Daggers drawn

When the Vickers Supermarine Spectre began to equip front line squadrons the balance of air power shifted decidedly to the RAF. The Luftwaffe in the mean time had several advanced designs in various stages of development including, from Fock-Wulf, the FW390 "Dolch" (Dagger).

Some of the delay in development lay with the technical difficulties associated with working with cutting edge and, in some cases, theoretical design of which the RLM were keen to push forward. With this in mind it seems contradictory that the FW380 should be given the go ahead as in reality the aircraft is a throwback to advanced wing lift designs. Designer kurk Tank had always been keen to incorporate ballistic shielding in his designs but had been unable to produce a viable prototype owing to the immense power generation requirements.

Tank was approached by Daimler Benz and offered a working prototype of a 24 cylinder design consisting of 2 x 45 degree V coupled units small enough to fit into a fighter design but giving an outstanding power output. Tank took his private designs and reworked them around the then unnamed Daimler Benz power unit. In order to capitalise on this engines outstanding power generation the FW390 develops over 50% of its lift from the aerofoil section fuselage skirt/wing assembly. The remaining lift is generated by the same technology used for aerial battleship designs which leaves an abundance of power for shield generation.

This is still the mid 1940's and until an alternative power development source is developed there are limitations to airborne force field shielding. However, the Dolch can deploy a close skin shield capable of absorbing a typical 2 to 3 second burst from a contemporary fighter such as the Spectre. After this the shield integrity falls off rapidly and will require several minutes to fully charge, longer under battle conditions where it then relies on its speed and manoeuvrability which at this time is equal to the Spectre.

This came as quite a shock to the RAF and in particularly Flt Lieutenant Dogge on the morning of 14th June 1944 which was the first encounter between a Dolch and a Spectre. Flt Dogge had the element of total surprise and closed to within 150 yards of this as yet unidentified enemy aircraft before firing. Dogge was certain of his kill especially as there appeared to be bright flashes all over the rear of his target but was more than a little surprised to find the enemy take evasive action. During the confusion dogge was set upon by his targets wingman and shot down.

With daggers drawn the balance of power had been restored and the somewhat vexed British air ministry puts the kettle on and waits for a small brown dog to come up with something better.