In 1941, the Luftwaffe Fw.200 Condors were constantly shot down by Hawker Hurricane in the Atlantic and North Sea theater. The RLM ordered industries to propose a new machine which could enable to carry more defensive armaments. Focke-Wulf responsed with the P.02310225 very long-range bomber design, later Focke-Wulf internal designated the project Fw.261. The Fw.261 layout featured a central gondola and two separate tail booms, in order to guarantee the rear gunner an unobstructed field of fire. Two pairs of Mk.108 machine gun turrets were installed under the nose to provide extra protection against the British fighter head-on attacks. As well as being a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, the Fw.261 was also intended for the anti-shipping role. As the RLM accepted the improved Fw.200C which featured more powerful engines and increased armaments, the Fw.261 project was not went behind the drawing board.

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Multi-engines long-range bomber

To design as a replacement for the Fw.200 Condor

40m.

26.10m

6m.

4x BMW 9-801D radial engines

561 km/h (planned)

7

8x Mk.108 machine gun / 1x HD 151Z cannon / 1x FDL 151Z cannon / 10,000kg bomb load

The Focke-Wulf Fw.261 is suitable to group with the following collection series.

Luft'46 aircraft

War time maritime reconnaissance bomber

Blohm und Voss Bv.138

Blohm und Voss Bv.222

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Consolidated PB2Y Coronado

Consolidated PB4Y Privateer

Focke-Wulf Fw.200

Focke-Wulf Fw.261

Lockheed P2V Neptune

Martin PBM Mariner

Martin PB2M Mars

Short Sunderland

Short Shetland

War time long-range bombers

Avro Lancaster

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Boeing B-29 Super Fortress

Blohm und Voss Bv.P.188

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Consolidated B-32 Dominator

Douglas XB-19 Hemisphere Defender

Douglas XB-31

Handley Pages Halifax

Heinkel He.177

Horten Ho.XVIII

Junkers Ju.290

Junkers Ju.488

Junkers Ju.287

Kawasaki Ki-91

Lockheed XB-30

Martin XB-33A

Messerschmitt Me.P.08

Messerschmitt Me.264

Northrop XB-35

Petlyakov Pe-8

Short Stirling

Tupolev TB-3

Vickers Windsor