ixo-MODELS

Junior Series

DDIJ000020 – JUNKERS Ju 87 D-5 Stuka

Eastern Front 1944

Die Cast

1/72 Scale

Retails for $29.00

Additional discount available for regular customers, please inquire.

The models presented as it was attached to Sturzkampfgeschwader V/St.G5, then deployed to the Eastern Front during January 1944

Models from the ixo-Junior plane collection at first were released as a part of A_ltaya collection that sold as subscription at Spain.  The models are the same but are packed in ixo packaging.  Ixo introduced line of 1/72 scale die cast planes of a good to very good quality in a great variety of models that hard to find or simply unavailable from other model makers.  The series gained high popularity among collectors, models are very difficult to find and often sold at premium price practically upon their releases.

Models come with a stand, set of landing gears that allow to display the plane in taking off / landing or flying conditions.

Stuka stands for - Sturzkampfflugzeug / German for dive bomber

Development begins in 1935 and production started in 1936.  During the production cycle according different sources from some 5,700 to over 6000 planes were manufactured with three major production varriants A – 1936-1938, B 1938-1941 and D 1941-1944..  Production ceased in 1944.

Used with stunning effect during the Blitzkrieg in Poland, Scandinavia, Belgium, France, North Africa and Greece replacing the heavy artillery support for fast moving German Forces.  They say it was better, faster, more accurate, higher level of devastation, able to find targets on its own, with much higher range.  It rugged fixed carriage allowed take-off and landing on improvised airstrips located close to the battlefield and provide required air support on short notice, dive bombing allowed a great level of accuracy (at the time no adequate technology was developed yet to provide required accuracy with level flight bombing), the plane was equipped with innovative system that allowed to control diving and at the same time allowing a pilot to aim and automatic pull-off system preventing a pilot from make a mistake while a high g force maneuver.  It was able to follow fast moving German Forces and thus secured the success of the Blitzkrieg.   Nine Stuka Gruppen (wings) with some 336 planes were deployed against the Poland and only thirty-one planes were lost.  Interesting enough the first German kill during this operation belongs to Stuka that shot down old type Polish fighter.  Stuka was also used as psychological weapon few airplanes were equipped with wind powered sirens named ‘Jericho Trumpets’ that produced horrifying noise during a dive frighten its victims.  Sirens produced a strong additional air drag that was very unwelcome on already sluggish aircraft, therefore only a small number of planes were equipped with it.  But effect was dramatic on both sides of the front, boosting moral of Germans and plunging already low moral of their enemies. Even after over 60 years since the war ended the legend of screaming diving Stukas still be a horrifying image.

However it was a huge disappointment during the Battle of Britain where Germans were unable to establish air superiority.  The plane was very slow, even latest variants with much more powerful engine that entered service in 1941 had maximum speed of 354 km/h / 214 mph (speed of G was reduced to 344 km/h / 208 mph) while normal cruising speed was 190 km/h / 118mph, it had very pure maneuverability and was not an agile plane.

The plane was used again with a great success during early years of German invasion in Soviet Union were 290 Stukas were deployed in 1941.  However with losing control in the air beginning from early 1943 Germans were able to effectively use it only is a heavy fighter support was available.  In 1944 air superiority on the Eastern Front shifter to Russians and flying a Stuka became extremely dangerous.  With Russians were able to dramatically increase production of famous T-34 tanks many of survived Stuka were converted to anti-tank role that received designation – G.  The ‘tank-busting’ role of Stuka was pioneered by Hans-Ulrich Rudel, often called as the most highly decorated German soldier, though some say as such was Herman Gering.  Hans Rudel was shot down 30 times, in February 1945 his right leg was amputated but he returned to flying, most of the time Stuka.  The G model was a refitted D for anti-tank role where instead of a bomb load it was fitted with two 37 mm BK 37 cannons in under wing pods.  With this armament the plane was unable to take a bomb load, but if anti-tank cannons was not carried it was able to take up 1,800 kg / 3,968 lbs or gun pods for 6 machine guns. 

Most Luftwaffe Stuka squadrons were converted to Focke Wulf 190 fighter-bombers during 1944-1945 but some units were using their Stukas until the last days of the WW II.

It can be argued about efficiency and ups and downs of Stuka’s units deployments but it is no doubt that the Stuka can’t be separated from the history of the WW II and thus from the history of the 20^th century.