- Yes.
- No.
- In a future Dutch/BeNeLux techtree.
- In the French BeNeLux sub-tree
- Other (Please explain in the comments).
- I said “No” in the first question.
Hello everyone! Today I’m going to suggest the Koolhoven F.K. 52 for the Dutch Air Force!
The 3rd Prototype F.K. 52
Source: Foto's
History
Spoiler
A photo of the 1st Koolhoven F.K. 52 Prototype, note the very round tail fin
Source: Koolhoven F.K.52 - WikipedyBack in 1923, Frits Koolhoven designed the F.K. 31. A multi-role militairy aircraft, that proved to be a huge failure. After the F.K. 31, Koolhoven didn’t make any more militairy aircraft for quite some time.
However, in 1935, Koolhoven made the F.K. 51. This armed militairy two-seat training biplane turned out to be a big succes for Koolhoven. It was still just a trainer aircraft, but it’s use in the militairy was the first step back to making militairy aircraft for Koolhoven.After the F.K. 51’s succes, work was started in 1937 on the F.K. 52, a full militairy two-seat biplane reconnaissance-fighter. 14 years after the disastrous F.K. 31, Koolhoven made their first full on militairy aircraft again.
Koolhoven set out to make the F.K. 52 on their own costs, without having securred an order from anyone yet (Something that would prove to be a mistake). Koolhoven’s idea was for the F.K. 52 to be a replacement for the Dutch Fokker C.5 that was made in 1924 and still in service with the Dutch Air Force.
The first Prototype F.K. 52 made it’s first flight on the 9th of Janurari 1937. The aircraft performed well, but the round tail fin proved to limit maneuverability (Something that was seen on the F.K. 51 too) so this was quickly changed by making it more straight.
Wanting to secure orderes from the Dutch Air Force, it was decided to demonstrate the aircraft at the Soesterberg Air Base. The aircraft was flown by Koolhoven’s chief test flyer, Alfred Baumann. Wanting to impress people, Alfred made many impressive stunts with the aircraft, and the hundreds of bystanders watched in silence while the aircraft flew around.
But, during an almost vertical dive the aircraft the aircraft’s rudder broke of whilst pulling up out of the dive. Alfred managed to get the aircraft back up to around 200 to 300 meters before bailing out. But his parachute got stuck on the aircraft, and he and the aircraft crashed straight down into the field, killing Alfred instantly.
This accident had made the Dutch Air Force lose all interest in the F.K. 52, and so no orders were made for the Aircraft.
Koolhoven continued working on the F.K. 52 however, and five more aircraft ended up getting made. More demonstrations were done with the aircraft, even some to the Dutch Air Force in the hopes of getting them to change their minds. But by Januari 1940 all five F.K. 52’s were still parked in the Koolhoven factory, and no orders had come in.
A front view of the 3rd Prototype F.K. 52
Source: Foto'sBut finally something changed. In 1939 the Winter War had broke out between Finland and Russia. And the Swedish count Carl Gustaf von Rosen wanted to help the Finnish, and decided to buy a couple of aircraft to send to them. These were a DC-2 and two F.K. 52’s. Specifically the second and third F.K. 52.
While it’s not much, Koolhoven had finally sold two F.K. 52’s.Somewhere around this time the Dutch Air Force, still operating mostly outdated aircraft, were starting to become a little desperate. And so finally, and order was made for 36 Koolhoven F.K. 52’s to replace the older Fokker C.10’s. It only took a threat of war, and a good amount of desperation from the Dutch Air Force to finally secure an order for the F.K. 52’s.
However, on the 10th of May 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands and bombed many important factories and air bases. This included the Koolhoven Factory, where around four F.K. 52’s for the Dutch Air Force were ready (Or almost ready). The factory went up in smoke together with all aircraft currently under construction. This marked the end of the F.K. 52’s story with the Dutch Air Force.
The 2nd Prototype Koolhoven F.K. 52 either landing or just taking of
Source: IPMS Nederland - Koolhoven FK.52
Design
Spoiler
The Koolhoven F.K.52 was a two-seat reconnaissance-fighter biplane. The powerplant changed throughout it’s development.
- The first Prototype was powered by a 780 hp Bristol Pegasus IV engine.
- This then changed to a 840 hp Bristol Mercury VIII for the second and third aircraft.
- Only to then change to the 1,000 hp Wright GR-1820G-3 Cyclone engine for any of the F.K. 52’s made after that.
The straight line speed of the aircraft was 382 km/h at 4400 meters.
The prototypes and first models were all unarmed, but the planned weaponry for the production model was two machine guns in the upper wing, and another machine gun in the rear operated by the Radio Operator/Rear Gunner.
The aircraft could also carry a max bomb load of 150kg.
Specifications
Spoiler
A blueprint of the F.K. 52
Source: IPMS Nederland - Koolhoven FK.52Crew: 2 (One Pilot, and one Radio Operator/Gunner)
Length: 8.25 m
Wingspan: 9.80 m
Height: 3.30 m
Empty weight: 1,650 kg
Full weight: 2,500 kg
Powerplant: Wright GR-1820G-3 Cyclone (1000 hp)
Maximum straight line speed: 382 km/h at 4400 meters
Service ceiling: 9,800 m
Armament
Guns:
2 × 7.9 mm (Most likely M.36 FN-Browning) machine guns
1 × 7.9 mm (Most likely M.20 Lewis) machine gun (Rear gunner)Bombs: (Max load of 150kg)
Most likely 3 × 50kg or 6 x 25kg
Ingame
Spoiler
As usualy with my Dutch vehicle suggestions, I ofcourse want to see this ingame in a Dutch or BeNeLux techtree. The F.K. 52 is a fun low BR biplane strike fighter. The small bombs are enough to deal with most ground targets. And if you ever have to fight against a more maneuverable enemy you still got your gunner to reply upon.
Personally I would love to see this in a Dutch/BeNeLux techtree. This aircraft would be great in a Rank 1 attacker line in my opinion. But let me know where you would like to see this ingame in the poll above!
Ofcourse the BeNeLux has been added to France, so this is now the only option where Dutch Aircraft will go to. But it must be said that the Netherlands and France have nothing in common, and do not make sense to combine together ingame.
The 2nd Prototype F.K. 52 during a test flight
Source: https://www.tracesofwar.nl/articles/289/Koolhoven-FK52.htm
So there you have it! Please make sure to vote in the poll above, and let me know what you think of this little fighter aircraft!
Sources
Spoiler
Main sources:
- “Koolhoven, Nederlandse vliegtuigbouwer in de schaduw van Fokker” book by Theo Wesselink & Thijs Postma
- https://www.tracesofwar.nl/articles/289/Koolhoven-FK52.htm
Secondairy sources:
Extra sources:
Photos: