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Ju 86 Z-7: South African Switcheroo!
History:
The South African Air Force can trace its roots back to the late 1800s with the opening of the first South African flight school. Formal assembly of a military aviation corps would not begin until 1912 when Defense Minister General Jan Smuts sent Brig. General C.F. Beyers to inspect military maneuvers in the UK and to report back on the viability of using aircraft in military operations. Following the breakout of World War One in 1914, the process of establishing an air force was accelerated, and the South African Aviation Corps (SAAC) was formally founded on January 29, 1915. Soon after, the process of acquiring aircraft began, with planes from France and the UK becoming the core of the fledgling air force. As time went on, the air force grew, notably during the interwar period, and by the late 1920s it had become a reasonably capable force.
Meanwhile, South African civil aviation had also been growing in scale. In 1937, South African Airways ordered seventeen Ju 86Z civilian airliners. The first five used the Rolls-Royce Kestrel as their engines, but when these were found to be unreliable, they were switched to the Pratt and Whitney Hornet. Those using the Kestrel were designated Z-3, while those with the Hornet were designated Z-7. One Ju 86K-1 bomber was also sent along for the SAAC to evaluate as a potential future purchase. At this moment, the SAAC was severely underfunded, with the Great Depression hitting them hard. The plans for expansion during the mid-1930s never came to fruition, and they were in desperate need of new aircraft. This need was compounded when World War Two broke out, dragging Britain and the Commonwealth into the largest conflict in history.
Realizing they needed aircraft immediately, the SAAC requisitioned all aircraft from South African Airways, bringing all seventeen Ju 86s into military service. They were armed, repainted, and prepped for an initial role in coastal patrol. They initially equipped 15 Squadron, flying their first mission on September 21, 1939. This role was short-lived, however, and they were soon moved to land-based missions in East Africa under the command of 12 Squadron, leading the first attack against the Italians by the SAAF on June 11, 1940. From then on, these former civilian Ju 86Zs, joined by the lone military Ju 86K-1, would play a key role in the early campaign against Italy, with the remaining eight being moved to 16 Squadron in May of 1941 as they began to be lost from enemy fire or to lack of spare parts. They were passed from squadron to squadron as newer aircraft became available with their final role being a return to their first, serving as coastal patrol aircraft with 22 Squadron before ultimately being retired in September 1942.
Description:
The Ju 86Z-7, being a converted civilian airliner, was never designed for the bomber role. Nevertheless, the SAAC managed to do an excellent job transforming them into bombers, and the process was fully standardized. Internally the planes were stripped of their seats and other niceties, making them lighter and making room for defensive armament. Two defensive turrets were installed, one in the dorsal and one in the ventral position, each equipped with a single 7.7mm Vickers K machine gun. Two more Vickers K machine guns could be installed into waist positions firing out of windows with one on each side, but it seems from photos that these were not always mounted. One source also mentions a nose gun, but seeing as this had a solid nose and that I cannot identify one in any images, I do not believe this was ever added.
The only photo I have showing the waist gunners.
As for the bombs, British bombs were used, with the maximum load being four 500 lb GP bombs. It could also carry 250 lb and possibly others, though information is lacking and photo identification is difficult. If anyone can help identify the bombs shown in these photos, I would greatly appreciate it. I’ve also included a picture of the Ju 86K-1, as it carried bombs in the same way.
As for the plane itself, being a civilian airliner it is laid out with such a configuration, lacking any proper internal structures for military use. It has a solid nose with no position for a bombardier and likely lacked a bomb sight even after the conversion. They closely resemble their military counterparts in physical form, having the same long fuselage, twin tail, and slightly upturned wings. In each wing sits a 750 hp Pratt and Whitney R-1690-S1EG nine-cylinder radial engine. These drove three-blade variable-pitch propellers Two crew sit in the cockpit, with two to four more as defensive gunners.
Specifications:
Spoiler
General Characteristics:
Length: 17.6 m (57 ft 9 in)
Wingspan: 22.5 m (73 ft 10 in)
Height: 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
Wing Area: 97.06 m2 (1,045 sq ft)
Empty Weight: 5,150 kg (11,354 lb)
Max Takeoff Weight: 8,200 kg (18,078 lb)
Engine: 2x 750 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1690-S1EG 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engines
Propeller: 3-blade variable pitch
Crew: 4-6 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Dorsal gunner, Ventral gunner, Optional waist gunners)
Performance:
Max Speed: 375 km/h (233 mph)
Service Ceiling: 5,900 m (19,357 ft)
Range: 1,500 km (932 mi)
Armament:
Defensive Guns: 2-4x 7.7mm Vickers K (dorsal, ventral, optional waist guns)
Suspended Weapons: Various British bombs up to four 500 lb, likely also including smaller 250 lb and 230 lb.
Gallery:
If there is anything I have missed or gotten incorrect, please let me know! I hope you enjoyed reading this, and I hope you will also check out my other suggestions! Thanks, and have a great day.
Sources:
Spoiler
History of the South African Air Force - Wikipedia
https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234956958-ju-86-in-saaf-service/
Junkers Ju 86 in South African Service - Destination's Journey
Question about South African Ju-86K-1 —defensive armament and external bomb load? - Aircraft WWII - Britmodeller.com
https://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/aircraft/175/ju-86-k-3-z
https://saafww2pilots.yolasite.com/jack-mossop.php
https://saafww2photographs.yolasite.com/east-africa-1940-1941.php
https://saafww2pilots.yolasite.com/lawrie-shuttleworth-photographs.php
https://www.wardrawings.be/WW2/Files/2-Airplanes/Allies/5-Others/07-SouthAfrica/Ju-86/Ju-86Z-7.htm
Tp 9 Junkers Ju 86Z-7 - Page 1