ICM ICM48275 1/48 WWII German Do 217K-2 with Gliding bombs Fritz-X Bomber

Special version of the Do 217K-2 bomber as a carrier of Fritz-x guided bombs
Accurate reproduction of the Do 217K series bomber geometry with extended wingspan
Kit includes two Fritz-x bombs and their racks
Color schemes and decals for three marking variants

Markings
Do 217K-2, III./KG100, Marseilles-Istres, Summer 1943
Do 217K-2, III./KG100, Marseilles-Istres, Autumn 1943
Do 217K-2, Major Bernhard Jope's aircraft, III./KG100, Marseilles-Istres, Autumn 1943

The Do 217K-2 was developed as a version of the Do 217K-1 bomber designed to carry the Ruhrstahl SD 1400 x guided bomb, also known as Fritz-x. The key modification was an extended wingspan of nearly 25 meters - necessary to handle the significantly increased combat load, as a single guided bomb weighed 1570 kg. To preserve flight range, an additional 1160-liter fuel tank was installed in the forward bomb bay. Two special racks for the Fritz-x bombs were mounted under the wings between the fuselage and engines. The German company Ruhrstahl A.G. developed the bomb, designed by engineer Max Kramer. It was an armor-piercing glide bomb for attacking armored naval targets, with flight control from the aircraft via radio waves. The carrier bomber had to fly at an altitude of at least 4 km. The Fritz-x carried 360 kg of explosives and could penetrate 130-150 mm of armor-sufficient to destroy even battleships. The most famous use of the Do 217K-2 bomber (crew commander Major Bernhard Jope) and the Fritz-x bomb was the sinking of the Italian battleship Roma on September 9, 1943.