Focke-Wulf Fw 190 B and C

The Focke‑Wulf Fw 190 B and C were experimental and limited‑production variants of the famed German single‑engine fighter that first flew in 1939. Developed in the final years of World War II, the B series used a longer, reinforced fuselage and a strengthened wing structure to accommodate the powerful BMW 801D‑2 radial engine and, in some prototypes, a Daimler‑Mercedes DB 603 liquid‑cooled V‑12. The C version, often designated Fw 190 C‑3, combined the high‑performance DB 603A engine with the airframe of the A‑3, creating a high‑altitude interceptor capable of reaching 750 km/h at 8 000 m. Both models featured upgraded armament, typically two 13 mm MG 131 machine guns and two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons, with provisions for additional under‑wing rockets or bombs. Their enlarged radiators and modified oil system improved reliability under the extreme stresses of combat. Though only a handful of B and C airframes were completed before the German surrender, they demonstrated the adaptability of the Fw 190 design and influenced post‑war jet fighter development, especially in the use of interchangeable powerplants and modular airframe upgrades. Today the Fw 190 B/C remains a symbol of German engineering ingenuity during the war’s closing chapter.