Ju 86P-1 was made into a high-altitude bomber and given Junkers Jumo 207 turbocharged diesel engines for the role. Ju 86P-2 became a dedicated photographic reconnaissance platform retaining its bomber capability and powered by the same Jumo 207 diesels. Ju 86R-1 was a reconnaissance platform with Jumo 207 engines as well and R-2 was evolved into a bomber form. Ju 86R-3 was given Jumkers Jumo 208 series engines. Ju 86Z served as a civilian export model.
The Ju 86R, with its Jumo 207B-3/V diesel engines of 1,000 horsepower each, featured a standard crew of two and a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) nearing 25,500 pounds. Maximum speed was 260 miles per hour with a range out to 980 miles and a service ceiling up to 42,650 feet. Rate-of-climb became 900 feet-per-minute. Weapons included three defensive-minded MG15 machine guns and a bomb load up to 2,200 pounds.
At least three Ju 86 variants were proposed but fell to naught - this included the Ju 186, Ju 286 and the K85. The Ju 186 was to become a four-engined product to serve in the high-altitude bomber role. Ju 286 was similar in role but was to carry six total engines. K85 was a Swedish Air Force model to be used as a torpedo bomber.
Like other German military products appearing prior to World War 2, the Ju 86 was delivered for practical wartime service in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The war was between the fascist Nationalists primarily backed by the Germans and Italians and the government-led Republicans backed primarily by the Soviet Union. This battleground allowed the Luftwaffe a test arena of sorts and both aircraft and tanks were trialled in due time (as was doctrine like the "blitzkrieg"). First use was of Ju 86 aircraft came after February of 1937 and at least two were lost in service with the Germans, the remaining stock of three aircraft eventually handed over to the Nationalist forces. The war ended as a decisive Nationalist victory after two-plus years of bloody fighting.
Despite its growing obsolescence, the Ju 86 line soldiered on and was on hand for the German invasion of neighboring Poland for the September 1939 campaign. They lasted only a few months more as frontline contributors, given up for good at the beginning of 1940. Modified, higher flying forms (the P-1 and P-2) were introduced after this and managed a serviceable wartime career into mid-1942. However by this time their capabilities were fully realized and there was little hope in continuing the line beyond 1943.
The South Africans updated their Ju 86s (mostly Ju 86Z models, one Ju 86K out of the eighteen on hand) for war and these served as well as they could in the North African Campaign as bombers. They were eventually superseded by more modern offerings by late-1942. Imperial Japan relied on several Ju 86s for general supply transport, VIP transport and special mission service. Some found their way into the inventory of Manchukuo National Airways before the end. Sweden held both military and civilian versions for their part but remained neutral during the conflict.
Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.