Henschel Hs 129
Henschel & Sohn · Germany · first flew 1939 · fighter
The Henschel Hs 129 was a German twin-engine dedicated ground-attack aircraft designed specifically for anti-tank operations on the Eastern Front. Its heavy nose cannon, including a 75mm field gun installation, made it one of the most formidable tank-killers of the war.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.75 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Dedicated twin-engine German tank-buster
- Extremely cramped cockpit with steeply angled side windows
- Heavy nose armament including 30mm or 75mm anti-tank cannon
The Hs 129 is identified by its extremely triangular cockpit cross-section with heavily angled glazing to reduce frontal area, twin radial engines in small nacelles on a short mid-wing, and a heavy nose housing substantial cannon armament.
Specifications
- The Henschel Hs 129 has a length of 9.75 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.2 m (47 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 407 km/h (253 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1939, the Hs 129 was developed after the Luftwaffe's experience in Spain showed the need for a specialised armoured close-support aircraft. Underpowered with its original Argus engines, production aircraft used captured Gnome-Rhône 14M radials. About 870 were built.
Variants
The Hs 129B-1 was the initial production variant; the Hs 129B-2 introduced improved armament including the 30mm MK 101 cannon. The Hs 129B-3 carried a 75mm Pak 40 anti-tank gun in a large ventral fairing — one of the largest aircraft-mounted guns of the war.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively on the Eastern Front and briefly in North Africa. It proved most effective against Soviet armour at battles like Kursk in 1943, but serviceability was persistently poor due to the unreliable French engines and vulnerable cooling systems.
Related aircraft
- Henschel Hs 128
- Henschel Hs 127
- Henschel Hs 126
- Henschel Hs 123
- Arsenal VG-33
- Avia B-135
- Beriev MBR-7
- Bisnovat SK-1
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.