Kurt Tank's Focke-Wulf fighters were excellent machines. Heavily armed with four 20mm cannons and two machine guns, they could out-gun just about any Allied fighter produced in the war. The basic "A" models, when they first appeared in 1942, could out-run and out-climb anything the Allies had in-theater. They were nimble airplanes as well, having a rate of roll unmatched by any Allied aircraft. If they had a fault, it was their small wings, which gave them a high wing loading and significantly limited their turning ability. Most good German pilots, however, relied on slashing and diving attacks, where turning ability did not matter as much. To escape trouble, they often faked a turn in one direction and then rapidly rolled the other way, gaining distance before the pursuer could match turns. Later in the war, as German pilot quality degraded, the full potential of the Focke-Wulf was seldom realized. Young pilots made the mistake of trying to dogfight and, getting slow, became easy meat for the tighter turning Mustangs, Thunderbolts and Spitfires. Regardless, Fw190s were the most feared fighters bomber crews faced. Assault versions were heavily armored and some mounted 30mm cannons in pods, which blew great chunks out of bombers with every hit. Vulnerable to Allied fighters due to the loss of performance entailed by their extra armor and weapons, these versions often had to be escorted by Bf109s. Still, an Allied fighter caught unawares by a 190 was sure to be shot down.
TACTICS: Avoid tight-turning dogfights. Use high-speed "slashing" attacks, extending away at high speed before perhaps reversing for another attack. Stay moving fast and attempt to minimize the importance of maneuver. Your guns are powerful enough that you can often bring down an enemy fighter with a single close-range burst, so be content to limit your battles to those where you start in an advantageous position and can gain a few kills in one or two moves. Then, as surviving enemies inevitably begin to outmaneuver you, break off combat at high speed. This isn't cowardice, it's a wise tactical retreat. You can't turn with a Spitfire or Mustang so don't try. Get in, get quick kills if you can, and then get out. Fast. Most importantly, remember that your combat performance is far greater at low altitudes so attempt to fight there. Fighting at lower altitudes will often mean the difference between victory and defeat.
STRENGTHS: Heavy firepower. Structurally sound. Excellent rate of roll.
WEAKNESSES: Poor maneuverability, especially at higher altitudes. Powerfully-armed A8 model is heavy and slow compared to contemporary Allied fighters.
MODELS:
A-4: July 1942 model.
A-6: Adds more cockpit armor and replaces obsolescent outboard MG-FF cannon with modern MG-151 version.
A-8: Replaces 7.9mm nose machineguns with heavier MG-131 13mm models. Carries more ammunition for 20mm cannon.
