Would you like to see this in-game?
Yes
Yes, but as a separate aircraft and not a modification
No
The Rüstsatz -2 was a field modification kit for the late Fw 190A variants (A-7, A-8, and A-9). It saw the outboard 20mm Mg 151/20s replaced by 30mm MK 108s to provide improved anti-bomber firepower. This was one of the most common modifications applied to Fw 190A-8s, particularly late in the war, when it was often combined with other field modifications as the aircraft increasingly was used as an bomber interceptor rather than a general-purpose fighter.
History
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From the beginning, the Fw 190 had been subject to continuous armament upgrades. The A-0 modification was equipped with only 6x 7.92mm machine guns, on the A-1 two of these were replaced by 20mm MG/FF cannons. The A-2 replaced a further two machine guns with 20mm MG 151/20E cannons, and the A-6 replaced the MG/FFs with MG 151/20Es. By this point, it was 1943 and the Allied Combined Bomber Offensive was underway. With its robust frame and excellent high-altitude performance, the Fw 190 was tasked as the Luftwaffe’s primary single-seat interceptor. Initially, the 4x20mm cannons were effective at downing Allied bombers, but as those bombers became progressively better protected the Fw 190 began lagging behind.Rüstsätz -2, and it was quite popular. However, while the MK 108 was powerful it was not without flaws. Most notably, the gun’s muzzle velocity was extremely low. As a result, the effective range of the Fw 190’s guns was cut in half, from roughly 400m to 200m. This left the 190 much more exposed to the bombers’ defensive guns. To protect the pilots, aircraft fitted with the Rüstsätz -2 were also often fitted with the Rüstsatz -7, which added extra armour around the cockpit and removed the fuselage machine guns to try to recoup some of the extra weight. So popular was this combination that it was standardized as the Rüstsatz -8, a complete kit including the R2, R7, and additional armour to protect the MK 108 ammunition. Aircraft with the R8 modification would become known as the Sturmbock , “Battering Ram”. In part because of their effectiveness against the B-17 “Flying Fortress”, and in part because around this time ramming attacks were becoming somewhat common in the increasingly desperate defense of the Reich.
The “experimental” predecessor of the R2. I can’t find any evidence of this gunpod mounted on a Fw 190, but the same or at least very similar gunpods were trialed on the Bf 109
The R2 was half the R8 modification. The other half was additional armour derived from the R7, most visibly the externally-mounted trapezoidal bulletproof glass plates affixed to the canopy sides
Specifications
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Removes:
Adds:
Net Weight Change: +63.5kg
Why a Modification
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In contrast to Umrüst-Bausätze kits which were factory modifications, Rüstsätze kits were designed to be fitted in the field to standard aircraft. This means they generally make more sense as modifications for the basic aircraft model than as separate aircraft. Additionally, there’s an existing precedent for Rüstsätze as modifications; for example, the A-8 already has the Rüstsatz -6 modification.
Gallery
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3-view diagram of the MK 108’s fitting within the wing
Another diagram, of the full weapons system of an R2 Fw 190
The barrel of the MK 108 is much shorter than that of the Mg 151/20, making R2 190s relatively easy to identify
Ace Willi Maximowitz in his Fw 190A-8 “Black 8” with 11.(Sturm)/JG3. Maximowitz is credited with 15 bomber kills including at least one by ramming, as well as over a dozen fighter kills. The 190 is either an R2 or an R8 stripped of most of its armour.
“Black 13” another A-8/R2 of 11.(Sturm)/JG3. The pod fitted the the ETC 501 bomb rack is a 300L fuel tank
A-8/R2 of 8./JG300
A-8/R2 of 12.(Sturm)/JG3 with an unusual belly-mounted WGr.21
Fun fact: the specific captured Fw 190A-8 represented in-game in the US tree was an A-8/R2! Personally, I’d like to see it remodelled accordingly with the MK 108s fitted permanently
The effect of a single hit from an MK 108 on a Blenheim which is why we all glaze 30mm Minengeschoß
Sources
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D.(Luft)T.2190 A-8Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug Fw 190 A Fw 190 “Dora” Ta 152 H - Peter RodeikeSquadron Signal [Aircraft In Action] 170 Fw 190 A, F And G
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Pretty sure it should be “Rüstsatz”, the “ä” doesn’t fit here.
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yeah you’re right
Seems perfect for a modification 🤷♀️ +1
