The aircraft was designated Fw 189 "Uhu" ("Eagle-Owl") in service. Ten pre-series aircraft emerged as Fw 189 A-0 followed by initial-production, camera-capable Fw 189 A-1 models. The Fw 189 A-1TROP was its hot-weather variant. The Fw 189 A-1/U2 and /U3 were converted to the VIP transport role. The Fw 189 A-2 was given 7.92mm MG 81Z twin-gunned weapons over the original MG 15s. The Fw 189 A-3 was another hot-weather model and the Fw 189 A-4 was converted as a light ground attacker. The latter was outfitted with 2 x 20mm MG 151/20 automatic cannons at each wing root with armor protection at critical components to enhance survivability at low levels.
The Fw 189 B were thirteen airframes built as five seat trainers. The Fw 189 B-0 became three pre-series aircraft followed by ten Fw 189 B-1 forms.
The Fw 189 C was another ground attacker, though with a heavier attack role in mind to compete with the proposed Henschel Hs 129. As such, armoring was increased and two prototypes completed but neither impressed (the Hs 129 was selected instead).
The Fw 189 D followed as a proposed twin-float trainer but not furthered. The Fw 189 E was a one-off prototype carrying French Gnome-Rhone 14M radial engines of 690 horsepower each - it was not evolved. The Fw 189 F-1 was the Fw 189 A-1 with Argus As 411 series engines of 592 horsepower. The Fw 189 F-2 completed the line, being powered by twin Argus As 411 engines of 592hp, given additional fuel stores for increased ranges, additional armor protection, and electrically-assisted undercarriage.
For its time in the air, the Fw 189 operated in the intended tactical reconnaissance role but proved versatile enough to operate as an "Army Cooperation" solution and light bomber. Luftwaffe night squadrons utilized a small stock of Fw 189s in the night-bombing role during late 1944 while others were pressed into service as night-fighters (with limited success, but such was the need). Beyond carrying radar, night hunters were completed with obliquely-angled 20mm MG FF automatic cannons to slide up under unsuspecting bombers before engaging - by this point the combined British-American day/night bombing campaigns were taking its toll.
Total Fw 189 production yielded 864 units from 1940 until 1944 and these went on to stock the Luftwaffe as well as Axis-aligned Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia and a post-war Norway. Manufacture was had in German (Bremen) as well as German-held territories in France and in Czechoslovakia.
First-flown during July of 1938 and introduced in August of 1941, the series operated into 1945 before seeing widespread retirement. Before the end of the war, the Fw 189 was an outclassed design and pressed into roles it was not entirely suited for.
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