The Junkers Ju 87 Stuka in a nutshell

• National origin:- Germany
• Role:- Dive bomber
• Manufacturer:- Junkers
• Designer:- Hermann Pohlmann
• First flight:- 17th September 1935
• Introduction:- 1936 Retired:- 1945 (Luftwaffe)
• Primary users:- Luftwaffe, Bulgarian Air Force, Hungarian Air Force, Regia Aeronautica, Royal Romanian Air Force
• Produced:- between 1936-1945
• Number built:- Estimated 6,500

The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka (from Sturzkampfflugzeug, 'dive bomber') is a German dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft. Designed by Hermann Pohlmann, it first flew in 1935. The Ju 87 made its combat debut in 1937 with the Luftwaffe's Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War and served the Axis forces in World War II.

The aircraft was easily recognisable by its inverted gull wings and fixed spatted undercarriage. Upon the leading edges of its faired main gear legs were mounted the Jericho-Trompete (Jericho trumpet) wailing sirens, becoming the propaganda symbol of German air power and the blitzkrieg victories of 1939-1942. The Stuka's design included several innovative features, including automatic pull-up dive brakes under both wings to ensure that the aircraft recovered from its attack dive even if the pilot blacked out from the high g-forces.

The Stuka operated with considerable success in close air support and anti-shipping at the outbreak of World War II. It spearheaded the air assaults in the invasion of Poland in September 1939. Stukas were crucial in the rapid conquest of Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and France in 1940. Although sturdy, accurate, and very effective against ground targets, the Stuka was vulnerable to contemporary fighter aircraft, like many other dive bombers of the war. During the Battle of Britain its lack of manoeuvrability, speed and defensive armament meant that it required a heavy fighter escort to operate effectively. After the Battle of Britain the Stuka took part in the Balkans Campaign, the African and Mediterranean theatres and the early stages of the Eastern Front where it was used for general ground support, as an effective specialised anti-tank aircraft and in an anti-shipping role. Once the Luftwaffe lost air superiority, the Stuka became an easy target for enemy fighter aircraft on all fronts. It was produced until 1944 for lack of a better replacement. By then ground-attack versions of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 had largely replaced the Stuka, but Stukas remained in service until the end of the war.

An estimated 6,500 Ju 87s of all versions were built between 1936 and August 1944.

Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 87 Stuka ground attack aircraft

	Ju 87A	Ju 87B	Ju 87D	Ju 87G
Production	1936-1938	1938-1941	1941-1944	refitted Ju 87D
Role	ground attack	ground attack	ground attack	anti-tank
Crew	2	2	2	2
Length	10.8 m	11.1 m	11.1 m	11.1 m
Wingspan	13.8 m	13.8 m	13.8 m	13.8 m
Height	3.9 m	3.9 m	3.9 m	3.9 m
Wing area	31.90 m²	31.90 m²	31.90 m²	31.90 m²
Empty weight	2273 kg	2760 kg	2810 kg	3600 kg
Maximum weight	3324 kg	4400 kg	5720 kg	5100 kg
Engine	Junkers Jumo 210D	Junkers Jumo 211D	Junkers Jumo 211J	Junkers Jumo 211J
Maximum Power	720 hp	1200 hp	1410 hp	1410 hp
Maximum Power	530 kW	883 kW	1037 kW	1037 kW
Maximum speed	310 km/h	340 km/h	354 km/h	344 km/h
Dive speed	550 km/h	600 km/h	600 km/h
Range with bombs	800 km	600 km	1165 km	1000 km
Ceiling	9430 m	8100 m	9000 m	7500 m
Climb		3000 m in 8.8 min	3000 m in 14 min	3000 m in 13.6 min
Forward guns	1x7.92 mm MG 17	2x7.92 mm MG 17	2x7.92 mm MG 17	2x7.92 mm MG 17 2x37 mm BK 37
Rear guns	1x7.92 mm MG 15	1x7.92 mm MG 15	1x7.92 mm MG 81Z (twin MG 81)	1x7.92 mm MG 81Z (twin MG 81)
Maximum bombs	250 kg	500 kg	1800 kg	none
Typical bombs	1x250 kg	1x250 kg + 4x50 kg	1x500/1000 kg + 4x50 kg	none