarch]

I also am sceptical that the Ju-290 replaced the Kondor because it was a better machine. My source [Munson, aircraft of WW2] implies that it was actually worse, sorta Fairey Albacore/Swordfish thing.


I thought it odd that no more than 20 of the 65 were ever in service at any one time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBljkMSa4P4